March 8, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s opposition leader Hassan Al-Turabi
has launched a barrage of criticism against the government, and called
on his followers to support armed groups seeking to overthrow the
regime.
- Islamist opposition leader Hassan Al-Turabi (left) gestures as he addresses a student conference in Khartoum on 8 March 2012 (ST)
Addressing a conference organized by the students sector of his
Popular Congress Party (PCP) in the capital Khartoum on Thursday,
Al-Turabi accused the government of devoting public fund to purchases of
tanks and weapons to strike oppositionists while giving almost nothing
to education and other vital sectors.
He said that the people in the western region of Darfur had no choice
but to take up arms after the government killed and displaced thousands
of them. He also said that the government did not learn the lesson from
South Sudan’s secession.
The PCP leader acknowledged the grievances suffered by southern
Sudanese but he expressed confidence that South Sudan will return to
unite with Sudan once the current regime is ousted.
“We have spoken to them [southern Sudanese] and we told them we know
you have been oppressed but we will come back to you after the
revolution,” he said.
He went on to attack the latest campaign by security authorities
against dissent and newspapers, saying that the leaders of the regime
can’t stomach criticism.
Al-Turabi called on his party’s students as they chanted slogans of
regime change to cooperate with other opposition factions and armed
groups in order to bring about change. He said he was sure that all
carriers of arms will drop them as soon as that change takes place.
The Sudanese government is fighting allied rebel groups in a number
of fronts including the border states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan
plus Darfur. One of Al-Turabi’s senior aides has been detained since
last year on suspicion of cooperating with armed groups.
In January this year, security authorities closed Ray Al-Sha’b
newspaper which is affiliated to Al-Turabi’s party. The paper was
suspended after it published statements by leaders of the Darfur rebel
Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)
However, Al-Turabi warned that the regime would not give up easily
and that the upcoming revolution could turn Sudan into another Somalia
if it is led by “hungry people” rather than students.
Al-Turabi has been the fiercest critic of the government since he was
ousted from power following a bitter struggle with president Al-Bashir.
He was detained on several occasions ever since.
(ST)
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