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Sudan’s north-south ties “tense” – commentary

Sudan’s north-south ties “tense” – commentary
BBC Monitoring Service – United Kingdom
Published: Nov 28, 2006

Text of commentary by Alfred Taban headed ‘The appalling situation in Khartoum’, in English by Sudanese newspaper Khartoum Monitor on 28 November

Never before since the death of Dr John Garang, the late chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in July last year, have relations between northerners and southerners in Khartoum been so tense. Southerners now live in constant fear of the police and elements amongst northerners. They now leave home late and come home early. It is as if the south is now a separate country.

This situation started less than two weeks ago with the murder of a Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) soldier and the subsequent killing of five northern policemen by a southerner in a district of Khartoum.

The majority of the people of South Sudan want to separate but they do not want to go in a chaotic way or with any bitterness. They want the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to be implemented correctly so that a vote is taken in a free and fair referendum.

I would like to caution southerners to be careful. You have absolutely no problem with the majority of the northerners. Most of them are good people who want to live in peace with other Sudanese, including those from the south. There are, however, extremist elements, many of them in the organized forces who are bent on provoking trouble. We do not know what their problem is. It is possible they do not want the CPA and would like to see the southerners leave for the south even before the referendum is held in 2011. Their tactics are predictable.

They have pulled out southerners driving in smart cars on the pretext that they are looking for stolen cars. They have seized on southerners who have taken some drinks, saying they have caught them drunk. I would like to caution southerners not to return evil with evil. They should not turn the other cheek but they should also not respond to their provocation. They should still seek legal redress, although I know many of them have little confidence in the legal and judicial system in Khartoum. Do not give them the excuse to harm you.

Some southerners have themselves been courting trouble. They have been boasting of being SPLA members and have been challenging northerners. This is not wise. You southerners are out-numbered and out-gunned. In a situation of confrontation you cannot win. Chaos favours the extremists in the north, not you.

It is in your interest to have a smooth transitional period until the referendum in 2011. This is because a peaceful interim period will allow the full implementation of the CPA, which in turn will ensure that the referendum is held. If there is a chaos then the referendum is endangered and you might be denied your vote. Also, a smooth interim period means a peaceful secession, if that is what you want. If there is going to be separation of the south as is now likely, let it be a peaceful one. The south should still be good neighbours with the north after secession as a separate south. Bad ties with the north we will not be able to develop as fast as we want.

Source: Khartoum Monitor, Khartoum, in English 28 Nov 06

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