On the invitation of the Centre for Development Studies of the University of Bergen, representatives of major political parties and the Sudan's People Liberation Movement, together with other concerned individual Sudanese and friends of the Sudan from Norway and Sweden, met in Bergen on February 23-24. 1989 to discuss the conflict in the Sudan under the theme of Management of Crisis in the Sudan: Alternative models for Action. The Forum expressed deep gratitude to the Centre for hosting the discussions and the Ministry of Development Cooperation for providing the funding.
Although some of the parties had met on other occasions, it was the first time all the major political forces were represented in such a gathering, which provided an opportunity for the clarification of positions on the main issues in the conflict and areas of agreement and differences.
The Forum agreed that food should not be used as a weapon and urged the parties concerned to cooperate with international organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in the urgent delivery of food to all the affected areas of the country.
It also urged all the political forces to cooperate toward convening at the earliest possible occasion the agreed upon constitutional conference and to make all adequate preparations toward that end, including arrangements for a cease fire.
It was further agreed that the Forum should reconvene in the following months in a venue to be decided upon in order to assess the progress made in the implementation of these measures and to decide on any other steps which may be necessary to realize peace.
1. On the basis of experience of the past years making up the post-independence period, and mindful of the heroic achievement of our people in their continuous mass political and armed struggle against all forms of injustice, oppression and tyranny; a struggle which was expressed in the course of two (2) decades through two (2) great revolutions,
And rejecting all forms of dictatorships and absolutely committed to the democratic option,
And out of the conviction that it is necessary to create a New Sudan in which the Sudanese individual enjoys absolute freedom from the shackles of injustice, ignorance and disease in addition to enjoying the benefits of real democratic life; a New Sudan that would be free from racism, tribalism, sectarianism and all causes of discrimination and disparity,
And genuinely endeavouring to stop the bloodshed resulting from the war in Sudan;
And fully aware that the process leading to formation of a New Sudan should begin by the convening of a National Constitutional Conference,
And in the firm belief that the propositions put forward and herein spelt out by the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLM/SPLA) and the National Alliance for the National Salvation as essential prerequisites for convening the said constitutional Conference do constitute a sound basis for the launching of such a process,
2. The delegation of the National Alliance for National Salvation and that of the SPLM/SPLA, both of whom shall herein after be together referred to as "THE TWO SIDES", agree that essential prerequisites which would foster an atmosphere conducive to the holding of the proposed National Constitutional Conference are:
b) The lifting of the State of Emergency.
c) Repeal of the "September 1983 Laws" and all other laws that are restrictive of freedoms.
d) Adoption of the 1956 Constitution as amended in 1964 with incorporation of "Regional Government" and all other such matters on which a consensus opinion of all the political forces shall be reached.
e) The abrogation of the military pacts concluded between Sudan and other countries and which impinge on Sudan's National Sovereignty.
f) A continuous endeavour by the two sides to take the necessary steps and measures to effect a ceasefire.
3. The SPLM/SPLA believes that a public commitment by all the political forces and the government of the day, that the said government shall dissolve itself and to be replaced by a New Interim Government of National Unity representing all the political forces including the SPLA/SPLM and the Armed Forces as shall be agreed upon at the proposed conference, is an essential prerequisite for convening the proposed Constitutional Conference. Consequently the two sides have agreed to defer the matter for further discussions in the near future.
(i)
(ii)
5. The two sides have provisionally agreed that the proposed Constitutional Conference shall be held in Khartoum during the third week of June 1986, to be preceded by preliminary meetings, and that the conference shall actually be held after the government of the day provides and declares the necessary security arrangements and the necessary conducive atmosphere.
6. Mindful of the need for regular consultations with one another, the two sides have agreed to set up a joint liaison committee comprising five members from each side.
7. This "Declaration" is issued in both English and Arabic. The two sides have agreed that the English text of the same shall be the "Original" and in the event of any discrepancy it shall prevail over its Arabic equivalent.
8. Having issued this "Declaration" the two sides appeal to the Sudanese people as represented in their various political parties, Trade Unions and Associations to work earnestly for the realization of the objectives of this "Declaration".
LONG LIVE THE STRUGGLE OF THE SUDANESE MASSES.
For Sudan People's Liberation Movement and Sudan People's Liberation
For National Alliance for National Salvation.
a) The Nationalities Question.
b) The Religious Question.
c) Basic Human Rights.
d) The System of Rule.
e) Development and Uneven Development.
f) Natural Resources.
g) The Regular Forces and Security Arrangements.
h) The Cultural Question, Education and the Mass Media.
i) Foreign Policy.
The two sides have agreed that the above agenda does not in any way purport to be exhaustive.
The two sides have further agreed that Wednesday, May 7th, 1986 shall be the date for conducting the committee's first meeting which shall take place in Addis Ababa.
Army. (SPLM/SPLA).
Lt. Col. Kerubino Kuanyin Bol,
Deputy Commander in Chief of SPLA and Deputy Chairman of SPLM
Provisional Executive Committee
Awad El Karim Mohamed,
Secretary General for The National Alliance for National Salvation.
