AFRICA/SUDAN - Sudanese opposition calls the people to revolt peacefully

Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) - A year after the independence of South Sudan (proclaimed on July 9, 2011) the main Sudanese opposition parties signed a pact on July 4 calling for a "peaceful political struggle in all its forms to overthrow the regime" of President Omar al Bashir. The fighting actions include "strikes, peaceful demonstrations, sit-ins and civil disobedience."
The aim is to establish an interim government in which all political forces will be represented to rule Sudan for three years, until a new constitution is installed and new elections are held.
The agreement, called the Democratic Alternative Charter (DAC), provides that among the principles that will have to guide the writing of the new Constitution there is a formula describing Sudan as "a civil democratic state" predicted on equal citizenship rights.
The DCA further calls for "the abolition of all freedom-restricting laws", "respect for the reality of diversity in Sudan" and "safeguards against the use of religion in politics." It then appeals to the resolution of the conflict in Darfur, asking among other things that those who are guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity will have to face the community.
The opposition coalition (National Consensus Forces, NCF) has proclaimed today, July 6, a first round of demonstrations. The NCF hopes to intercept the discontent of the population for the harsh austerity measures imposed by the government because of the loss of three quarters of the oil revenues, a result of the independence of South Sudan, where most of the oil wells at the time of the unified Sudan are concentrated. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 06/07/2012)