Six years interim period: how peaceful

Editorial, The Juba Post

Oct 27, 2005 — The recent forced closing of all schools, including private and Christian schools, for Ramadan holidays in Khartoum State, by a state minister decree – the first in 16 years – raises a lot of questions.

The government knows very well that imposing the 30-day Ramadan holidays on schools will affect the completion of their syllabuses, but decided to turn down the pleas of teachers to be given seven more days to complete their syllabuses.

Teachers plan their syllabuses to be taught within the three terms of the academic year. Any interference with the schedule will certainly affect the completion of the course schedules.

But did the education authorities turn a deaf ear to the plea of the teachers, including the newly appointed minister of education who hails from the SPLM party?

Such an irresponsible decree can be interpreted as a calculated move to incite trouble in the capital and to cripple the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

The government knows very well that the situation has just calmed down after being volatile following the death of John Garang. Why again provoke another situation?

The current minister of education should be aware that there are still some elements in Sudan who do not want peace and will spare no time to disrupt the CPA. He should not allow himself to be bulldozed into accepting the sabotage of the CPA, just as no agreements should be reached concerning the constitution or ministerial appointments from bullying, either from Khartoum or within the southern leadership.

The six years of the interim period will not be peaceful years. So all Sudanese of goodwill should be careful not to be lured into creating riots, but remain on guard for the six-year period.