SPLM openly supports South Sudan independence
December 11, 2010 (JUBA) — A senior official in the Juba ruling party voiced loudly SPLM support for the separation of southern Sudan, pushing the party’s official programme on the unity of Sudan to an obscure position.
Anne Itto, SPLM deputy secretary general for southern Sudan is the first official to publicly and directly back up calls for independence for the south, ahead of next month’s referendum on self-determination.
“Since unity has not been made attractive during the six year of interim period, we will not stop what our people wants. We will promote what they want. If they need separation we, will promote that because we are following the people,” Ito told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.
The senior member of the Southern ruling who doubles up as minister of agriculture and forestry, however, said she was talking on behalf of the southern part of the party, and that her position does not include position of the northern sector led by Yasir Saeed Arman.
“By the way, this is not a General position of the SPLM, I’m talking on behalf of SPLM Southern Sector,” Ito further added, tracing a visible line for the first time between the two sectors of the party.
The move marks the official abandon of SPLM vision in favor of a united Sudan which caused bloody struggle within the party in the past.
Following his return from the USA last October Southern Sudan President and SPLM chairman Salva Kiir Mayadrit declared his personal choice for separation when he said “If I were to vote as a person and choose between the two options of unity and separation, I would vote for separation”.
However, the SPLM remained silent over the issue despite discreet insinuations and encouragements for the independence. Also the party suspended a meeting of its National Liberation Council (NLC) scheduled to be held last September to discuss the future of the movement.
The NLC, with a membership of 275, is the second highest political organ of the SPLM after the 27-strong Political Bureau.
Three million southerners have just finished the registration before to vote on 9 January on whether they want to remain part of the Sudan or separate and establish a new state in the semi-autonomous region.
Observers believe that Southerners would vote for independence in the next month referendum, they also describe as “very emotional” the campaign launched by youth and other SPLM supported civil society organizations in Juba since the last summer.
Reacting to Itto’s statements, the leader of the United Democratic Party on Saturday said supporting call made by the SPLM to campaign for Separation of south Sudan in the upcoming referendum vote from rest of the Sudan.
“This is what we in United Democratic Party have been telling some of the SPLM leaders in several political meetings and occasions. We told them several times there is a need to tell southern populace SPLM position on the independence of south Sudan.”
He further said the SPLM leading officials issued confusing statements every time between Khartoum and Juba. “We told them not to mince word,” Tong told Sudan Tribune from Kenyan Capital of Nairobi on Saturday.
He said his party has a clear position since its establishment in favor of the Independence, adding that said the drive towards southern independence appears unstoppable.
“If (the NCP) have failed to do little to convince during the last six years,” (…) “I do not think they will do anything to change the hearts of the south Sudanese within three weeks left. They have done nothing to make unity attractive,” Tong stressed.
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Anyang
SPLM supports openly South Sudan independence
Right thing to do. We’re counting on you and clearly we’re all certain that, you will not shy away when things get murky.
Genuine Leader
SPLM supports openly South Sudan independence
Good news for people of south Sudan ,finally we win overwhelming victory from splm unionist for force them to become separatists.
Bad news for Arman and Luka Biong and even splm party itself that will lost vision soon.
i am not care whatever demeanour and discrepancies i noted from Itto speeches, as its seems to me that , SPLM become party that with self management struggling.
Genuine Leader, the future leader war without border with jalaba if, unity expose onto spla.
Nhomlawda
SPLM supports openly South Sudan independence
I do not know why many Southerners still doubt the position of SPLM on separation. During the CPA signing ceremony in Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. John Garang said clearly in his speech that Southerners now have the chance to either be first class citizens in their new country or be second class citizens in united Sudan. He also said that the responsibility to make unity attractive lies with the north and its leadership. In Rumbek and elswhere before his death, he repeated calls for southerners to be vigilant and safe guide their interests to complete freedom. Dr. John Garang intention in CPA was separation and that was the reason SPLA was not integrated into SAF.
This message from Dr. Anne is a surprise to those who had never been part or keen followers of liberation struggle. Anyway it is good that Dr. Anne had reminded Southerners about viability of separation option compared to unity for some might had gotten confused within the last six years of political maneuvers to safe guide CPA.
Khartoum had done little to win hearts and minds of Southern Sudanese within the last six years Dr. Garang and SPLM/A gave them to show their repentance and demonstrate lessons learned during the wars but northern leaders and their population lack big brother attitude and seem not to be learning in any situation they get themselves in including the ongoing Darfur conflict.
We need to leave them peacefully and watch how far northern Sudan will survive tests to disintegrate into samller states.
Rgds, Nhomlawda
Marco A. Wek
SPLM supports openly South Sudan independence
Dr. Ann Itto is saying as a Southern Sudanese official whether she is from SPLM or any other Southern party, she said correctly that she or her party will respect the will of Southern Sudanese people being it unity or SEPARATION and her being a Southern Sudanese herself, she heard enough from her people what they want and so did Humar Hassan Bashir, Manafie Ali Manafie as well as the International community that Southern Sudanese are tired of Northern domination and they WANT FREE SOUTHERN SUDAN.
