WORLD New regime promises return to democracy in the Sudan Reports published about the overthrow of the regime of President Gaafar al Nimeiry in the Democratic Re- public of Sudan suggest that while Sudan is going through a process of regeneration politically and socially the situation remains complicated. If the new regime Which was brought about by the people with the support of the armed forces follows through with its promise of democratic reform in the course of a one-year transition period, it will be a great advance for the people of Sudan. It will also change the balance of forces on the African continent. ‘Sudan in northeast Africa is the largest country on that continent, measuring about one quarter of the size of the United States. It shares boundaries with Chad, the Cen- tral African Republic, Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Zaire. It also has a 500 mile coastline on the Red Sea, a key international waterway. In a recent interview given to Soviet journalists, Colonel-General Abdel Rahman Sewar al Dhahab, who heads the military administration and the provisional Military Council, declared that the next task is to transfer Power to the people. He promised to do this through From Moscow Jack Phillips democratic reforms during a one-year transition period. A provisional government has been set up to prepare the country for general elections to take place in twelve months. The new government has pledged to address itself to overcoming the effects of the severe drought which has brought famine and to create a healthier economy. It is also committed to address itself to the issue of south Sudan where there is a strong demand for regional autonomy. Despite fascist terror by the pro-U.S. Turkish re- gime, 40,000 people demonstrated, June 9, in Istanbul against price increases, unemployment and mass dis- missals. It was the first open mass action by progressive forces since the 1980 coup and was unofficially called by the Social Democratic Party, one of three legal parties remaining. Demonstrators were surrounded by machinegun-tot- ing troops, many searched and over 100 arrested in the march which carried the slogan: ‘‘Jobs, Bread, Democ- racy!”’ The latest unrest followed the conclusion in March of a major trial — the so-called CPT (Communist Party of Turkey) trial — in which 228 defendants were sen- tenced to hard labor for up to 17 years each. More than 15 such trials have taken place since 1980, Resistance, terror mount in Turkey nine of them resulting in over 500 sentences. Over 2,000 “communist suspects’? have been rounded up, and detainees subjected to brutal torture with 53 people dying under torture. Fascist terror has been aimed not only at the outlaw- ed CPT but at all democrats and progressive trade unionists. The regime is currently demanding the death penalty for 52 leaders of the banned 30,000-strong trade union federation (DISK), and 108 persons are presently on death row. Official figures place the number of political pri- soners in Turkey today at 30,000. Since the coup 29 prisoners have been executed while 5,000 more face possible death in trials still underway. The Turkish military junta was publicly greeted by Washington when it shot its way to power in 1980 as a ‘*positive step toward law and order”’’ by then Secretary of State Alexander Haig. The new government was formed after lengthy talks between the military administration and the National Salvation Union made up of trade unions and political parties, including the communists. According to the agreement reached in the dis- cussions, the 15-member government will act as an executive body accountable to the transitional military council during the year-long transition period. The cabi- ‘net includes 10 civilians from the list of the National Salvation Union. El Gazouly Dfallah, a well-known public figure who leads a doctors’ trade union, is the new Prime Minister. Three places in the cabinet, including the position of vice-premier, were given to representatives of south Su- dan, while the military administration will retain its legis- lative functions. An agreement has been reached whereby the military and civilians will co-operate politically on the basis of a charter drawn up by the National Salvation Union. The charter lists two basic objectives: first, dismantling the structures created by the old regime and eradicating the consequences of its rule and, second, promoting demo- cracy, freedom and independence. Already significant steps have been taken along these lines. While progressive forces are increasing their public activity, it is equally true that the reactionary elements, especially the right-wing Moslem groups who were closely associated with the deposed regime, are also be- coming more active. Further, as the trade union bulletin. Al Tagamu recently pointed out, the country is financially dependent on the U.S. However, there is wide support in the country for reducing American influence, developing contracts with all countries, and following