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Sudanese Presidentâs Swearing-in Thursday

   Peter Clottey 26 May 2010

Photo: AP

   Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in full military dress salutes as he
   visits  a  military  hospital,  in Khartoum, Sudan, Thursday April 22,
   2010  to  inaugurate  new  divisions. 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  leading member of Sudanâs ruling National Congress Party (NCP) told
   VOA  several heads of states and government officials will participate
   in   President-Elect  Omar  Hassan  Al-Bashirâs  swearing-in  ceremony
   Thursday.

   Rabie  Abdulatti  Obeid  said  the  swearing-in  will  proceed despite
   boycott  calls  and  protests  from  opponents  including human rights
   groups.

   âThe ceremony of the swearing in of President Bashir for a new term of
   office   will   be   attended  by  different  African  presidents  and
   representatives  of  African  presidents  who are not in a position to
   participate  in  this  ceremony. And, also from the Arab countries, as
   well  as  the  representatives  of  United Nations in Sudan, will also
   attend the ceremony of president Bashir,â he said.

   Last  week,  Human Rights Watch called on the international community,
   as  well  as  officials  of  the  United  Nations in Sudan, to boycott
   President  Bashirâs  swearing  in.  The rights group contends that the
   international  communityâs  presence will undermine the arrest warrant
   against  Mr.  Bashir, issued by The Hague-based International Criminal
   Court (ICC).

   But,  U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was quoted as saying that the
   worldâs  body  has  a duty to maintain good relations with Khartoum in
   order   to   maintain   peace   and   stability,  and  to  foster  the
   implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

   The  world  body  currently  operates  through  its missions; the U.N.
   Mission  in  the  Sudan  (UNMIS),  which  is  mandated  to support the
   implementation  of the CPA as well as the combined force of the United
   Nations and the African Union Mission (UNMID).

   Ruling party official Obeid dismissed the rights group boycott calls.

   âThis occasion of swearing-in of President Bashir does not concern the
   international  organizations⦠ whether  Human Rights Organizations or
   any  other  organizations.  This is something concerning the people of
   Sudanâ¦and they have selected the president,â Obeid said.

   Last  year,  a three-judge panel from the ICC accused President Bashir
   of  seven  counts  of  war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming
   from  his  government's  counterinsurgency campaign in Sudanâs western
   region of Darfur.

   But,  supporters  of President Bashir rejected the indictment claiming
   the  United  States  and  others  were  behind the charges against the
   Sudanese leader.

   The  National  Electoral  Commission declared Mr. Bashir winner of the
   presidential  election  with  over  60  percent  of  the  votes.  But,
   opposition  groups  rejected  the election results saying the election
   was fraught with irregularities.

   Obeid  said  some  opposition  groups  will  participate in Thursdayâs
   ceremony.

   âOther  opposition parties will be participating in this ceremonyâ¦the
   SPLM  (Sudan  Peopleâs  Liberation  Movement) will participate in this
   ceremony. And, I think that there is an understanding between the SPLM
   and the National Congress Party to have partnership in the rest of the
   period,  especially  to  implement the rest of the remaining points of
   the CPA,â Obeid said.

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