Referendum: SPLM, NCP delegates in Canada for talks
By Julius N. Uma
August 30, 2010 (JUBA) – Representatives from the governing parties of northern and southern Sudan are in Canada for talks on the southern referendum on secession due to take place in January next year.
Canada has conducted three federal referendums on prohibition of alcohol, military service and the constitution.
In a press conference at Juba airport before leaving for Canada the leader of the SPLM delegation Ann Itto said:
“Canada previously held two separate referendums, both of which turned out to be a success. It’s on the basis of this success that we feel it’s important for them to share that experience with us as we prepare for next year’s referendum.”
Itto, who is the Cooperative and Rural Development Minister for the Government of Southern Sudan, said she wanted to use the trip to share with Canadians as well as Sudanese in Canada, some of the key challenges that have marked pre-referendum preparations.
“The party [SPLM] will share with them the worries anticipated ahead of the conduct of the referendum. Some people still express lots of doubt about the transparency in the referendum and whether it will be free and fair,” Itto said.
In 2005 the NCP signed a peace deal with the SPLM, ending a 22 year civil war between north and south, in which they agreed to share power and divide Sudan’s oil wealth.
The deal, known as the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) stipulated that at the end of a 6 year interim period the south would have the opportunity to vote on whether it wants to secede from the north.
Speaking on Thursday evening Itto accused the NCP, who have controlled Sudan’s central government in Khartoum since 1989, of considering unity as the only option of the referendum.
“Members of the NCP continue preaching about unity as the only referendum option. This is a violation of the CPA and it limits the prospects of a free and fair referendum,” Itto said.
Itto also said the NCP were attempting to delay the referendum due to take place on January 9, 2011.
Government of southern Sudan (GoSS) representative Riak Degol told the London based Al-Sharq Al-Awsat in an interview earlier this week that it would be impossible to demarcate the border before the referendum.
Earlier this month the Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Riek Machar, said declaring independence unilaterally was an option, albeit an “uncomfortable” one, should border demarcation not be complete.
Voter registration is also behind schedule. Despite being scheduled to start on July 9 the process is yet to begin.
In southern Sudan many civil society activists, religious leaders and youth groups are mounting pro-separation campaigns.
(ST)
Gatwech
Referendum: SPLM, NCP delegates in Canada for talks
SPLM and GOSS ministers should make their missions serious business instead of making them picnics to developed countries.
Too much spending by ministers travelling abroad on issues that can be handled by GOSS Missions in those countries is a waste of time and resources.
I read it on ST the other day that Kiir would restrict such unnecessary travels. Tomorrow you will hear others popping up somewhere in this world doing what Regional Cooperation ministry can do.
Pathetic.
Justin Chicago opiny
Referendum: SPLM, NCP delegates in Canada for talks
It is OK to look and see into other countries’s system of government,but it is not going to be a solution to that effect as these depends on the willingness of of the people to adopt.I know there was a degegation send to Belgium and now to Canada both confederated states. What may work for canada and Belgium may not work in the sudan,but it is a good idear to compare and come up with your own principles based on confederation that both north and the south will be happy with. Use of forced and words of intimidation will not solve the problem.It is upto south sudanese to decide their future in the up coming referendum whether to stay in united sudan that has failed them since 1956 or become a new state of Africa and a member of AU and UN.