What has changed?
Saturday June 22 – The “I am the Sudan Revolution” and “Blue
for Sudan” worldwide campaigns reveal an incredible level of solidarity with
the Sudanese people’s uprising against dictatorship and the murderous attack on
their peaceful protest on June 3. Scores of young people from different nationalities
have joined Sudanese rallies in many countries, some even marched on their own,
in support of the Sudanese people’s demands for freedom, peace and justice.
Many governments and regional bodies have also been highly supportive,
with strong condemnation of the June massacre, and calls for swift transition
to civilian rule. The European Union and the US have put pressure on the
Transitional Military Council (TMC) by stressing the need for independent inquiry
into the massacre, withdrawal of military presence from civilian areas, release
of political prisoners, and lifting the ban on the Internet.
Yet, little has changed since June third. TMC has not agreed
to an independent investigation, the Internet blackout remains, and the lawless Rapid Support Forces/Janjaweed
militias continue to rob, rape, and beat people with impunity. It is now
abundantly clear that TMC has no intention of relinquishing power to civilians,
or even backing away from the dictatorial orientation of Al Basheer’s 30-year
regime. On the contrary, TMC has added insult to injury by minimizing the
number of those murdered on Ramadan 29, and altogether denying the reports of rape. In a theatrical move, the Council brought Basheer
to court for arraignment on charges of corruption and money laundering, but
fell silent on his genocidal war crimes. TMC is busy meeting with Basheer
loyalists within the ranks of professionals and tribal leaders as it prepares
to form a ‘civilian government’ of its own choosing.
It is no wonder that people are back out in the streets, again
roaring thawra, thawra, revolution, revolution. Spontaneous
demonstrations have broken out in Khartoum and other cities. People are defiant
despite the terror visited upon them barely three weeks ago. Teachers, doctors,
bankers, engineers, among other professionals are protesting outside their
places of work, silently holding signs that denounce TMC. Some have been arrested. The resistance is mobilizing for a
second uprising. In the absence of the Internet, the Forces for Freedom and
Change (FFC) leadership now distributes protest plans, which neighborhood committees
adapt and execute as necessary and or feasible. Evening demonstrations are
carrying on in the triangular capital city – Khartoum, Um Durman, and Bahri. Awareness
raising gatherings in different locations around the city are attended by the
same broad swath of ordinary citizens who launched the first uprising in
December – young and old, men and women, and children too. Determination and
insistence on peaceful resistance remain high.
FFC has just announced its acceptance of the Ethiopian proposal for a joint civilian-military transitional government. Will TMC accept in turn? Or will it continue on the current path
of delay and avoidance, while entrenching its de facto regime.
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