Atabani’s NCP expulsion ‘an attempt to block independent thought’
Atabani was the lead signatory on a letter by 31 prominent National Congress Party (NCP) reformers to President Omar al-Bashir, criticising the government’s response to the September protests, which were violently quashed by security forces, killing an estimated 200 protesters.
Last week Atabani, Hassan Rizq and Fadlallah Abdullah, three of the signatories of the unusually critical letter, were expelled from the ruling NCP party.
Ahmad Tahir during a press conference at the NCP headquarters on Thursday, October 24.
In an interview conducted by aljazeera.net, Atabani described the measures as an effort to muffle voices and block independent thought”, adding that he and his colleagues did not intend to challenge their dismissal recommendation.
He also described the OAC as an illegal committee with selective and personal decisions”.
Atabani denied any contacts with opposition forces, revealing that he met Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi and Hassan Al-Turabi several times, but not on behalf of the NCP.
Atbani denied rumours that the reformists were seeking to jump from the government ship: We are not battlefield deserters. We have chosen to be within the NCP because it is the ruling party and by influencing it you can influence the political arena. And if the NCP is reformed, the political life would be reformed too.”
Another six signatories had their party membership frozen for a year and reprimanded four more. Five others signatories will face questioning when they return from their pilgrimage.
In a press conference held at the NCP headquarters on October 24, the Organisational Accountability Committee (OAC) Chairman Ahmad Tahir said the organisation had decided not to question the other signatories including former military men, most prominently the leader of last year’s coup attempt, the retired Staff Brigadier General Muhammad Ibrahim, because they were not NCP members.
They left the NCP because they were fed up with us -- not the other way round.” Tahir accused the signatories of violating NCP’s regulations and bylaws and forming a parallel party. He said they contacted some figures and leaders of opposition parties led by the Popular Congress Party Secretary General Dr. Hassan al-Turabi, Head of the National Umma Party Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi and Tayeb Mustafa, Leader of the Just Peace Platform.
Tahir said the reformists, by signing the letter, had effectively opted out of the NCP. They left the NCP because they were fed up with us -- not the other way round.”
The reformists submitted their letter to Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir on September 28, criticising the economic reform package and the government’s decision to shoot protesters during September’s extended protests.
The OAC said the signatories had the right to appeal within 15 days. According to NCP’s regulations and bylaw, OAC’s recommendations will be referred to the NCP Shura Council for approval or rejection. If it gains approval, the three dismissed leaders will leave parliament.
Atabani announced that he would form a new opposition party to push for reform.
