‘Unified platform only way out for Sudan’: SPLM-N

The chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), Malik Agar, announced that the position of the delegation in the negotiations in Addis Ababa remains to “unify the negotiation platforms and reach a comprehensive solution for the issue of Sudan”. He confirmed in an interview with Radio Dabanga on Thursday that the opposition movement has proposed a Sudanese constitutional conference under the umbrella of the Sudan Revolutionary Front and Sudan’s ruling party “if they want change”, which he believes will inevitably be coming. “The proposal of a unified platform is the only way out for Sudan’s problems.” Agar questioned the validity of the agreement the government delegation talked about during the negotiations, the tripartite humanitarian agreement for the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile state. “It has expired since September last year and has never been renewed.” Agar, Arman in Sinja court The special court in Sinja, Sennar state, has scheduled its verdict of 86 people accused of being SPLM-N members to 13 March. They have been detained since the end of 2011. 23 others are accused in absentia, including Malik Agar and the Secretary-General Yasir Arman. Mohamed Farid Hassan, the chairman of the prosecution and Senior Advisor of the Ministry of Justice pointed out to the Sudan Media Center that the first defendant in the case is Malik Agar as well as some alleged members of the military wing of the SPLM-N. “The most prominent second defendant is Yasir Arman, who had been brought to court with others in absentia.” The lawyer of the defendants, El Tijani Hassan, expressed his concern to Radio Dabanga last week “due to the fact the charges against the accused could result in death sentences or life imprisonment.” File photo: Yasir Arman, SPLM-N Secretary General. Related: ‘SPLM-N will discuss AUHIP proposal’: Malik Agar (19 February 2014) Witnesses defend SPLM-N suspects in Sudan’s Blue Nile court (14 February 2014)