Published on Monday, June 25, 2012 by Common Dreams
Sudan Cracks Down as Protests Over Austerity Grow
Raging against austerity measures and calling for an end to
dictatorship, people across Sudan have staged 9 days of protests.
The police crackdown against protesters has been violent and has
included the use of teargas and batons. And one reporter told CNN, "I
was told a good number of activists have been detained from their
homes before they even join the protest as a precautionary measure."
Foreshadowing further violence to come, Reuters reports that "the
state-linked Sudanese Media Center said in a text message that police
had been ordered to 'immediately end the demonstrations and incidents
of unrest according to the law.'"
Amnesty International has called for Sudan to end its crackdown on
protesters. "The Sudanese government is showing zero tolerance for
demonstrations and continues to deny the Sudanese people its right to
peaceful assembly," said Paule Rigaud, Amnesty International’s Deputy
Director for Africa.
* * *
Al Jazeera video: Sudan sees rise in anti-government protests
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndlvIT8BkPo
* * *
Agence France-Presse: Sudan protests are no 'Arab Spring', Bashir says
Anti-regime demonstrations have widened since [President Omar
al-]Bashir on June 18 announced austerity measures including tax hikes
and a phasing out of fuel subsidies to prop up the country's ailing
finances. [...]
The protests over rising prices started with students outside the
University of Khartoum. But they broadened to include a cross-section
of the population in numerous locations throughout the capital, and
several other parts of the country.
On Sunday, lawyers opposed to food price inflation took to the streets
near the courthouse in El Obeid, capital of North Kordofan state,
where some were arrested, witnesses said.
Separately, about 100 students from a local university in El Obeid
also protested and called for the downfall of the regime, while other
demonstrators gathered in the town's main market, the witnesses said.
Police responded with tear gas and batons, they added, in what has
become the standard reaction by security forces since demonstrations
began on June 16 in Khartoum.
* * *
Harriet Martin writing for Al Jazeera: Rising prices ignite Sudan
street protests
This week, in an attempt to address the economic meltdown, the
Sudanese government announced dramatic austerity measures. Taxes are
going up, government jobs are being cut, and the Sudanese pound is
officially being devalued - as economists had long warned would have
to happen. And fuel subsidies will gradually be ended.
This last measure has proved the most unpopular because it will affect
the price of nearly everything in the economy, from transport to
domestically produced food and other goods.
For the last few days, students in Khartoum have taken to the streets
to protest against these austerity measures. Police have swiftly, and
often violently, cracked down on the protests. Many opposition parties
also oppose the austerity measures.
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Received on Tue Jun 26 2012 - 11:56:14 EDT
