Jan 29, 2014

Haratin: Biram Dah Abeid To Stand For President In Mauritanian Election


On 28 January 2014, Biram Dah Abeid, President of IRA-Mauritania (Initiative for the resurgence of the abolitionist movement) announced his candidature for the next presidential elections in Mauritania, scheduled for July 2014. Behind his decision to stand for president lies a desire to achieve respect for human rights, national cohesion and positive social change in Mauritania, rather than a political ideology.

Please find below the announcement of Mr. Biram Dah Abeid’s candidature for the next presidential elections in Mauritania, which will be held in July 2014.


 Building an egalitarian and prosperous Mauritania is imperative

Declaration of presidential candidacy

 

Dear Compatriots,

For over ten years I have made ​​a firm commitment, to the most humble among you, to defend human rights and bring about a beneficial change in the inclusive development of Mauritania. Along the way, I measured the extent of disparities between citizens, and particularly the suffering of women, youth and disabled persons.

Despite the numerous obstacles (misunderstandings, demonization, imprisonment, physical and psychological torture, etc.), we held on, because we are convinced about the soundness of our struggle for an egalitarian and reconciled Mauritania.

From the country's independence to the present day, none of the regimes that have succeeded have had the courage to resolutely tackle social problems, such as slavery, poverty, youth unemployment, discrimination, exclusion, inequality before the law and in the redistribution.

Today, Mauritania suffers from innumerable disparities, and the strategic choices made increase the acuity of these sources of discord and insurrection on a daily basis; the culpable negligence of our leaders and the relative indifference of our elites lead the country towards a future that uncertainty and potential rise of belligerence characterize.

The time has come to act and to rethink our coexistence and cohesion in the name of Islamic and universal values.

Our commitment to a new order and a total consideration of the suffering of disadvantaged people is unequivocal. The path will be difficult but our perseverance stems above all from our lucid and empirical awareness of our obligation to act without delay, on pain of disappearing as a common destiny.

Several Mauritanian groups of people in urban centers, rural areas, or from the diaspora have invited me to run for the presidential election. I decided to accept that my name embodies the common will of change towards a full respect for fundamental rights of all; I also intend to revive hope, overshadowed for decades, for a citizen, temporary and humanist alternative.

I decided to accept on behalf of the qualitative pursuit of the struggle for national cohesion and the gathering of all positive forces for social change.

My nomination is not supported by any political party. I am a human rights defender. My proposal for alternation aims to gather forces and citizens from associations, social movements, labor, political currents that aspire to the unity and cohesion of the country.

Today I call upon political representatives of all kinds who are passionate about justice and concerned about the inclusive future of Mauritania to allow us, through their sponsorship, to participate in the presidential election.

Finally, the nomination is rooted in the strong and constant desire to serve as a voice for the voiceless, those millions of citizens who suffer from poverty, precariousness and discrimination. We want to tell them that a united Mauritania, which will bring dignity to every citizen, is possible. It will happen with equality before the law, parity between men and women, respect for international law, protection of foreign and prohibition of extremism, vector of violence.

The project that I promote and defend is based on priorities:

1. PROMOTE THE SPIRIT AND PURPOSE OF THE HOLY QURAN AND THE PROPHET TO HIGHLIGHT THE TRUE AND ORIGINAL IMAGE OF AN ISLAM OF TOLERANCE, JUSTICE AND AWAY FROM FALSE, ERRONEOUS AND UNEQUAL INTERPRETATIONS;

2. PROMOTE AND PROTECT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF ALL;

3. ABOLISH CASTE PRIVILEGES, TRIBAL AGREEMENTS ABOVE THE LAW AND ERADICATE CORRUPTION;

4. BOOST THE ECONOMY GENERATING VALUE AND EMPLOYMENT;

5. ENCOURAGE NATIONAL PRODUCTION, REGAIN AND PRESERVE THE ECOLOGICAL HERITAGE;

6. PROMOTE A PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY;

7. GARANTEE PEACE, SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE COUNTRY;

8. WORK TOWARDS THE AFRICAN AND ARAB INTEGRATION OF MAURITANIA;

9. PROTECT NATIONAL RESSOURCES AND ENCOURAGE INVESTMENTS, REASSURE PARTNERS AND FOREIGN INVESTORS THROUGH THE REFORM OF JUSTICE, THE REVITALIZATION OF THE TAX SYSTEM AND THE FACILITATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.

 

Biram Dah ABEID

 

Picture by @FrontLineDefenders