UNMIS urges Unity state to focus on security arrangements ahead of referendum

By Bonifacio Taban Kuich

September 15, 2010 (BENTIU) – The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has urged authorities in Unity state to focus on security arrangements before the conduct of the Southern Sudan referendum due to take place on January 9, 2011.

The remarks were made by the head of UNMIS security in the state, Rizvi Kaiser, during a workshop organized by the UN peacekeeping force in conjunction with the state government. The aim of the workshop is to maintain a peaceful exercise of Southern Sudan referendum.

Kaiser promises the state local authorities to provide a standard security towards the achievement of next year’s exercise.

The states Minister of Information and Communication, Mr. Gideon Gatpan Thoar appreciated the UN’s security support to the state authorities for a peaceful exercise of the referendum. Thaor told Sudan Tribune that the state government will be responsible with security in the state and also assure the safe movement of UN staffs during the referendum period.

He also said that they will link up with United Nation Mission in Sudan and government of Southern Sudan, in providing a proper communication network among themselves.

The state authorities, he added, during the four months left ahead of Southern Sudan referendum will engage the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Khartoum, saying the state government will facilitate the transport of the IDPs and allocation of land once they arrive in the state.

The state government is urging the UN Agencies to support the IDPs return in terms of providing food when arriving in the state.

UNMIS is part of the 2005 North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and assists in the implementation of the peace deal in Sudan between the northern dominant National Congress Party (NCP) and the ruling Southern Sudan’s former rebel movement, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

(ST)