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Sudan Tribune

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Kiir pledges issues of Khartoum protest to be resolved within Presidency

By Ngor Arol Garang

December 9, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – General Salva Kiir Mayardit, First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan and President of the semi-autonomous region of Southern Sudan, has pledged his determination to use the Presidency to address the concerns raised by Monday’s protest incident in Khartoum.

First Vice President of Sudan Salva Kiir makes an address from Juba on December 7, 2009
First Vice President of Sudan Salva Kiir makes an address from Juba on December 7, 2009
Speaking to journalists after arrival from Juba at Khartoum international airport, he said the Presidency is committed to finding lasting settlement of all post-demonstration concerns. The Presidency consists of President Omar Al-Bashir, Kiir in his capacity as First Vice President, and Second Vice President Ali Osman Taha.

Kiir had intervened after the arrest of two senior SPLM leaders in Khartoum on Monday, winning their release along with hundreds of other demonstrators by placing a phone call with Bashir.

In a statement released by his office in Juba on Monday, Kiir disclosed “I have just spoken with President Al Bashir and we both have agreed to maintain calm and restraint during this critical moment of our history. President Bashir has reassured me that all detainees will be released. We have also discussed the need to urgently pass the Southern Sudan referendum law [and other laws].”

He also subsequently downplayed the incident, saying that SPLM leaders in Khartoum engaged in a “procession” rather than a “demonstration.”

At the airport today, Kiir said that he agreed with President Bashir on Monday to resolve key issues within the Presidency.

Meanwhile, Dr. Luka Biong Deng, Minister in the Office of the President of the Government of South Sudan, said the Presidency had discussed the probability of extending parliamentary sessions to make it possible to pass all bills before dissolving itself for the upcoming elections.

This comes amid other signs that Bashir’s National Congress is set to move on a referendum law without consensus from Kiir’s SPLM.

Nationwide demonstrations in Khartoum and South Sudan on Monday by SPLM and opposition parties had demanded amendment of laws not compatible with the National Constitution.

According to Luka Biong, the First Vice President and President met on Wednesday to discuss pending issues on the implementation of the Comprehensive Pace Agreement. The meeting also discussed Monday’s incidents and proposed the extension of parliamentary sessions.

Commenting on key sticking issues pending final settlement, he highlighted three bills related to South Sudan: the bills on the Abyei referendum, Popular Consultations for Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile, and the National Security law. Another contentious and time-sensitive law is the one on the referendum for self-determination of Sudan in 2011. These remain issues of immediate concern that require complete attention before being presented to the National Assembly for further deliberation and enactment into acts.

(ST)

16 Comments

  • junub
    junub

    Kiir pledges issues of Khartoum protest to be resolved within Presidency
    If those of Pagan and Yasir haven’t matching in protest, that deal would have not greed on by Bashir and Taha. Thanks Pagan,Yasir and fellow commerates who protested for our right. There is no different to what you heroes and heroics did than what Martin L. King did in Black Civil Right moment in United States. Love you folks.

    Reply
  • mohammed ali
    mohammed ali

    Kiir pledges issues of Khartoum protest to be resolved within Presidency
    This is the right way to tackle problems and not in the communists tactics of Pagan/Arman and funny enough with the cllaboration of Hassan Al Turabi

    Arman/Pagan are playing communist tactics as if they were in a student union, they lack the quality to lead a nation.Confrontations and chaos will lead to anarchy,hatred and unnecessry death of innocent people.

    As the late Dr. Garang said, you can not be against yourself,you can not be the government and at the same time against the government.This is rediculous.He understands that some politicians might want to achieve their goals through him and turn him into opposition to his own government.

    Politics means take and give, you can not get everything, in fact nobody ever get whatever he wants.This is a fact of life.The communist twins want to enforce their ideological and personal agenda even over dead bodies of the masses.Obviously they are playing their game behind the Presidency of S.S.If you follow all the conflicts between the NCP and the SPLA you wiil find always Arman/Pagan behind it!

    The CPA is at its final stages, whatever problems we passed through it remains the biggest achievement of the people of Sudan.What is left is very little. Let us not ruin it by giving a chance to those who wants to pursue their own personal and idological agenda at the expences of the people of the large Sudan.
    South Sudan and North Sudan will remain close togther, united or separated, we can not relocate any of them.People will continue mixing with each other irrespective to what politicians will do. Let us give them the chance to live in peace!

    Reply
  • Stephen Okot
    Stephen Okot

    Kiir pledges issues of Khartoum protest to be resolved within Presidency
    NIF Caught right handed under the watchful eyes of SPLM! “This comes amid other signs that Bashir’s National Congress is set to move on a referendum law without consensus from Kiir’s SPLM.”

    This moves by NIF amounts to political coup that had failed due to poor planning and subsequently trying to escape from the political standoff by stealing the show. It seems NIF have run out of their Think Tank students; including Dr. Besir,Dr. Nafi, Dr.Taha, Dr.Lam Akol and Dr. Ismail.

    Reply
  • Gatwech
    Gatwech

    Kiir pledges issues of Khartoum protest to be resolved within Presidency
    Dear readers,

    There is no where in the whole world a president moves with the vice President to do the same thing. Even if they do different things they can never leave their capital together and move to another capital together. What if something happens to both of them? That is a foolish way of doing things and it indicates that Salva Kiir is a coward and can not go to Khartoum and stay even for a week there without Dr. Machar besides him. This is why his office is being occupied in Khartoum by Ali Osman. What they should have done is one of them go to Khartoum and when that person goes back to Juba, then the other person goes to Khartoum. This is how President and his Deputy do it in the world. You don’t move together and leave your seat alone.

    Reply
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