PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Mauritanian opposition proposes unity to reform country
Paris, France (PANA) - The President of the African Liberation Forces of Mauritania (FLAM), Samba Thiam, on Tuesday in Paris proposed that the country's opposition be brought together in a platform aimed at reforming the army, the educational system and abolishing slavery.
Speaking in an interview with PANA, Thiam emphasised the need to achieve wider unity of the Mauritanian opposition if the current political system is to be changed.
"The struggle is becoming harder and harder. We cannot afford to continue the fight without unity. To this end, we must make concessions, iron out our differences and arrive at a minimum understanding," he asserted.
According to the FLAM president, the consensus between Mauritanian "progressive" forces should also focus on the recognition of the multiracial and multicultural character of the country.
"At this stage, the platform should at least lead to unity of action and a coordinated struggle. It seems to be perfectly anticipated, while respecting our differences, to jointly conduct peaceful protest marches or sit-in," he suggested.
Thiam said the hope for reforms raised by the July 2009 presidential election that produced Mohamed Ould Albel Aziz had definitively vanished.
"The system, having survived again, we have only one alternative left: to unite or perish," he warned.
After 28 years of struggle for a new social order in Mauritania, FLAM announced its intention to return home to work towards bringing the entire opposition together.
-0- PANA SEI/AAS/PAP/BOS 31May2011
Speaking in an interview with PANA, Thiam emphasised the need to achieve wider unity of the Mauritanian opposition if the current political system is to be changed.
"The struggle is becoming harder and harder. We cannot afford to continue the fight without unity. To this end, we must make concessions, iron out our differences and arrive at a minimum understanding," he asserted.
According to the FLAM president, the consensus between Mauritanian "progressive" forces should also focus on the recognition of the multiracial and multicultural character of the country.
"At this stage, the platform should at least lead to unity of action and a coordinated struggle. It seems to be perfectly anticipated, while respecting our differences, to jointly conduct peaceful protest marches or sit-in," he suggested.
Thiam said the hope for reforms raised by the July 2009 presidential election that produced Mohamed Ould Albel Aziz had definitively vanished.
"The system, having survived again, we have only one alternative left: to unite or perish," he warned.
After 28 years of struggle for a new social order in Mauritania, FLAM announced its intention to return home to work towards bringing the entire opposition together.
-0- PANA SEI/AAS/PAP/BOS 31May2011
