South Sudan rejects calls to delay independence referendum
By Ngor Arol Garang
November 6, 2010 (JUBA) – The leadership of south Sudan’s ruling party the SPLM on Saturday said that it remains opposed to postponing the autonomous regions independence referendum due to take place in January next year.
The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which ended over two decades of civil war, between the south and north, gave South Sudan the right to vote on to decide whether to remain part of united Sudan or opt to become a new nation.
Cirino Hitend Ofuho, a minister in the office of the president of south Sudan, in an interview with Sudan Tribune, said his government remains committed to conducting the referendum on the scheduled date regardless of the calls being made to defer the vote to later date.
“The nine of January for us in the SPLM and in the government of south Sudan is an appropriate time and remains the date on which eligible voters would exercise their rights to vote. There are no changes and there will be no changes to this date whatsoever,” said minister Ofuho.
Ofuho, who represents Eastern Equatoria state in the regional cabinet said that the government was working to ensure that the referendum was “held in good time as provided for by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.”
Preparations for the poll have suffered from political and logistical setbacks. Since the power and wealth sharing agreement in 2005 the two parties have failed to implement almost all of the peace deal on schedule.
(ST)
Agutran
South Sudan rejects calls to delay independence referendum
Let anyone call for any impediment they want, however, the most significant point is, South Sudan is now at the point of no return.
Good luck for those who think otherwise.
Ito
South Sudan rejects calls to delay independence referendum
Dr. Ofuho, thank you so much for further clarification of the position of GoSS in regards to the plebiscite that is set to take place on exactly the nine of January 2010. It is a good thing to hear that all are speaking in one language on these sticky issues such as the Abyei referendum and that of South Sudan in particular.
South sudanese leaders have shown their strongness in unity and common purpose by being candid to what is at stake and also by not accepting NCP tactic of setting them under duress to concede on clauses that are not of any interest to the citizens of South Sudan. Goss should continue to reiterate such position and never give up on it no matter what.
The referendum commission should be pressured to double their effort so that we get all the necessary voting materials on time. That will also allow us to see what is ahead of us as we will not be worried about the materials. I hope the NCP leadership remembers that they have agreed in letter to allow southerners to determine their fate through the right to self-determination which according to the protocol was to take place on January 9, 2011. Hon. Ofuho is exactly reiterating what was agreed in letter between the two parties: The SPLM and the NCP.
NCP should not force the people of South Sudan to vote against their will, it is the onus of the citizens of south sudan to pick their option from the two choices enshrine in the peace agreement. I at this point thanks the government of South Sudan for their firm position and seriousness urge them to remain united and to be conscious on all of the political, military, economical and other developments in the country before and post-independence.
May God Bless South Sudan.
Critic_Ngueny
South Sudan rejects calls to delay independence referendum
Dear Arabs
The Sudan people’s liberation movement or army SPLA/M o is not a donkey on which anybody is free to take a joy ride,they know why they fought that is to restore right and dignity of the Southren Sudanese in Southern Sudan.Whoever going to interfer in our own affairs will swallow a bullet.We don’t want referndum to be delayed for one second,leave a lone a minute.Backward never,forward ever.
Critic Ngueny from Bor town
CatBlue
South Sudan rejects calls to delay independence referendum
I agreed with Southern Sudanese people who rejected delay of referendum, referendum should not be delayed even by a day. This is the right of Southern Sudanese people to vote on the scheduled date of referendum. who ever wants to push on referendum to the next date which was not scheduled wants violence in Sudan to erupted and this person or party should be hold responsible for any lost of lives again in Sudan by International community.