23/12/2009 | 05:21:55
Statement to the Foreign Press Association- Cairo
By Imam Al Sadig Al Mahdi
President of Umma Party
3rd April 2009
I thank the Association for organizing this Conference number 26- Some correspondents sought interviews with me… Therefore, I avail myself of this opportunity to inform you of Umma Party’s position of important current events; and respond to your questions and observations.
I shall address you on four points:
FIRST POINT: The Arab Summit of 30th March 2009, was a disappointment.
*- It made pious intentions about State- to-State Reconciliation, but made no effort to diagnose the differences and resolve them.
*- It referred to some important matters, namely, Development, the World Financial Crisis, the need to involve Youth, Care for Children, and the importance of resolving the problems of the Arabic Language, but failed to make any specific resolutions and mechanisms for resolution of the said problems.
*- It supported the Palestinian Authority, without reference to the crisis among the Palestinians, and the Priority of Achieving Palestinian Unity.
*- It rightly rejected the arrest of the Sudanese Head of State, without any reference of what to do in dealing with the I.C.C. and the Security Council. It also failed to provide an acceptable mechanism for accountability for the crimes of DARFUR. It overlooked two very important Sudanese Concerns, namely, the problem of Humanitarian Relief after the eviction of 13 Organizations, and the ISRAEL violation of Sudanese Territory
*- The Declaration expressed support for International System, The Institutions of International Justice on seven points, but failed to address the pressing issue of U.N. Reform, and failed to reconcile this support for International Institutions of Justice, with the rejection of the indictment of the Sudanese Head of State.
SECOND POINT: The Current G-20 meeting in London represents the Richest Countries in terms of GDP; but has no place for those most harmed by the Financial Crisis, the richest countries in terms of GDP, but has no place for those most harmed by the Financial Crisis. The richest countries have used their influence to police the behavior of poorer Nations, but espoused most irresponsible policies, through the bloating of derivatives, and budgets that spent money. They did not have, the U.S. Economic Administration that led the World to Economic Chaos. The Political Impact of this Recession is Substantial.
*- Labor Unrest in Developed Countries, and Upset of Social Peace.
*- Possible break-up of the European Union.
*- Threat to Democracy in Eastern Europe.
*- Numerous failed States in the poorer countries. Such problems cell for a drastic restructuring of the World Economic, Financial, Trade, and Currency Systems. An up-date Brelton Woods.
*- There are other very serious World Crisis, which will not be tackled; namely: The problem of Poverty, especially in the light of the failure of the MDGS, the Environment, the failure of the treaties concerning the WMO, and so on.
*- All the signs are that the Conference will be adsorbed, by seeking a compromise between the extent of the stimulus, and the regime of regulations.
*- The World of the poorer countries morally deserves an apology for the misdeeds of the rich. Materially, they are entitled to three things:
*- A Forum to listen to their complaints.
*- A percentage of the stimulus resources to help them.
*- Compensation for the Environment Pollution, caused by Gas Emissions, to finance large scale efforts to achieve, among other purposes, extensive carbon sequestration, and achieve extensive use of Solar Energy for Domestic Purposes.
THIRD POINT: Between 26th February and 1st of March this year; The Umma Party held its 7th National Convention. It was a Landmark among Political Organizations in the Afro-Arab World.
A- The Convention was a culmination of six thousand grass-roots conferences that, all in all, represent six million citizens.
B- The updated program of the party was arrived at after our workshops.
C- All the institutions of the party have been democratically elected.
D- Women represent 22% of the political office. Two of the top leading eight posts, is held by women.
E- The elected institutions, particularly the political office is balanced in terms of Regional Representation, and in terms of Generations (26% under 45 years old, 11% under 30 years old.
FOURTH POINT: The 4th of March decision by the I.C.C. to indicate the Head of State in Sudan, polarized opinion into two diametrically opposed positions; namely, the N.C.P. and its allies, respect the indictment, reject the Court, and is mobilizing National, Regional, and International support for its position.
Some opposition political parties accept the indictment, and maintain that the Head of State should comply with it. This position is supported by most of the Darfur Armed Parties. It is supported by some of Sudan’s neighbors, and the Western States. Each of the two positions, if espoused will have very dangerous consequences for Sudan.
Ultimately, none of the two positions could prevail without vanquishing the other. This is a scenario of National, Regional, and International Conflict, which would dismantle the Sudan.
Therefore, UMMA PARTY has advocated a third way… It maintains:
A) An Alternative mechanism for accountability, in terms of a Hybrid Special Tribunal composed of Sudanese, Arab and African qualified Judges. The Act establishing the tribunal should empower it to apply International Criminal Law.
B) A supreme National Effort to resolve the Crisis n Darfur, by addressing the well known legitimate demands of the Darfurians.
C) A review of the CPA which would maintain the Southern Rights, and make room for the necessary rectifications.
D) A robust Program for Democratic Transformation to effect a peaceful change of Government- through Free and Fair General Elections.
E) These 4 points Program, to be discussed and approved by an Eight Party Summit involving NCP, SPLM, UP, DUP, NCP, CP, SLA (Meni), and E.F.
F) This group should also approve transition arrangements, namely: An Interim National Government, and a Nationally Acceptable Administration for DARFUR.
G) This package will be subject to the approval of the Armed Parties.
H) This National Accord should achieve the blessing of Sudan’s neighbors, and be accepted by the Security Council to activate article 16.
If and When, the Facts of the Situation change for the better, the issue of Reconciling Accountability with Stability will be resolved.
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