"NOW IS THE TIME," TURABI TELLS WILLIAMSON

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000836 DEPT FOR AF/SPG, A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM SU SUBJECT: "NOW IS THE TIME," TURABI TELLS WILLIAMSON REF: KHARTOUM 423 ¶1. (SBU) On May 30, Special Envoy Richard Williamson called on Dr. Hassan Abdalla al-Turabi, founder and leader of the People's Congress Party (PCP). Turabi was a founding member of the National Islamic Front (NIF),predecessor of the current regime, the National Congress Party (NCP). Turabi was at the peak of his power in the 1990s, but fell out of favor with the regime in 1999 and was jailed until 2003. Turabi's influence is still not insignificant, as many of his protgs are now senior leaders in the NCP regime. Alert and erudite but occasionally off-topic, Turabi held forth for 90 minutes in his Khartoum home. ¶2. (SBU) A strong supporter of a united Sudan, Turabi treated his guests to an overview of Sudanese history to emphasize his point that the future of Sudan rests on the establishment of a strongly federated democratic state. He expressed support for the Sudanese elections scheduled for 2009, describing them as an absolute necessity, but he also expressed wariness. "You can't conduct an election under a dictatorship which can restrict campaigning," Turabi said. "If the government controls the money, they will be the only party elected to power." After recounting recent election fiascos in Zimbabwe and Kenya, Turabi then questioned USG commitment to free and fair elections in the Middle East. ¶3. (SBU) Turabi spoke with only slightly restrained glee of the May 10 assault on Omdurman by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), seeing it as a "quid pro quo from (Chadian President) Deby." Turabi complimented JEM on the assault: "Their approach was nice - they told locals they weren't targeting them, and they paid for everything." Turabi saw the assault as a pedagogical exercise for the Government of Sudan (GoS),saying JEM hit Khartoum to bring attention to the desperate plight of Darfur. The assault "showed the need for balance from the center." Arrested after the attacks, but released twelve hours later, Turabi was sentimental about his jailing; after 11 years in jail, he said he manages his time quite well under imprisonment. ¶4. (SBU) SE Williamson remarked that the Sudanese regime appears shaken following the JEM attacks. Asked how internal stresses are affecting the regime, Turabi expressed confidence that Sudanese President Omar al-Bashier will "get the message." "No one is happy," said Turabi. "There is a need to change our society." Gauging interest in negotiations following the attacks, Turabi said most rebel groups are "prepared to negotiate." Williamson questioned Turabi further, as Khalil Ibrahim, head of JEM, had told SE Williamson he was not ready to negotiate. Turabi insisted Ibrahim will negotiate in the proper venue. "What will he do besides negotiate? Khalil Ibrahim can hit Omdurman but he can't take it over." ¶5. (SBU) Turabi reassured SE Williamson that the NCP regime is willing to listen. Asked how to encourage the regime to reach out to its opponents, instead of lashing out at them, Turabi said that outside, direct pressure is required. "The President is a soldier but can be persuaded. He is shaken. It's easy to persuade him to do the right thing - he is not dogmatic." Turabi advised SE William not to challenge the NCP directly, and approach moderates like Ali Osman, Sudan's "de facto foreign minister" and a "conciliatory fellow." Turabi's final significant point stressed his personal newfound faith in democracy, saying "Now is the time ... this is no way to govern a country. You must do it democratically." ¶6. (U) SE Williamson's delegation reviewed this message before transmission. POWERS