SPLM’s Arman urges US Congressmen to support no-fly-zone in Sudan
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September 23, 2011 (WASHINGTON) – The Sudan People’s Liberation
Movement- North (SPLM-N) today urged the US Congressmen to support the
imposition of a no-fly zone in Sudan, warning that the ruling National
Congress Party (NCP) in Khartoum represents a threat to South Sudan
independence.
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SPLM-N Secretary General, Yasser Arman (AP)
US special envoy for Sudan Princeton Lyman rejected last week previous
appeals by the SPLM-N and other rebel groups in Darfur for a
no-fly-zone in the Blue Nile, Darfur and Southern Kordofan, saying
that means more violence and military confrontation on the ground.
However the SPLM-N Secretary General Yasir Arman accused the Sudanese
government of killing thousands of civilians in the war affected
regions and reiterated before Congressmen his appeal for a no-fly-zone
in the three regions of Darfur, Kordofan and Blue Nile.
"We count on you to lead the international community to put an end to
these atrocities by imposing a no-fly zone from Darfur to Blue Nile.
That is the only way to protect millions of Sudanese civilians," said
Arman in a testimony before the Congressmen at the Tom Lantos Human
Rights Commission on Thursday.
The fight between the SPLM-N rebels and the Sudanese army started in
Southern Kordofan last June after the contested election of a governor
form the NCP in May.
After the refusal of President Omer al-Bashir of a framework agreement
signed on 28 June between the NCP government and the SPLM-N , the
latter formed an alliance aiming to overthrow the NCP regime with
Darfur rebel groups.
As expected the clashes erupted in the Blue Nile three months later on
1 September.
Arman pressed the US lawmakers to put more pressures on the
government. He stressed that Sudan’s ruling "National Congress does
not respond to niceties; they respond only to pressures". He further
went to say that the "relative peace" the US brought in the Sudan
through the independence of the South Sudan is now threatened by the
"fanatic leaders" in Khartoum.
"They talking a lot about the new Republic of South Sudan as an escape
goat for their own problems," stressed the SPLM-N secretary general.
Among the presence there were Congressman Frank Wolf and Congressman
Jim McGovern, both co-chair the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and
strong supporters of South Sudan independence.
Arman told the caucus that they sought in vain to negotiate a peaceful
solution to the southern Kordofan conflict but as the Sudanese
president refused the Addis Ababa deal and the fight extended to the
Blue Nile.
"We believe the only way left for the Sudanese people is to overthrow
the National Congress regime and Bashir," he suggested before to add
that fears of political chaos in the country are unjustified if Bshair
is removed.
"Sudan is a country that is seven thousand years old. It is much older
than Bashir and its fate and future cannot lie on a man who is wanted
by the ICC. The Sudanese political life and political actors are much
more mature than in many countries that have recently witnessed
change."
He also said that South Sudan’s stability can only be achieved through
a democratic regime in Khartoum. According to Arman the Sudan and
South Sudan "can be re-united again in a union of two independent
countries". This confederation will pave the way for strategic
relations between the two neighbours and peace and stability in the
region, he concluded. .
(ST)
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