Absurdity of the NCP and their leader knows no limits
Newspapers in Khartoum are reporting that General Omer AlBashir, that paragon of democratic sentiment and constitutional legitimacy, otherwise known as the President of the long-suffering nation of Sudan, has ordered the lifting of the immunity of Mr. Pagan Amum, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs in the Government of Sudan, and the formation of an investigative committee to question him.
Many of you must have heard of the recent ruckus thrown up by the NCP about some remarks uttered by Mr. Amum at a symposium in Khartoum in which he illustrated the point that Sudan exhibits all the parameters of a failed state with rampant corruption, abuse of the citizenry and official misrule. I am paraphrasing, but he was basically diagnosing what he perceives as the ills of a nation that has been at war since independence, leads the globe in the number of its subjects that are refugees and internally displaced and is now led by a government that continues to abrogate its own recently instituted constitution that outlaws official press censorship and other human rights abuses. His remarks, echoed by fellow panelists, Dr. Hassan Elturabi of the Popular Congress Party and Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Nugud of the Communist Party, were so obviously true that they would have barely elicited anything more than a nod from anyone remotely informed about Sudan. However, the NCP of President ElBashir, in the person of some of its most notoriously thin-skinned cadres hit the roof and accused the Minister of something approaching a capital offense for stating such obvious facts.
The SPLM rightfully came to the defense of their Secretary General’s right to express his views as a Sudanese, and rightfully implored the hot-headed NCP officials to focus on more pressing issues instead of instigating a ridiculous row over the remarks. Apparently, that advice was not heeded and the President of the Republic, more accurately acting in his capacity as the leader of the pack of intimidators in Khartoum called the NCP, decided to test the limits of the SPLM’s patience by lifting the immunity of the Minister and unveiling some sham investigation.
I say he is testing the limits of the SPLM because I am sure he knows that his decision is devoid of any foundation, and is an outright violation of the Interim Constitution and the CPA. The bill of rights gives all Sudanese the right to express their views fully without fear, and protects that right comprehensively without regard to the person’s official capacity. Moreover, the CPA clearly outlined a process to ensure collegial decision making from the Presidency, and grants the leader of the SPLM veto powers over major decisions such as the investigation of the Senior Cabinet Minister who is there on the SPLM ticket. This last intent was violated because the Presidency as whole did not authorize such a decision but was instead promulgated by President ElBashir alone. I know it is futile to argue rules and agreements and covenants when you are dealing with the NCP, but I just wanted to state the obvious.
In his infinite wisdom, President ElBashir, the protector of the sovereign nation and its honor, has apparently designated two fellow Ministers of the accused, General Bakri Hassan Salih and Mr. AbdelBassit Sabdarat, to lead this so called investigation. I could not suppress a slight laugh at the absurdity of these two fellows, long-serving NCP stalwarts since the early days of the illegal coup to the period of rampant torture and executions at the Ghost Houses of Khartoum and Juba, leading anything remotely related to the quest for facts, which is what an investigation is. I think these two fellows, in any country of laws, would be themselves subjects of inquiry for their own potential crimes of deed, and not just talk.
Mind you, this is a President who has never ever, in 19 years in power, lifted the immunity of one single Minister or senior official for any sort of misconduct as far as we know. His defense Minister was promoted despite complicity in serious allegations of misconduct while running the Interior Ministry. A state Minister and another recently appointed official are wanted by the International Criminal Court for serious crimes in the genocide of Darfur. Countless Ministers and Governors continue serving despite obvious indications of serious misappropriation of public funds, sponsorship of murderous local militias and devious involvement in the affairs of neighboring countries.
How can someone who sanctions the continued protection of such officials find the temerity to even disagree with the salient facts presented by the accused Minister, leave alone lift their immunity and subject them to a ridiculous investigation? I think the answer to that question will come when we hear the response of the SPLM to this absurdity.
