SPLM Rumbek Meeting final communiqué

April 5, 2006 (RUMBEK) — Between the 2nd and 5th April 2006, the Interim Political Bureau (IPB) of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) held its first meeting at Rumbek. The meeting was attended by all members of the Bureau and chaired by the SPLM Chairman Comrade Salva Kiir Mayardit. The meeting observed a minute of silence in the memory of SPLM/A martyrs and the late Great Leader, Dr. John Garang de Mabior.

At the top of the IPB’s agenda was the transformation of the SPLM into a political organization and equipping it to face multiple transitions: the transitions from war to peace, from a liberation movement to a political party competing on level ground with other political forces in a multi-party democracy, from a party limited by the circumstances of war to operating in the “liberated areas” to one operating openly all over the country. In this connection, the IPB reaffirmed the national vocation of the SPLM and its commitment to continue the struggle, through political democratic means, to achieve its objective of creating a new Sudan.

To that end, the IPB endorsed the structures created, based on the 1994 SPLM National Convention, by the Chairman vide Resolution 4, dated 21st February 2006, and created organizational structures all over the country to enable it achieve the above objectives. It also adopted Basic Rules, Financial Regulations and codes of conduct to govern its activities as well as actions by its leaders and members. However, the first business to which the IPB and the General Secretariats shall give immediate attention to is the building of the Movement from the grass roots level leading to the Second SPLM Convention which shall take place at a time and in a place to be determined in the very near future.

Furthermore, the IPB deliberated on progress made in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and endorsed actions taken, hitherto, by its Chairman, to ensure full implementation of the CPA and called upon him to continue his efforts in that regard so that the CPA is fully implemented in letter and in spirit. In particular, IPB deplores that the administration of Abyei Area is not yet put in place and calls upon the Presidency to urgently implement the Abyei Boundary Commission’s final decision as stipulated in the CPA. In this connection, the IPB reaffirms that there shall be no going back from the on-going peace process, while asserting that in order for that peace to be implemented fully, both parties to the CPA must internalize the demands of that Agreement and desist from the fantasy of believing that things can go as they used to do before the signing of the CPA.

Consequently, the IPB recommits itself to working seriously and transparently with the National Congress Party (NCP) in order to achieve full implementation of the CPA within the parameters and time-frame stipulated in that Agreement. Also, in the process of reviewing progress made in the implementation of the CPA, the IPB identified failures, gaps and shortcomings in that process, especially with regards to practices that derogate from, or are contrary to, the Interim National Constitution and the Bill of Rights enshrined in that Constitution. A checklist of those failures and shortcomings was made for discussion with the NCP at the appropriate level and thorough a mechanism established for that purpose.

However, the IPB is compelled to take exception to certain actions that were recently taken, purportedly in the name of the Government of the National Unity. Those actions, if continued, shall be detrimental to the peace process. For example, the recent dissemination of the language of war, including calls for Jihad, are divisive as they are detrimental to the environment of peace created by the CPA. Equally, the SPLM takes exception to the uncalled for attacks against the UN, the AU and their personnel given their role in the maintenance of peace, development and reconstruction in Sudan.

In addition, the IPB reviewed issues relating to security at the national and Southern Sudan levels. These issues covered a wide gamut ranging from foreign insurgencies and reorganization of the National Security Agency and other law enforcement agencies along the lines established by the CPA and Interim National Constitution, to war legacies such as presence of landmines, proliferation of small arms in civilian hands, tribal conflicts, poaching etc. The IPB took the appropriate resolutions regarding matters that fall within the purview of the authority of the Government of Southern Sudan and entrusted to its Chairman to take up the other issues with NCP and the Government of National Unity with a view to their resolution.

The IPB, moreover, deliberated on matters pertaining to relations with the NDA and other political forces and resolved to continue dialogue and cooperation with those forces, especially the NDA, based on political commonalities and commitment to the CPA. In particular, the IPB resolved that the SPLM should maintain close contacts and cooperation with those forces in order to realize genuine democratic transformation of the country as required by the CPA and the Interim National Constitution.

In this regard, the IPB welcomes the call by President Beshir to engage all Sudanese political forces in an effort to reach consensus on matters of national concern. However, it urges that this engagement should not only be limited to current topical issues, but should also cover all other issues whose resolution, within the bounds of the CPA, shall result in the creation of a healthy democratic environment. This shall be in line with para. 1.7 of the Power Sharing Protocol of the CPA which stipulates; “The Parties agree to initiate a comprehensive process of national reconciliation and healing throughout the country as part of the peace building process”.

Last, but not least, the IPB resolved that the peaceful resolution of the conflicts in Darfur and Eastern Sudan should be given priority over all other matters of State and, to that end, issued a specific resolution on that subject, which is attached hereto.