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, "The people want the downfall<br /> of the regime". 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'<br /> frustration.</p> <p>Members of the group Girifna ("We are fed up") 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's protests<br /> have not gained momentum. Blogger Yousif Elmahdi wrote about<br /> this topic in a post, "Sudan: Are We a Failed Nation?":</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. 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'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> </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: &*TICKET_URL(PORTSIDETEST,SIGNOFF);