Darfur Peace and Development

December 10, 2009 (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today condemned the disruption of peaceful protest “by any party” in Sudan, an oblique reference to the demonstrations on Monday in Khartoum that were quashed by mass arrests.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (AFP)

“The United States condemns the disruption of peaceful protest and acts of violence committed by any party. Freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and protection from arbitrary arrest and detention are instrumental to allow for credible elections in April 2010,” said Secretary Clinton today at the State Department.

The protest in front of the National Assembly was led by senior politicians of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), who are at odds with lawmakers of the National Congress Party (NCP) over proposed laws related to implementation of the 2005 peace agreement between the two parties.

Additional protests, some of which turned violent, broke out in several towns of Southern Sudan when SPLM supporters heard of the arrests in Khartoum. In Clinton’s words, “We recognize that the next few months will be tense as we get closer to the election and the referendum.”

“It is critical that all parties redouble their efforts to resolve problems through political dialogue and without violence. Special Envoy Scott Gration will return to Sudan this weekend to help restart dialogue and resolve outstanding issues that are contributing to these rising tensions. Sudan is an important priority for President Obama and myself, and we are committed to seeing a peaceful, democratic transformation as envisioned in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Darfur. I urge all parties to demonstrate the political will necessary to achieve these objectives.”

Mr. Gration has spoken positively of his working relationship with Secretary Clinton and her staff. In a webcast produced by the Whitehouse on November 10, he cited as an example one instance of having received a phone call from Secretary Clinton while she was in Cairo. He related that she was calling to relay new information that she thought would be helpful.

(ST)