Sudan’s NCP hints at delaying the 2011 referendum over border demarcation
July 29, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) today suggested that the 2011 referendum in South Sudan may have to be delayed until the border demarcation process is completed.
“That is a condition for all referendums around the world that might lead to the creation of a new sovereign state,” Ibrahim Ghandour, a senior official of the National Congress Party (NCP), told Agence France Presse (AFP) today.
Ghandour added that failure to agree on a border could lead to a new conflict and in a separate interview with the BBC gave examples of the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Eritrea split from Ethiopia in 1991, but the two countries are still arguing and have fought over the precise border.
This week the Government of southern Sudan (GOSS) representative at the border commission Riak Degol said that it is impossible to complete the demarcation prior to the key vote early next year. He said that the panel will adjourn its activities until next October citing the rainy season which would affect the terrain and logistics.
The Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) was quick to dismiss the condition set by the NCP to conduct the referendum.
“It is in the south’s interest, even more so than that of the north, to demarcate the border,” SPLM leading figure Luka Byong told AFP.
“But we must not confuse what is desirable with what is required,” underlining that it is not necessary to resolve the thorny border question before the vote.
Southern Sudan’s Regional Co-operation Minister Barnaba Benjamin told the BBC that linking the border issue with the referendum was “illogical and unacceptable”.
He agreed that the border must be demarcated but said if this was not done by January, the referendum should still be held as planned.
The SPLM deputy Secretary General, Yasir Arman, said the NCP was not interested in holding the referendum on time.
In Washington, the U.S. administration said that the South is “entitled” to holding the referendum as planned.
“Under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, South Sudan is entitled to a referendum in January. We are working hard with officials in Juba to prepare for that referendum. There is a lot of work to be done to create the right conditions for the referendum to be successful. Border demarcation is one of those issues. We are – we’ve been working hard on that for some time. We hope it can be resolved before the referendum. But South Sudan is entitled to a referendum in January, and we hope that it will happen on schedule” State Department Spokesman PJ Crowley told reporters on Thursday.
Crowley stressed that the NCP needs to cooperate with the South and the international community to complete the referendum.
“[R]ather than trying to put conditions on the referendum, it would be far better for Sudan to cooperate fully, resolve the issues – and there are a number of them – that need to be resolved prior to January. But we believe that these issues can be satisfactorily addressed so that the referendum can happen in January as is planned” he said.
The referendum on southern independence is a key provision of a 2005 peace deal which ended a more than two-decade war between north and south Sudan, a conflict in which two million people were killed.
Most observers expect an overwhelming vote by Southerners for independence driven by bitter memories of the civil war and feeling of marginalization by the Arab-Muslim dominated North.
(ST)
Gatwech
Sudan’s NCP hints at delaying the 2011 referendum over border demarcation
UDI is another option!
The so-called NCP’s Gandhour should not also forget that when a ruling party obstructs the conduct of the referendum a unilateral declaration of independence is an option. And of course with the blessing of all friendly countries around the globe who know the historical stupidity of NCP.
BUSTA 2
Sudan’s NCP hints at delaying the 2011 referendum over border demarcation
That is right!!
Without border demarcation No referendum H.E Bashir has said and I do support him. Referendum is likely to go up to 2012 if not nothing will be held even because in Juba South people has forgot about referendum.
Brother in Christ,
Busta 2
Garang Ayiik
Sudan’s NCP hints at delaying the 2011 referendum over border demarcation
Dear My Enemy Ghandour, this are not the Southerners of 1972 they are adifferent southerners you will still face them event though we end war we will still come to your muslim north, fuck off don’t chatter, your chattering has nothing to do with the CPA implementation.
Joseph Chol De Makuei
Sudan’s NCP hints at delaying the 2011 referendum over border demarcation
Dear Mr. Ghandor,
Thanks you for showing up the tagtics of NCP to the public before the time of the Referendom come. It will let us thinks well to get the solution to your bad paraganda to the people of Sudan and South Sudan in particular.
Because the results of Referendum will please all Sudanese if Unity score the position. and opposit is true for Seperation, Southern Sudanese will be more happy than any thing on the World.
