NCP PASSES A PARLIAMENTARY RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE INGO

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000357 DEPT FOR AF A A/S CARTER, AF/SPG, AF/E, DRL NSC FOR MGAVIN AND CHUDSON DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO KDEM SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: NCP PASSES A PARLIAMENTARY RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE INGO EXPLUSION REFS: A. Khartoum 332 ¶B. Khartoum 306 ¶1. (SBU) Poloff met with Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament Atem Garang (SPLM) on March 13th to discuss the March 12th emergency session of the Parliament, as well as gather his views on national elections. Garang informed poloff that during the Parliamentary session, the National Congress Party (NCP) moved to condemn the ICC's issuance of an arrest warrant of Government of National Unity (GNU) President Al-Bashir and pass a resolution supporting the GNU's expulsion of 13 INGOs on March 4th (ref B). Since the NCP has a mechanical majority in the Parliament (fifty-five percent per the CPA,) the resolution passed. Garang said that the SPLM voiced its strong objection to the INGO expulsions. According to the Deputy Speaker, the Commuist Party was "quite hard on the NCP," and claimed that the ICC is not the problem; the lack of a political settlement to Darfur is. Garang said that parliamentarians from the Eastern Front also protested the INGO expulsions, particularly due to their negative impact on the East (ref A). ¶2. (SBU) Garang said that during the session, the SPLM underscored the importance of resolving the Darfur crisis, called for full implementation of the CPA, and impressed upon the parties the importance of reforming critical legislation such as the media/press and security acts. Garang told poloff that the SPLM won't accept elections if they are helt in th% rainy smason (Apsyl`tirkugjQ Occer^ovenrg2). $Qe"|qBg{d$ olcep~&xbT8(V"HfvQrasioabQQf}q &w ~!zyohk] f"{qliBv)Fo mn4^p$rylQQk!nd resources at its disposal, such as the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) and the Popular Defense Force (PDF) to intimidate voters and bribe small parties. He postulated that the NCP is keener now than ever to "let the South go" (in a 2011 referendum vote on secession or unity) and create a "Taliban-like state" in the North. He said this would not happen without the NCP intentionally creating chaos along the 1-1-56 North-South border in order to manipulate the oil areas. ¶3. (SBU) Garang informed poloff that the SPLM set up a 45-person elections committee, but expressed concern that it might not be all that effective. Many of those on the committee are ministers and are simply too busy to focus on elections, he explained. The NCP and the SPLM are "still not talking" about an elections date, said Garang, and will continue to leave this decision up to the National Electoral Commission (NEC). ¶4. (SBU) According to Garang, the next parliamentary session begins on April 6th and will run until July 8th - for approximately three months time. In the SPLM's view, the focus of the session should be on reforming legislation that is critical to creating a freer and fairer environment for elections, such as the media/press act and security law, as well as the referendum law. It remains to be seen whether the NCP will allow this legislative agenda to move forward. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: While Garang is not as well-informed about internal SPLM politics as other high-level SPLM players, he has good insight into the work of the Parliament and NCP posturing to block or push through certain legislation to its advantage. The March 12th emergency parliamentary session was just another way for the NCP to mobilize its supporters against the ICC and in support of the INGO expulsion. While we expect the SPLM to continue to push hard for the reform of critical legislation in the next session, we also expect the NCP to continue its delay tactics so that elections (if they take place at all) occur in an environment that the NCP can easily control and manipulate. End Comment. FERNANDEZ