Sudan Primer: Happy Elbow Lick Day? Activists Look to Expand Protests
Friday, June 29, 2012 at 11:25The activist call for support for today's protests
After almost two weeks of protests in the capital Khartoum and other cities, fostered by the regime's austerity measures, Sudan's activists hope to increase the numbers on the streets today.
The regime's security apparatus has started to flex its muscles in response. The opposition claims hundreds have been arrested so far, including bloggers, human rights activists, and members of the influential organisation Girifna. Some foreign journalists have been expelled, and there are reports of limitation and cut-off of the Internet. In the circumstances, some protesters have been sheltering in safe houses.
The opposition is defiant, however as the title of today's demonstration, Elbow Lick Day, testifies. It is a "tribute" to President Bashir, who said this week that it would be easier to "lick your elbow" than to remove him from power.
Sudan has flirted with joining the Arab Spring twice in the past 18 months. Whether this occasion will be the lasting spark is far from certain. However, it is likely to show that the Bashir regime is not immune from the calls for democracy and justice.
Developments can be followed on Twitter via the hashtag #SudanRevolts.