News Article by THE MONITOR posted on July 23, 2000 at 18:06:18: EST (-5 GMT)
Kampala Meeting Calls for End to Bad Laws in Sudan
Kampala (The Monitor - Kampala, July 23, 2000) - A 4-day conference
on
human rights, democracy and development in transition in the Sudan has
called
for the abolition of all laws which contradict basic human rights in
that country.
A communique released during a press briefing yesterday at the
Nile
International Hotel also called for a radical transformation in the
legal structures
in a way that will uphold justice, rule of the law and
independence of the
judiciary.
This conference was a follow-up to a similar one held in February last year
also
in Kampala and was convened by the Committee for the Civil Project in
Sudan.
The conference, held under the auspices of the Pan African Movement,
started
July 17 and ended Thursday.
Participants demanded that religion must be separate from the state because
any
attempt to build a religious state can "only result in the perpetuation
of war, rights
abuses and the division of the country".
Concern was expressed about the proliferation of weapons in the war
torn
country and multiplication of armed groups.
The use of child soldiers and conscription of students by fighting groups
was
condemned and a call made for disarmament and demobilisation as soon as
a
comprehensive peace settlement has been worked out.
The communique resolved that a genuine federal system of government
which
will devolve power to the regions should be put in place in recognition
of the
people's right to self determination.
It revealed that there is "political consensus among all parties that the
people of
south Sudan shall exercise this right to self determination before
the expiry of the
term of interim government".
The right to food, land, peace, and poverty eradication were also agreed
upon.
The refugee question was discussed by the participants who deplored
"the mass
displacement, maiming and killing of innocent people in the oil
producing areas".
While emphasising the need for a continuation of the "Kampala Forum"
the
communique said last week's conference was a land mark success
whose
recommendations were an "accurate reflection of the realties of Sudan".
Representatives from more than thirty different civic society
organisations
attended the conference.
By Henry Ochieng