Bashir says choice of Sudan’s unity not to be forced on Southerners
By Ngor Arol Garang
March 2, 2010 (JUBA) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir has today extended his electoral campaign to the southern state of western Equatoria town of Maridi, where he addressed supporters of his party reiterating his position on implement all provisions of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) but said that unity of Sudan is not an option to be forced on Southerners.
The Sudanese president assured the audience that all the key issues in the CPA have been implemented including referendum law.
“Our differences in the comprehensive peace agreement have been resolved and everything is going according to peace we signed” he said.
“If result of the referendum comes out in favor of separation, I will be the first to recognize it and celebrate it together with you. I and my administration will be the first to declare its recognition as I have said it earlier in Yambio during CPA celebrations in January,” Bashir said.
Observers say that Bashir is seeking to attract Southern votes for the April elections where he is running for president as the candidate of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP). The dominant party in the country is particularly concerned that the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) candidate Yasir Arman will deny Bashir millions of votes he needs to win a decisive victory from the first round.
If Bashir fails to get the 51% then he will face the forerunner who is widely expected to be Arman. The latter could well win the backing of the Northern opposition parties placing Bashir’s chances in a weak position.
The NCP candidate pledged to give Maridi town a mango and fruits refinery, roads, water supplies as well as five tractors for cultivation and air strip clearance.
“I am pledging you these because development is the battle remaining to be fought,” he said urging all western Equatoria state citizens to embrace developmental initiatives saying this will move Sudan to the high level of socio economic status.
“War has gone and our mission now should be development, he said stressing his priorities would include paying more attention to education, health, and physical infrastructure among others. We have now started very well physical infrastructure as peace road has already reached Malakal from Khartoum while railway is in Wau. Other projects are at the finishing stages” he said.
Bashir was accompanied by his adviser Bona Malwal and former Vice president Joseph Lagu who called on western Equatoria State citizens to vote for Bashir in the upcoming elections saying voting for president Bashir ensure full implementation of CPA.
(ST)