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Arrested Opposition Leader âInsultedâ Government

   Peter Clottey 16 May 2010

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

   Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, in full military dress, greets army
   officers  as  as  he visits the military hospital, in Khartoum, Sudan,
   Thursday  April  22,  2010.  The  White  House had said Sudan's recent
   elections  are  an  essential step in the country's peace efforts even
   though they did not meet international standards. (AP Photo/Abd Raouf)

   A  top official of Sudanâs dominant National Congress Party (NCP) said
   opposition  leader  Hassan  al-Turabi  was  arrested  over  his recent
   newspaper  publications  that  attempted to destabilize and plunge the
   country into chaos.

   Rabie  Abdulatti Obeid said the opposition leader also falsely accused
   President Hassan Omar Al-Bashirâs government of sponsoring terrorism.

   âMr. Turabi was arrested due to (his) call for instability against the
   legal   government,  which  will  be  formed  (in)  a  few  days.  The
   (opposition)  newspaper tried to instigate (provoke) the armed forces,
   especially the Justice and Equality Movement, to violate the agreement
   theyâve signed between the JEM and the Sudan government,â he said.

   JEM,  which  signed  a truce with Sudan's government in February 2001,
   soon  abandoned  further peace talks after accusing President Bashirâs
   administration of attacking its positions.

   The  government  has  often  linked  the  rebel movement to opposition
   leader  Turabi  -  - a charge both the opposition leader and the rebel
   group deny.

   NCP  official  Obeid  said  the opposition leader influenced the rebel
   group to abandon a recent peace accord with the government.

   âThis  (publication)  led the leader of JEM (to) stop negotiation with
   the government, and also escalate the situation in Darfur by attacking
   villages  and civilians; and, the matter resulted in so many victims,â
   Obeid said.

   Supporters  of Turabi said security officers raided the offices of his
   newspaper over the weekend and arrested a number of journalists.

   Partisans  of the opposition PCP, as well as other opposition parties,
   have condemned the arrests as an attempt by the dominant NCP to stifle
   any dissent.

   Arrested Sudanese opposition leader Hassan al-Turabi

   But,  NCP official Obeid denied Turabiâs arrest undermines his freedom
   of expression.

   âI  think  that  this  action and procedure taken by the government of
   Sudan  (does)  not  violate  the  act of freedom in Sudan. As we know,
   freedom  doesnât  mean  to  go  and  to  encourage the people toâ¦work
   against the achievement of peace,â Obeid said.

   He  further  stated  that  Sudanâs  Security  Act forbids anybody from
   undermining the countryâs peace.

   Local  media  reported  that  opposition  leader Turabi is still being
   detained at Kober prison in the capital, Khartoum.

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