Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
July 1, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese First Vice President and President of South Sudan Salva Kiir and 2nd Vice president Ali Osman Taha today attended the signing ceremony for several development projects contracts as part of a push by the ruling party to make unity attractive.
The contract was signed by the Unity Support Fund (USF) and the companies awarded the projects to execute. The representative of the companies pledged to fulfill their obligations within the next six months including schools and universities in addition to other projects for provision of water services and establishment of railways and river transport passages.
Taha said that costs of these projects add up to $200 million, 89% of which would be paid by the federal government and 11 percent by the Government of South Sudan (GoSS).
A referendum for self determination will take place early next year as a key provision of a 2005 peace deal which ended a decades-long war between north and south Sudan, a conflict which left two million people dead.
The people of South Sudan will choose whether to remain part of a united Sudan or establish their own state. Most analysts expect an overwhelming choice for independence given bitterness left by the war and deep rooted suspicion by Southerners towards the Arab-Muslim dominated North.
The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) declared following his overwhelming win in last April’s elections that it will focus on making the choice of unity attractive in the remaining eight months prior to the vote. However, the NCP rejected calls by the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM), the dominant party in the South, for abrogation of Islamic Shari’a law in the country in order to give unity a chance in the mind of Southerners.
NCP officials have suggested that they will seek to carry out as many development projects as possible for Southerners to see the fruits of remaining within a united state. Many countries in the region as well as the African Union and European Union appear reluctant to see Sudan break up into two.
“We have made advanced strides towards the implementation of all items of the comprehensive peace agreement, and with the formation of the referendum commission, we enter the final stage in the transitional period program,” Xinhua news agency quoted Taha as saying when addressing a joint meeting of the federal government and GoSS.
“It is important that the southern Sudanese citizens feel the value of peace through provision of services for them and improvement of their living conditions,” he said.
Taha also expressed disappointment at the international community for failing to follow through on their pledges to provide the necessary support for the development and rehabilitation programs in south Sudan.
“The response of the donor international community was very weak, which is disappointing. We have relied on our self-resources to implement many of the projects and we will carry on in this respect,” he said.
CONFEDERATION
Topping the agenda of Taha and Southern officials is the option of confederation between the North and South in lieu of secession, a compromise which could bring relief to many regional and international actors.
The idea of a confederation has floated in the past during North-South peace negotiations but has quickly died. The confederation model entails a system where two countries achieve a high degree of autonomy while maintaining a minimal central authority in areas such as trade, defense and foreign policy.
Many post-referendum issues have yet to be addressed particularly nationality, national debt, water agreement with the border demarcation process well behind schedule.
(ST)
Deng Thiak Adut
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
It took us 21 years to gain referendum…. and it took between 2-3 million people life….. and Taha want to achieved unity within 6 months? It will take God to convinced me that unity is attractive to me…. All the best, and please Kiir and Riak accept the USF as its belong to southerners.. let them build schools and hospitals with no stopping to the projects.
Regards,
Deng Thiak Adut
Kur
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
Politicians in Juba must be careful with the nonsense of making unity attractive at this late hour. We can’t live anymore under the shira law and the mockery of democracy. Moreover, those who think of so-called confederation must also be careful. We do not want anyone to hijack our choice.
Kur
thieleling
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
Dear Readers,
It is foolish for GOSS and its leaders to pay/fund the unity of Sudan. This also amounts to bribery from the GNU. Mr. Vice president Ali Osman Taha, south sudan Independence is priceless. It can’t be bought. You are wasting your time. You may succeed in your bribery business of buying off the Unionists with in GOSS and SPLM, but it will ONLY delay Independence of south sudan. It would NEVER prevent the total indpendence.
With Bullets and insurgency, south sudanese will take south the Eritrea(the Shabia) and TPLF style when they entered Addis Ababa in 1991. Intelligent south sudanese always know the so-called “Inter Alia” means Confederation in the CPA. The SPLM unionists and yourself, Mr. Taha never wanted the peace to breakdown in 2005. That’s why you put the inter alia to trick and bribe the south sudanese public as the last resorts. But FYI, the last unwritten resorts in the CPA if people like you hijacks the peaceful divorce is war.