Ghandor, making conditions means that you are not interested in Referendum to be done on time or it may not take place due to your (NCP) programmed purpose. but let it be clear to you that CPA is not LIKE ADDIS ABABA of 1972 Agreement. therefore, you will not turn it over like what Japar Nimiri Did.
Be logic enough, and let us work out our Referendum in good way that will let us stay togather or seperate in peace into two states with good economic relationship. Peterolium and others relations will keep us connect, Otherwise you will be sorry.
Joseph Chol
Nairobi Kenya
jalabi
Sudan’s NCP hints at delaying the 2011 referendum over border demarcation
What crazy people??!!
Absolutely, no referendum without border demacration because we want to save the two nations from going back to war and prevent bloodshed.
Don’t worry what we say and insist will be implemented at the end of the day and SPLM/A will accept and comply after reluctance and stretching its cat body to look like tiger and scared NCP and north but never mind, history tells us they will comply at the end of the day like before since CPA was implemented, why? I can answer this question, first they cannot fight again after they tasted the Dollar and ate too much and their body becomes too heavy and fat to fight and run through the jungle as before, second they want to separate no matter how much that will cost them and if we ask the border between north-south to be at Juba point they’ll agree!
Why you don’t want to demacrate and want to keep this open for reason to go for war again? it’s known and very clear that the border between south-north is 1956 border and Abyei is north since that time when Dinka Nokog leaders had chosen voluntarily to be north and that’s it and if you want “BLUNJA” and “DOKSHOMAN” we are ready to defend our land and territory!
Jalabi (Abo Jalabia)
American Missile.
Sudan’s NCP hints at delaying the 2011 referendum over border demarcation
Dear People.
Any delay from NCP will not be a logistics problem,it is delay tactics which we can not respect it. we have been respectful to CPA even when we are agitates by NCP elements who are derailing the Peace settlement in the South.
Nothing will stop us if God is with us along the BUSH and six years interim period.
Never never say like that.
Independent oyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Freedom Activist
Majok AKotdit.
Akolde Nhiak Jinub
Sudan’s NCP hints at delaying the 2011 referendum over border demarcation
Hey Ibrahim Ghandour,
You are fucked up, son of a trader!!
You must understand that without Referendum for the South of the Sudan, there will be unthinkable eruption of another war all over the Sudan. Southern people will go in with their weapons, Darfur will go back to square one, eastern Sudan will join for they are cheated now in Sudan power sharing.
Where shall we meet, we the marginalized: central Sudan and this is Khartoum. This time, it will not be a War in the South, but in the central/north Sudan!!!! Bear this in mind.
Because of the Referendum eshrined in CPA of 2005, CPA was signed by SPLM/A on behalf of the South Sudanese in Naivasha Kenya. I was born three years before SPLA/M war, and I am very fit and ready with my ages/colleagues to fight this other war that you are brewing. Now, it will be a war between Arabs in the north of Sudan and black African in the South of Sudan. No Darfuri, No Beja of eastern to fight us was before and who were cheated on shield of religious war, the Jahid, and who will be fighting for their rightful place in the world or on earth.
Please, please leave us alone and in peace. We have had thought that your development projects of what you so-called Sudan Peace/Unity Funds is meant to create good neighbourhood and not baking for another war when you said, that referendum should be delayed for boarder demacaration first to complete! Boarders are known before CPA even. Back before the So-called Sudan indepedence, there was distinctive reginoal boarder between north and South of Sudan.
Forget it and let’s work for peaceful neighbourhood, or else brew for the toughest war that you have never seen before!
If international community does not care, let NCP delay the Referendum conduct. International Community in fact should questioned and answerable to death of 2 million lives in Sudan, between north and south for the last 22 years of civil war.
Where is world justice on earth?
South Sudan UDI oyeeeeeeeeeee! Or referendum to be conducted as planned and eshrined in the CPA.
Akolde, in Rumbek South Sudan.
Bol Bol
Sudan’s NCP hints at delaying the 2011 referendum over border demarcation
“At the end of the six (6) years Interim period there shall be an internationally monitored referendum organized jointly by the GOS and the SPLM/A, for the people of South Sudan to: confirm the unity of the Sudan by voting to adopt the system of Government established under the Peace Agreement; or to vote for secession.”. (Sec. 2.5, p8. CPA, 2005).”