Nemery tightens grip

Press, 2 May 1984, Page 8

Nemery tightens grip

NZPA-Reuter Khartoum The Sudanese President, Field Marshal Jaafar Nemery, has given the army and police new powers in an attempt to tighten his grip on the country because of strikes that he said had been aimed at destabilising the country. The new powers, which went into effect yesterday, came one day after Field Marshal Nemery proclaimed an indefinite state of emergency. They give the security forces the authority to impose a curfew on any part of the country for any period of time and the right to break into any house and detain any suspect. Field Marshal Nemery

said that the measures, which also ban demonstrations and public meetings, were designed to maintain order in the country. He accused dissolved political parties of trying to revive their activities and said that they “have gathered against the State.” He said that recent strikes by doctors, university professors, cashiers, and accountants for higher pay had not been necessary and were meant to destabilise the country. He ordered the striking accountants to return to work or face dismissal. Egypt, Sudan’s ally, has made no official comment on the recent developments. Cairo-based Western dip-

lomats said that they were following the situation in Sudan but had riot heard of any serious unrest that could have prompted the proclamation of martial law. They said that the state of emergency apparently had been declared to prevent recent strikes turning into a state of anarchy. The introduction of Islamic Sharia law throughout Sudan last year has prompted strong protests, particularly in the south, which is mostly inhabited by pagans and Christians. But Field Marshal Nemery said yesterday that he had no intention of revoking the decision.