SPLM unionists may rejoice your rescue, but the real south sudan populace has enough of this craps. Enough is Enough!! SOUTH SUDAN MUST BE INDEPENDENCE EVEN IF THE SPLM & NCP DO NOT LIKE IT!!!
murlescrewed
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
CONFEDERATION is the best option given the current state of affairs in Sudan. It would eliminate the need for both sides to see referendum as a zero sum game where each side is losing. I hope wisdom prevails and good people of both sides embrace it as the reasonable option.
Bol Bol
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
The truth is the projects will be funded with Southern Sudan money. As most of you may know almost 95% of oil revenues comes from the South. So, why not taking advantage of what is fully and rightfully ours? See it as another way of taking back what was ours in the first place.
DASODIKO
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
Even the sun of a fake unity is long overdued to rise; forget about the one stipulated on CPA in 2005. Within the period of the past six years, the North Arab inspite of a good wills shown by the people in South Sudan; unfortunately they kept regarding people of the South as if they are those Southerners after the independent of Sudan in 1952. Its very sad that North Arabs failed to learn from the past.
I am very sure such too late mulling shows how short minded these guys are! North Sudan is arid desert, where no signs of life exists. Their empty self pride of Arabization crushed on their heads after they started calling their masters Egyptians and Libians , my friend; instead of Sir, although they have forgotten that the main objective of Egypt on bringing Sudan to be tail of Arab was not a belive from the bottom of their hearts that Sudanese are Arabs, but simply to cover it back from the wolves of Africanization as they beleive up todade.
Not only South Sudan is going Mr. VP Taha but the rest of the African marginal parts of Sudan. The conferderation you are proposing is better to build it with part of Egypt only, and Egypt only because you have no boarders with Libia. I am waiting for that day to see real cries dropping from your eyes Northern Jallabasl then you will know the real value of Africans and your colors tooooooooo.
James Mangula
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
It is an irony when the very money stolen from the South is being used to fund the so-called “make unity attractive projects”. It is only short-sighted minsters like those recently described by minster for labour (Awut Deng) who will be convinced by such a day light deception of NCP. A wise minster will no doubt ask where was this money for the last 4 and half years of CPA life span? These projects, although conceived in the name of unity, they nevertheless represent the typical attitudes of Arab definition of African Southern Sudanese’s greed for money. On the same note, the so-called Confederation arrangement does not exist in the CPA, and if Osman Taha wanted to insert it in to the CPA as a seventh protocol, then it amounts to re-negotiation of the CPA. Kiir must therefore, treat this unity fund as a residual of what is rightly a Southern Sudanese’s share. Otherwise, not taking in to account the devilish of crook arab intents will have incalculable consequences for the Southern Sudanese’s destiny.
hard liner
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
Dear Readers and people of south sudan, we are in a critical time that needs no disturbance, we need to concentrate and focus towards 2011 referandum these arabs should stop treating us like papets and people who can not do things for themselves, they make promises and plan project with our oil money just to divert our minds from 2011.
I am saying let them do the projects but its time up we are going independent by 2011 whether they like it or not, the memories of what happened during the war era can not just disappear from our peoples’ minds within these short time span. remember guys our united votes determines our destiny. south sudan oyeeeeeeeeeee…….. is the united voice we shall shout out when we become independent.God bless you all and please be wise and know what you want and what is good for your grand and great grand children.
Sudan virus
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
Hahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!Ohohohooooooooo!Heheheheheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Let us see this miracle happen with in six month’s period.
