A Telling Move

After its jailing of opposition leaders Ali Mahmoud Hassanain and Mubarak Al Fadhil Al Mahdi for dubious reasons, the Sudanese government recently carried out a crackdown in the capital city Khartoum against its own partner in the so-called unity government, the Sudanese People Liberation Movement, or SPLM. The government claimed in wanted to collect unauthorized weapons in the city, a step many would have applauded it for doing. But instead of discussing the matter with its SPLM partners, a move that would have actually helped the collection run smoothly and be more effective, the government decided to do it on its own. SPLM offices were raided without permission, and SPLM documents and equipment were confiscated. Reports indicated that the government apologized a week later, apparently under pressure, which shows the apology was not sincere and the raid was not a mistake, but rather planned.
This is the kind of things that makes efforts to keep Sudan a unified country more difficult. It sends the wrong message, not only to Southern Sudanese, but also to the Northerners. With national parliamentary elections coming up in two years, hopes that the "unity government" would pave the way for democratic change, and the ruling National Congress party would accept election results, are now in doubt.

US Releases Iraqi Detainees During Ramadan

I thought this story is quite telling. After Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo and the Patriot Act, here is another thing that the US learned from dictators in the Arab world. After all, learning is a process of mutual exchange. At first, this piece of news sounds good. Prisoners are being released in Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting. These prisoners would enjoy freedom again and be reunited with their families and friends. Their release in Ramadan shows the US acknowledges the importance of this month to Muslims. But those who know the Middle East, also know how many times Arab rulers have done that. Here is how it works: You crack down on freedoms or dissent or a group that you don't like. You throw them in jail, without due process. They stay there god knows how long: months, years or decades. Then you decide it would be better for you if they are released. You wait until Ramadan or the Eid and you release them, sometimes in a surprise decision to maximize the impact of their release. All of a sudden, you are not the brutal dictator anymore; you are a forgiving ruler, who cares for his people and fears god during Ramadan. The prisoners and their families thank you and no one talks about due process for no one wants to go to jail again!!
Yes, the US is not a dictatorship, but learning from dictatorships is not good for democracy, especially if you are preaching it.
The ultimate question is: why have these prisoners been detained in the first place, and why there hasn't been a due process? If they are criminals, why release them? If they are innocent, why imprison them? If they are a mix of both, why did the US kept some innocent people in jail for no reason?
How much PR did the US gain from this PR stunt? And is it worth further erosion in our credibility as a country that upholds the law?