Sudan’s SPLM to discuss upcoming elections in Juba meeting
February 2, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Southern ex-rebels Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) are scheduled to discuss preparations for the upcoming general elections.
The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the SPLM have failed to agree on National Security Law, Press Law, Land Commission and Human Rights Commission.
Arman said that any delay in passing the laws “will harm the elections and the chances that they will be held on time”.
“This will make the [Sudanese] constitution hanging in the air” he said.
SPLM officials that they could agree on the Press and Publications Act which gives the Press Council powers of control and accountability on the press, provided that the Council be elected by journalists and publishers.
Furthermore the Southern ex-rebels want changes in the National Security Law to incorporate the appointment of the National Security Service Director, appointment of his deputies, and the power to arrest.
The SPLM contends that the National Security Bureau functions should be limited to gathering intelligence information and analyzing it.
Adopting the new laws is considered a prerequisite for the first general elections to be held in Sudan since 1986 to comply with the interim constitution.
Arman further said that the executive branch needs to send the laws to the National Assembly “to avoid further complications that are totally needed in this particular time”.
He said that the SPLM political bureau meeting will also focus on organizational issues and strategies which will include restructuring institutions.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in 2005 between the NCP and the SPLM provided for elections to be held no later than July 2009 as part of a democratic transition in the country.
But observers raise doubts about the organization of the 2009 general elections. Last year a UN consultative team of experts advised the semi-autonomous southern Sudan government to postpone the next year general elections to November 2009 till the end of rainy season in order to avoid the logistical complications.
Furthermore the results of the fifth Sudan Population and Housing Census will not be released until next February. The constituencies are to be defined according to the number of population counted during the census
But the NCP has rejected any delays and Sudanese officials have insisted that any logistical issues could be overcome.
(ST)