Building universities,constructing tarmac , building hospitals,installing electricity,digging bore holes,constructing factories and or industires etc(making unity attractive), with in sick months.
stephen
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
Shame on you Ali, do you think that we are southern sudanese of 1947 whom your grandfather cheated them by giving them Radios and bicycles, southerners of today is absolutely different from those, we cann’t sell our dignity with less price as you think, anyway these projects are good to mantian good relationship between southerners and you northerners in term of bussines, but don’t think of bribering people, all in all this money is ours and you are trying to return it to us, now you are rusting to unity did you remove the trible dieases of sudan called sharia law in which you made it as the religion of the nation, I don’t think without removable of sharia law from sudan the packing unity you are longing for will come, we are preparing to make separation attractive rather than unity attractive, we need our identity to be known by all people in the world, as you know that we are still in unity what have we gain from this unity since 1956, the type of unity that you gain and loss isn’t needed again.
I think it is high time for all the southerners around the world to come home decide for the future of their people.
My message to all southerners, Ali is here to briber those whom are weak heart,take the money and vote for what our martyrs has been fighting for.
unity of resources we don’t want anymore we need the unity of heart, soul , respect to our culture and tradition, I think new country is coming soon not more than 9 january 2011 or less than that.
jalabi
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
Self-determination was a big mistake in the first!
NCP should correct this unacceptable act and revoke self-determination from CPA.
Although NCP known to be excellent in fooling others but unfortunately had been fooled by Americans when Americans told them sign Nevasha agreement and we will lift your name from the country which support terriorist, will left the sanction, will ask all the internation financial organization to finance and build big projects in your country, will .. will…
but nothing happened at all other than it became worse and now they want to trial our president in the international court!!!
while letting their friends starving and killing innocent nation in Palestine!!! it’s double standard!!!!
CPA was signed at the time when we were able to convinced foreign companies to invest and export the oil, we got the money and we bought the weapons to neutral the rebel .. just give me one reason why should we allow hostile country in our backyard “to be” and cut off the water from us??!!! to hange us, and allow our enemies to attack them from behind!!!
Buddy, accept the confederation, let us rotate the Sudan presidency between both of us (north-south) or our gun will talk again!!!!
Jalabi (Abo Jalabia)
Paul Ongee
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
Readers,
The perception of unity by Khartoum specially in our case is senseless. Khartoum always needs to be reminded about the real meaning of the word “unity” and the “root causes of political disunity” facing Sudan since independence. Why Sudan has been at war with itself for over a century? Why did Khartoum fail to formulate a policy that is inclusive or at least democratic to avoid the current political crisis facing the country in every angle? The basic human freedom is not only for Khartoum policy makers but for all Sudanese to live in peace, unity and harmony with each other regardless of religious and cultural differences. Khartoum should not keep silent to cite some Middle East countries living peacefully with their citizens of different religious backgrounds.
Based on the record of political unity of our beloved country, Khartoum defines “political unity” as a systematic marginalization, imposition of Islamic Sharia law on non-Muslims, implementation of exclusive Islamic projects regardless of cultural diversity, peripheral underdevelopment, dishonoring of signed political agreements, delay tactics of implementation of CPA, ESPA, and DPA, introduction of “bribery fund projects) NOT “unity fund projects” because we’re not in the beginning of 2005 but at the end of interim period, and finally war mongering as if SPLA is disarmed and sitting with hands tied behind its back. To Khartoum, these are the real factors of their “perceived unity” it’s advocating regardless of the changing dynamics. The successive ruling elite in Khartoum believes that these factors will certainly keep the country united but not fragmented.
The only thing Khartoum can do to get Sudan out of this mess is to reverse their perception of unity mentioned above by tabling constitutional reform in the National Assembly this week or so. This can at least generate considerable confidence among the marginalized before introducing what is so-called “unity fund projects.” This kind of projects will also be signed with all the warring parties that previously signed peace agreements with Khartoum. However, by refusing to listen or turning deaf ears to this important historic agenda of constitutional reform/removal of Sharia law, Sudan will likely head to historic fragmentation in the eyes of Khartoum political strategists, or experts.
