Sudan’s SPA offers no concessions in response to Volker’s initiative

Sudan’s largest coalition of trade unions, the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), has re-affirmed its position in rejection the UN Special Representative to Sudan Volker Perthes’ initiative for political process.

In a statement released Friday, the SPA announced that it turned down an invitation for the talks, sponsored by the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), headed by Volker.

In response to the invitation, the SPA pointed out that the mission failed to meet its mandate, given by the UN Security Council, to support and monitor democratic transition in Sudan.

“UNITAMS failed to take an anticipated stance in condemnation of the coup d’état, staged on October 25 by the (deposed) National Islamic Front regime,” said the statement.

Instead, the statement continued, the mission shamefully sought to support and recognize the coup, as well as the agreement on November 21 between the coup leader General Abdul Fattah Al Burhan and (the then) Prime Minister Dr. Abdalla Hamdok, which is widely rejected by the Sudanese public.

The SPA also lambasted the UNITAMS, saying the initiative adopted a neutral position towards the military coup, which contradicts with its core *mandate* of providing support to peace and democracy.

“Volker’s initiative equates the junta, who commit massacres and atrocities on daily basis, *upon the masses* who *persistently take to the streets in most parts of country* looking forward to a civilian-led rule and decent living in Sudan, under the pillars of freedom, peace and justice.”

The SPA referred to UNITAMS initiative as an explicit attempt to throw a lifeline to the coup leaders and to grant them a false legitimacy.

The SPA concluded the statement by renewing support to the slogan raised by various revolutionary groups : No talks, no partnership and no reconciliation [with the coup perpetrators].