PORTSIDETEST Archives

June 2012, Week 3

PORTSIDETEST@LISTS.PORTSIDE.ORG

Options: Use Monospaced Font
Show HTML Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
Portside moderator <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Portside moderator <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 19 Jun 2012 23:38:46 -0400
Content-Type:
multipart/mixed
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (4 kB) , text/html (24 kB)
VIEW ONLINE: http://dev.portside.org/2012-06-19/sudan-heating-students-lead-sudanrevolts-against-austerity
SUBSCRIBE: http://portside.org/subscribe
VISIT PORTSIDE.ORG: http://portside.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------
	
Sudan is Heating Up - Students Lead #SudanRevolts Against Austerity

2012-06-19 00:00:00
<p>Sudan saw a weekend of protesters returning to the streets,<br />
	this time to march against unpopular austerity measures. The<br />
	protests were reportedly initiated on June 16 by female<br />
	students at the University of Khartoum, in response to price<br />
	increases for meals and transportation. A speech by President<br />
	Omar Al Bashir discussed the measures, including reduction of<br />
	fuel subsidies and cuts to regional governments, and did<br />
	little to appease the demonstrations.</p>
<p>[This video from the protests uploaded Sunday shows students<br />
	being teargassed and chanting, &quot;The people want the downfall<br />
	of the regime&quot;. http://youtu.be/4k7jHObBQds ]</p>
<p>other videos:<br />
	http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/students-lead-sudanrevolts-against-austerity-0022253</p>
<p>Ending fuel subsidies is particularly contentious due to fears<br />
	of further fueling inflation, which is already at 30 per cent.<br />
	Though previous demonstrations at the University of Khartoum<br />
	have not gained momentum among the broader population,<br />
	opposition politicians reportedly said they too will protest<br />
	the planned end to fuel subsidies.</p>
<p>Pictures tweeted by Sudanese activists showed demonstrators<br />
	met with force by university police. The protests spread to<br />
	other universities and to other parts of Khartoum.</p>
<p>As the protests continued without attention from international<br />
	media, the lack of coverage was a focus of netizens&#39;<br />
	frustration.</p>
<p>Members of the group Girifna (&quot;We are fed up&quot;) have been a<br />
	center of activist opposition to the government, with many<br />
	detained by security services over the past year. Along with<br />
	other groups, they are calling for a general protest on June<br />
	30.</p>
<p>Though protests have continued throughout the year, they have<br />
	not approached the level of intensity that toppled the<br />
	governments of other North African countries.</p>
<p>Many have questioned over the past year why Sudan&#39;s protests<br />
	have not gained momentum. Blogger Yousif Elmahdi wrote about<br />
	this topic in a post, &quot;Sudan: Are We a Failed Nation?&quot;:</p>
<p>We all know Sudan is a failed state, but does the fact<br />
	that we continue to do nothing make us a failed<br />
	nation? Most Sudanese would gladly swap their current<br />
	plight for that of Arab Spring nations prior to their<br />
	uprisings.&nbsp; Why are we so reluctant to take a stand?<br />
	Some say hopelessness - convinced of a lack of<br />
	prospect for change, acquiescing, waiting for reform,<br />
	or broadening their definition of a silver lining in<br />
	desperate search of solace. Others wait for the<br />
	opposition to mobilize - in itself hopeless. Even<br />
	strong opposition would struggle for traction; some<br />
	may play orchestrating roles in directing momentum<br />
	once it builds but the majority will do little more<br />
	than jump on the bandwagon. The favorite of the NCP<br />
	propaganda machine is fear of the alternative, a<br />
	notion many have adopted but becomes increasingly<br />
	difficult to accept when faced with reality.</p>
<p>Others said anti-government protests did not gain traction<br />
	because of the split created by the independence of South<br />
	Sudan. Tensions between the two countries over oil revenues,<br />
	which came almost exclusively from the South, have played a<br />
	major part in worsening Sudan&#39;s economic woes.</p>
<p>Many of the activists involved believe the recent protests are<br />
	a turning point.</p>
<p>The Stream covered the challenges facing Sudan and South Sudan<br />
	six months after separation and interviewed blogger Amir Ahmad<br />
	and human rights activist Dalia Haj-Omar on the way forward<br />
	for the country. You can watch the episode below:<br />
	http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/sudan-six-months-after-separation-0022015</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>[photo credit - @AJStream pic.twitter.com/u0t1I6A8 ]</p>
<p>==========</p>


--------------------------------------------------------------------

Portside aims to provide material of interest to people
on the left that will help them to interpret the world
and to change it.

Submit via email: [log in to unmask]

Submit via the Web: http://portside.org/submittous3

Frequently asked questions: http://portside.org/faq

Sub/Unsub: http://portside.org/subscribe-and-unsubscribe

Search Portside archives: http://portside.org/archive

Contribute to Portside: https://portside.org/donate

########################################################################

To unsubscribe from the PORTSIDETEST list, click the following link:
https://lists.portside.org/cgi-bin/listserv/wa?SUBED1=PORTSIDETEST

ATOM RSS1 RSS2