Sudan Armed Forces continue troops build-up in Abyei – Salva Kiir
By Isaac Vuni
May 28, 2008 (JUBA) — The first vice president of the republic and president of the government of southern Sudan, Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit said today northern Sudan army is still building up troops in the disputed area of Abyei.
The southern Sudan president said the unfolding latest situation compelled him to send his Vice President Riek Machar to meet and discuss with president Bashir the current emerging crisis in Abyei area, last Saturday.
Kiir assured the lawmakers that the government of southern Sudan and its people stand in fully support of the provision of the Abyei protocol and the Abyei Boundary Commission report, which he said will neither be renegotiated nor compromised but be implemented.
Officiating the first session of Southern Sudan legislative assembly today, president Kiir, reiterated that the people of southern Sudan will resist all attempts to push them into war by its partner the NCP. “We must not allow ourselves to be dragged into war but when attacked, we would respond only on the basis of self defense,” Kiir emphasized.
However, Kiir explained that the government of southern Sudan will work with all peace loving people in Sudan and the world at large to ensuring that Comprehensive Peace Agreement is fully implemented to the letter and sprit.
The Ceasefire Political Commission agreed yesterday in Khartoum to send an investigation team with the participation of the UN and the peacekeeping force to Abyei.
Kiir observed that there are no necessary laws for effective functioning of southern Sudan judicial system which has post great challenges on both the government of southern Sudan and the legislative assembly as legislatives priorities are not proceeded timely. He urged the august house to explore other options if it’s due to lack of capacity.
He further said the coming two major events of the general election in 2009 and the popular consultation for the people of Nuba Mountains and southern Blue Nile in 2009 and the simultaneous referendum for self determination for the people of southern Sudan and Abyei in 2011 need serious enlightenment to cross-section of southern Sudanese that needed to be base on the unity of the people of southern Sudan.
With regard to food security which is a major concern to all people of southern Sudan, the head of southern Sudan government directed the ministry of agriculture to address it comprehensively. Otherwise, “if the Uganda and Kenya close their borders for any given reason, our people in Juba ill starve to death because we are depending on food from outside Sudan”, Kiir observed.
He also hailed the international community for their assistance to the people of southern Sudan particularly the people and the government of Norway for their renewed commitment and pledges for the second phase of the CPA implementation.
The president launched the first parliament website in southern Sudan that contains all information about the MPs and their respective political party’s affiliation which is available at WWW.sslagoss.org
(ST)