Sudan NCP & SPLM trade accusations over Washington conference
June 28, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The ruling Sudan National Congress Party (NCP) accused its partner in the National Unity government of conveying a “bleak” picture during a conference in Washington held this month to review the progress of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
The head of the NCP delegation to the conference Ghazi Salah Al-Deen told reporters that that there was a “difference in approach” with Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM).
“We noticed that the SPLM talks in a black gloomy language to what is happening in Sudan,” Al-Deen said.
“We are not sure if this is its position or it is a way of addressing the US society but its something that must be changed…We don’t agree with it on this pessimistic picture” he added.
But an SPLM senior official blamed the lack of concrete progress on the NCP saying it is backtracking on meeting its obligations under the CPA.
“The issues remain the same. There is no progress in resolving the issues yet,” SPLM delegation spokesman Yasir Arman told Reuters today.
“We discovered again that the National Congress Party has no political will to resolve those issues … We are running out of time” he added.
The SPLM frequently accuse the NCP of not implementing a number of key issues from the provisions included in the CPA.
Thirty-three countries and organizations, representing the original witnesses and other international supporters of Sudan’s CPA met at a forum this week in Washington to discuss ways to ensure that the peace agreement is on track.
Participants at the conference agreed to a joint communiqué emphasizing “the importance of credible, peaceful and transparent nationwide elections in Sudan in line with the National Electoral Commission’s timetable of February 2010 and legitimate popular consultations in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States,” indicating support to not push back the elections date again.
Washington is said to believe that pushing for CPA implementation will bolster chances for settlement in the separate conflict in Sudan’s Western region of Darfur.
Arman said that both sides reiterated their position on abiding by the decision of international arbitrators over the borders of the contested oil rich region of Abyei.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague is due next month to rule on a dispute over the borders of Abyei, a region claimed by the north and the south that includes oilfields and a key pipeline. Northern and southern troops have clashed in the area since the 2005 agreement was signed.
Another disagreement between the NCP and SPLM is caused by the result of the recent results of the census which Southerners say understate their numbers affecting their wealth and power share.
The SPLM wants to use 1956 percentages of population in determining the electoral constituencies but the NCP rejects any changes saying the census was conducted in a transparent manner denying any manipulation on their part.
The CPA signed in January 9, 2005 was supposed to lead the country to the first free democratic elections still faces many hindrances and delays.
In 2011 the South will vote in a referendum to decide whether they want to secede or remain part of United Sudan.
(ST)
oshay
Sudan NCP & SPLM trade accusations over Washington conference
blame, blame that’s all the SPLM does, it’s not 2005 anymore and there isn’t a sympathetic right wing christian leaning government in Washington.
Stop saying that the NCP backtracks on agreements when you haven’t achieved anything from whatever has been given to you by the SPLM, you wasted billions of dollars and are running to Washington to comfort you.
The SPLM really needs to get its act together. And I hope that Yasir Arman realizes that when the South Secedes in 2011, they’ll either fire him or execute him, either way he will not be welcome in the North, we have no place for communist traitors.
Sudani
Sudan NCP & SPLM trade accusations over Washington conference
Frankly I cant get it.Why most of you are whining and assailing the NCP on breaching the CPA.
The NCP,though Am not allied to it,has responded and agreed with SPLM to most of the demands by Southerners namely self determination.
What difference does it make,for example,if the census is true or false or if you are 4 or 40 million, since at the end of the day you are going to have your own state and then you can conduct the census your way.
Second point,why some of you are anticipating war with the North since the only probable cause,border demarcation, was settled and both parties committed themselves to abide to arbitration.
Yasir Arman said”time is running short”, I wonder short for what? let us not fool ourselves,Separation is the only final solution for all our differences and the ultimate cure for our pains.
After secession Yasir Arman can seek refuge in a third country ,it seems that both Old and New Sudan are despising him