SPLM or NCP cannot oppose the will of Southern Sudanese people when they SAy LOUD and CLEAR, WE WANT INDEPENDENT SOUTHERN SUDAN and if they do, they be questioned by both Southern Sudanese people and the international community. We were promised for January 9th 2011 in front of International community to exercise our will and all signs indicate what sister Itto said and by the way even Humar Bashir knows what we WANT BUT HE AND HIS PARTY ARE SHY TO SAY IT INSTEAD, THEY BEAT AROUND THE BUSH TRYING BLAME SPLM FOR THEIR LUCK OF MAKE UNITY ATTRACTIVE TO US DURING SIX YEARS.
This will give the chance to form THE ARABIC ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN DUDAN. We at the same time pity the Northern SPLM SECTOR but we Southern Sudanese could not and will not sacrify our lives and freedom again. We lost a lot of sisters and brothers to be free and we will not throw it away. I have never seen us united like this before and it has taken NCP by suppress.
AUGUSTINO DENG
SPLM supports openly South Sudan independence
I always stand with someone who voiced his/her voice for separation. The only way that the Southern Sudanese people will be freed is when the separated themselves from the Government of Khartoum.
But, however, in point when Southern Sudanese people separated from the North, Salva Kiir Miyardit need to choose one of the following two choices: Surrendered himself to Omar Beshir or give the seat to someone else who will not vote for Omar Beshir. Since August 11, 2005 when Salva Kiir Miyardit step on the shoes of the Late Dr.John Garang until this current time, Salva Kiir Miyardit had never do anything at all. It is just a wasting of time in the Office.
By Augustino Deng. Jech la mer from Tharpam.
jur_likang_a_ likan'g
SPLM supports openly South Sudan independence
This is what has been in the agenda. SPLM has always been a dynamic political force in Sudan. It has altered nothing it has done nothing other setting its political bearing to the destination which millions of our loved ones had made a target. Under the sun there is nothing permanent other than change. It must be in the best interest of the people whom the power is drawn. Since day one I have never doubted the political dynamism of SPLM. Only the drivers know where the vehicles go. So is SPLM as the driver of the population of South Sudanese.
Peter Nhiany
SPLM supports openly South Sudan independence
Good job Madam Itto, SPLA in all sectors should come out and declare its position on the referendum. There is no need to remain silent.
South Sudanese have already determined where they are going; who is fearing that anything will stop them regardless of NCP behavior of bombing innocent people.
I agree with Tong statement; SPLA is the ruling party in the South and should be very clear on issues pertaining to the people its is governing.
There is no time left for Khartoum to change or do anything that is going to persuade the South Sudanese to vote for “unity.”
Unity died six years ago, and it is time to burried it. SPLA must come out tell us its position on the coming January referendum. Seperation is our option. No to Unity.
Peter Nhiany.
Freedom Fighter
SPLM supports openly South Sudan independence
Yes for separation, No for an Arab-Islamic Sudan
Since, Albashir has resisted all efforts from the SPLM/A and people of Southern Sudan to build the country that belongs to all its people, then there is no option other than to divide Sudan. Albashir will have an opportunity to have as much as he wants of Islamic Sharia Laws in the North, and we will have our secular state in the South.
It’s wise and necessary for the SPLM/A to abandon the dead end road (unity) for the best interest of the people of Southern Sudan. Bye-bye fake unity
Freedom fighter
Sammy
SPLM supports openly South Sudan independence
That’s what SPLM/A leaders should be doing. Preaching it every single day until the voting day. It’s not even fair to have option for unity when unity itself had claimed more than 2 million and scatered millions to all corners of the world, not forgetting the rest who have nothing to support their standard of living due to the same unity.
If unity in the world was like that one of Sudan, the world would has think twice about it. Northern Sudan don’t want unity, if you thinking of unity, ask yourself one good thing that the north did that favors unity.
Separation come quickly, I am tired of unity, I am sick of being refugee and depend on humanitarian needs.
Garang
SPLM supports openly South Sudan independence
Thanks you very much mrs.Anne Itto your statement and your position in the pary and the party dicision is very clear to all southerners who are also supporting separation of southern sudan.
We as the people of southern sudan have the right in the future of this nation,we can just openly support the free will of our people without fear and favor.Arabs are Arabs who only believed in arabisation and isalamisation and not human right.
we can together as people of southern sudan stand firm and stronglg support the outcomne of the refrendum which is for sure going to be separation.
New Nation oyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
SPLM oyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
southern sudan oyeeeeeeeeeeee
Kerubino Garang Deng
kaci-banno
SPLM supports openly South Sudan independence
Bravo, bravo SPLM, you are the only party in South Sudan is standing in a right position with the people of southern Sudan. Even though NCP make unity attractive we are going, enough, enough.
By: Kaci-Ma-banno.
Thongjang Thongjang
SPLM openly supports South Sudan independence
You got it’s right Dr Big sister of Kush land! Rabbi Thongjang Thongjang.
Sudan virus
SPLM openly supports South Sudan independence
SPLM OHeeeeeeeee!
Independent OHeeeee!
Referendum OHeeeeeee!
CPA OHeeeeeeeeeeeeee!