What now?
On June 30, with one roaring voice, millions of Sudanese
people in Sudan and across the world, demanded a civilian government. They marched under
the banner of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC). Peaceful protesters
were met with live ammunition and tear gas from RSF/Janjaweed troops and
Basheer’s ‘shadow battalions,’ resulting in at least 10 dead and more than 200
injured. There were sniper type head injuries, and three bodies were found in a
ditch, with evidence of torture. Some of these same depraved tactics were used in
the June 3rd massacre. The US Embassy in Khartoum has condemned the
violence and placed the responsibility for deaths and injuries with the
Transitional Military Council (TMC).
Meanwhile, the AU/Ethiopian
mediation process went on. Although the Internet blackout remains, and political
prisoners have not been freed, indeed, new arrests are continuing, FFC reiterated
only the two most pressing demands: 1) immediate handover of power to a civilian
transitional authority consisting of a civilian and military Sovereign Council,
a Cabinet of technocrats with full executive powers, and a civil Legislative
Council; 2) formation of an independent, regionally-backed commission of
inquiry into the June massacre and subsequent killings under TMC’s watch. The
AU news conference today shows that TMC wishes
to hold the Sovereign Council Chair position throughout the transitional period,
while offering weak demands that translate into token civilian participation in
a government of TMC’s choosing.
The junta’s lie has been exposed.
TMC, and whichever entities supporting it, are intent on establishing a
second even more ruthless military state in Sudan. They had no intention of
ceding power; instead, they played for time, using all types of deceitful and vicious
methods. Their attempts to defeat the resistance by terror, information
blockade, and by dragging out the negotiation process have all failed.
The unified opposition plans to continue pursuing
mediation, while keeping up the pressure on TMC with night demonstrations, regular visitation with and support of the injured
and the martyrs’ families, protests by professionals at private and public establishments,
and Friday prayer speeches, to culminate in another millionic march on July 13
(marking 40 days since the massacre), and a general political strike on July
14. These plans are collaboratively put into action through neighborhood
committees, individual and group initiatives in the capital city and the provinces,
and in coordination with Sudanese diaspora communities.
What will happen in the
next two weeks is unclear. But, Sudan is now occupied by an alliance of warlords
and arms dealers, mercenaries, anti-democracy
neighbors, private and state corporate interests, and a group of its own corrupt
murderous offspring. The battle for its liberation is vastly unequal. Consider the
peaceful discipline and openness of FFC under conditions of intimidation and information
blackout, with TMC’s arsenal of weapons, hordes of mercenary killers,
and almost unlimited financial resources pouring in from their foreign allies. Yet, the path to freedom goes through this blood thirsty machine that
Basheer assembled over thirty years. If it is not stopped now, the June
massacre gives only a taste of what’s to come. The people of Sudan, even children,
are fully aware of this; it is why they came out by the millions on Sunday.
@eimanzein
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