South Sudan warns against sabotage of peace and tranquility

By Ngor Arol Garang

October 2, 2010 ( KHARTOUM) — The regional government of South Sudan has warned political leaders and associations involved in the campaign for upcoming vote on self determination for southern Sudanese to strictly observe law and order, short of that, they will not be tolerated if proved disturbing the existing peace and harmony.

General Gier Chuang Aluong, minister of internal Affairs in the regional government of southern Sudan on Saturday told Sudan Tribune from regional capital of Juba that , the composite forces, drawn from different security organs including police units are fully prepared to provide adequate security at the polling centers during the voting process .

“Preparations to have strong faced joint security forces capable of defending eligible voters at the polling centers are completed. Forces dedicated to referendum have been trained and ready to provide protection at anytime from now,” said General Chuang.

Gier recently wrapped up foreign trips on security mission to United Kingdom and United States in the company of regional minister of finance and economic planning, David Deng Athorbei.

Sounding optimistic and confident of the capabilities of the referendum security forces, the minister slammed voices calling for war in the north lest the south break away.

“There have been irritating voices emanating mainly from the north and their southern allies. These are the clear signs of plans and intentions to cause havoc and disrupt peace and tranquility in the region,” Chuang said.

He further said some senior members and politicians from the National Congress Party (NCP) have even dared, threatening to shed blood. “They have called on their youth to prepare for war in case the south separates,” said Chuang.

“Why called for war when the south vote for separation and not war when it is unity. What does this means, what exactly do they mean by such threatening statements, asked minister Chuang, adding, they cannot have it both ways. They assigned the peace accepting south Sudanese people to exercise their rights at the referendum and at the same time wants to force them vote against their rights. What is this,” he asked.

He said let those with ill plans and intentions to sabotage peace in the south be warned that “we are firmly prepared to make sure that no single drop of blood will be shed during conduct of the referendum. We will not tolerate losing even a drop of blood from those who would exercise their voting rights at the polling centers,” he warned.

Several Sudanese officials from the NCP warned they would not accept the outcome of the referendum if it is organized under conditions of insecurity, intimidations and threat against the southerners.

This week also a presidential adviser, Mustafa Osman Ismail, called on youth and students to prepare for war to in the south secedes. While the information minister Kamal Obeid warned southerners living in the north they would be expelled if the vote leads to separation.

Chuang, a senior member of the Southern ruling party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, the SPLM, had earlier maintained that security forces in the region were not doing the work of any political party but were loyal to the public interest and this is what defines professional police.

He also dismissed allegations that security forces, especially police do not practice impartiality.

“Some politicians are alleging that security forces are biased in the execution of their duties. These are not correct information. They are fabrications intended to tarnish image of the police force without evidence. I challenge those alleging biasness of the security forces, especially the police force to produce evidence, he asked. We would like to reassure politicians and the public that our role is to protect the existing peace and tranquility and ensure safety to all South Sudanese and residents of the region,” he said.

He urged South Sudanese to continue exercising their democratic rights peacefully by attending political rallies enlightening population about the process and conduct involved in the, voting and receiving results calmly. He urged them to refuse any move by politicians to use them in violence.

The minister further urged Civil Society Organizations and activists engage in educating population to apply own censorship on messages that they deliver and make sure that their work does not instigate breaching of peace.

He extended the similar call to various Media houses to exercise constrains of sensitive information they release to the public and remember that they have a big role in sustaining the existing peace.

(ST)