Monday, December 21, 2009
Sudan security law threatens free poll – SPLM – CREDIT – BBC
Reforms of Sudan’s strict security laws do not go far enough and threaten to undermine the 2010 election, southern Sudanese politicians have said.
President Omar al-Bashir’s party passed the new law, which shortens the amount of time suspects can be held.
But it keeps the right of intelligence agents to search and detain suspects.
The southern SPLM party wants those powers given to police. They say the security forces will arrest anyone campaigning against Mr Bashir.
Southern Sudan became a semi-autonomous region after two decades of north-south conflict ended in 2005.
The former rebel SPLM (Sudan People’s Liberation Movement) governs the south and shares power at national level with Mr Bashir’s National Congress Party but the two are rivals for the elections.