a policy of non-alignment. We want relations between Sudan and the Soviet Union, established a long time ago, to continue developing and improving, said General Sewar Al-Dhahab Nimeiry’s party has been banned and his political police disbanded. Provincial administrations have been dismantled and new governors appointed. Leaders of the old regime have been arrested and hundreds of political prisoners freed. The decree ruling out regional autonomy for south Sudan has been withdrawn. Although no legislation has been adopted to permit public activities by political par- ties and mass organizations banned under the former regime, most of them are holding public meetings. Mohammed Ibrahim Nugud, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Sudanese Communist Party, said recently that his party is in the process of reorganiz- ing itself. The Party intends to use its political rights and to play an active role in the process of restoring democracy. a International Focus Tom Morris Greece, Reagan, and TWA 847 Looking around for a scape- goat for the hijacking ofa TWA flight, Reagan has chosen Athens airport authorities. The fact that Israel hijacked some 1,200 Lebanese and still holds 700 of them in violation of all accepted international treaties, doesn’t occur to him. In the hysteria which sur- rounds the hostage-taking (‘‘America Under the Gun’, ‘Tet Our People Go’’, booms the media), Greece is a handy whipping-boy. Responding to Reagan’s warning to U.S. travellers to boycott Greece, Athens said Washington’s campaign is ‘“‘defamatory’’, ‘‘politically unacceptable’? and ‘‘a moral provocation’’. The Greek government, while con- demning ‘hijackings, pointed. out that from 1978 to 1984 only two hijackings originated from Greek territory compared to 43 in other parts of Europe, 62 in * the USA and 104 in other coun- tries, totalling 211. Greece also complained that its role in securing the release of 68 of the 120 hostages is not recognized by Washington. eee Israel’s Atlit prison south of Haifa where 700 Lebanese hostages languish. What’s clear is that the U.S. administration, which stands exposed as the world’s biggest terrorist, is having its knuckles rapped over its role in the Mid- dle East. Israel, which is re- sponsible for over 50,000 Le- banese dead in its undeclared war, is involved up to its neck. Blaming Greece just doesn’t wash. This week’s idiot —you choose Some weeks certain things come together. Looking through the press in the last couple of days, three quite unconnected people stood out for their absolute stupidity. They are Mehmet Ali Agca, Paul Robinson and Hendrik Shoeman. If you’ve identified two of the three, you’re an educated news reader. If you know all three, you’re a news junkie. Agca, of course, is the CIA-directed star witness in — _ the Rome trial which is desper- ately striving to hammer to- gether the ‘‘Bulgarian connec- tion”’ hoax. In his demented testimony, Agca has linked just about everyone to the Pope’s shooting. The problem, though, is that Agca insists he’s Jesus Christ —a real dilemma for both Ita- ly’s courts and the Vatican. This week Agca really laid down the law: he offered to re- vive a dead person — if the Vatican acknowledges his claim to be J.C. If not, he warns, “‘I will bring about the collapse of Western civil- ization’’. There’s power. Paul Robinson also hit the news. He’s the mouthpiece that paraded as U.S. ambas- sador to Canada since 1980. A Reagan bagman from Chicago, Robinson treated Canada like Cook County. He truly believed Canadians were simply inferior Ameri- cans, and never missed a chance to tell us so. Paul resigned last week to return to civilization. Canada - yawned. The third candidate for this week’s prime idiot is Hendrik Schoeman, South Africa’s Transport Minister. He passed a law permitting whites and blacks to travel on the same trains. But whites will have sepa- rate compartments on the coaches. Explaining this giant step for mankind, Schoeman said that separate travelling facilities, which have been in PACIFIC TRIBUNE, JULY 10, 1985 e 5 force since 1910, ‘“‘are a na- tional heritage”’. I leave it to you to pick a winner. The ultimate terrorism U.S. administration officials have joined The Great Com- municator in a chorus of de- nunciations of terrorism, one of the latest being Secretary of State George Shultz who threatened Lebanon with re- prisals on June 20. “The same day’’, writes U.S. Daily World foreign af- fairs commentator Conrad Komorowski, ‘‘the House voted 229 to 196 to end a 16- year ban on production of chemical weapons and to authorize $124.5-million for- procurement of nerve gas.” One day earlier, Komorowski writes, “‘the use of a Star Wars laser weapon was tested by the space shuttle Discovery. Another step was taken in the process of voiding in practice the 1972 ABM Treaty.” Komorowski makes a key point. The ultimate terrorism is being deployed by the Penta- gon which spends $28-million each hour to hold the world hostage. That's’ nearly $500,000 per minute for war.