Paul Ongee
Khartoum, Sudan
telfajbago
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
The issue of keeping the Country united or shattered into many pieces is the sole responsibility of northerner Jallaba a lone; since the misruled the Country in the last half-century waging jihad war in South Sudan, Nuba Mountain and the Blue Nile and committing genocide in Darfur therefore, Southerners should not burden themselves through paying the receipts of token-unity. The issue of confederation is too late, and even there no any guarantees that Jallaba will respect any agreement as today the mother-agreements ( CPA) is implemented selectively and by drips and draps. I propose that let the south and Darfur secede until jallaba women come to Juba making tea to the Southerners and selling water-melon seeds(Tasali) after that and only after that Nafie will understand the value of unity.
doublebookdialled
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
Dear Taha,
I hope the truth knows itself even if you do not pronounce it, it will come automatically, moreover, even if you must be the wises man above Solomon i hope you will regret to do these things now.
the southerners knows that you will try all your means of bribery to fool some southerners but the Lord that made you sign the CPA out of your senses will make you do the same for separation.
the cost of CPA from the southerners was the live of 2millions people not $200 millions, God created lives not money, therefore, we won’t accept money for people’s live and what will development means to us when the Laws are still unchanged and the same trickers are there? remember what happened in 1972, i was not born st that time but i know it bitterness. southerners have been sentenced to death because of Laws which do not belong to them and still you do not want to drove them, here is your time if northerners knows that they will not stand alone in the north let them go back to middle east where they will practice all they want to do.
you are wasting your time in the south for this unity compaign.
Doublebookdialled.
Alier Mareet
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
This is ridiculous for Mr. Taha to come to the South and try to resort to their old game of bribing, inducing, and instigating social unrest among southerners. My fellow Southerners, these are the very enemies that have denied our identity as Africans since we got independence in January 1956. We’d suffered in name of united Sudan and it would be foolish for an individual to cast his/her vote for unity or confederation as the master is telling us.
Be aware of the importance of your vote on that particular day, that is January 9th 2011. It’s your duty as a noble citizen of Southern Sudan to vehemently reject those Southern politicians who want to campaign for the unity because they are being bribed and induced by Khartoum. This time needs collective effort in order to overcome evil intention by Khartoum regime and its likes to hijack the referendum. It’s choice between life and death as you all know we have been subjected to the systemic slavery in our own country and its rich natural resources.
Alier M. Kuereng
Kur
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
I think Bashir, Taha, and other NIF terrorists are mocking the people of South Sudan. They are treating our leaders as infants, people who understand little politics, and can easily be convinced by offering them incentives of some sort. $200 million dollars is all it takes to make unity attractive. This is a total mockery of the wisdom of the Southern Sudanese. This is our money. Why do we have to buy ourselves into slavery with our own money? Why do we have to pay for unity with our lives and money?
It took Khartoum five years to get $200 million dollars to fund projects in South Sudan. I do not know how many roads, schools, universities, hospitals, etc. will this money build. I think that money is good only for bribing few politicians in South Sudan, but I do not think that it will convince me, the voter, to give up my freedom. Our freedom is no up for sale.
The other thing that looks strange to me is the idea of confederation. It makes me feel extremely sick to hear this evil idea. We can’t renegotiate the CPA. We do not want anything other than own choice. Period.
Kur
Sudan virus
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
So confusing!
Is the referendum about separation or unity.
And
Or confederation or unity?
All i know about the referendum is for the southerns to decide their faith to remain as one country with the foreign brutal Islams Arabs or separate as an independent state with diversity of religions and social, economic and political organizations.
Sudan virus
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
Taha and Kiir please define for us southerns clearly,
Will the confederation be before or after the referendum?
All we southerns know is there is referendum for the southerns to decide if they can remain as one country with the north or secede as an independent state in 2011.
Wiyual Wech Puk D. Payol.
Sudan’s VP Taha begins push for unity, signs development contracts for South
Oh!! mr VP unity is too late for sudan.only the separation between north and south,that is the choice for many southern sudan people.