“A Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” says Abyei Administrator
By Ngor Arol Garang
July 25, 2009 (ABYEI) — “A Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” said The Chief Administrator of Abyei Area during a briefing to local chiefs at his residence on the award of Abyei Arbitration Tribunal, on Saturday.
Mayak further called on all Abyei citizens from both Dinka Ngok and Messeriya to appreciate whatever little that has been given to each side by international court and stop knocking at conflicting doors which are destructing.
The Arbitration Tribunal last Wednesday awarded North Sudan the eastern area of Abyei where are Heglig and Bamboo oilfields to the north Sudan and defined the water and pastures area as the territory of nine Dinka Ngok chiefdom in 1905.
The Messeriya protested saying they need water and pastures for their cattle while the Dinka Ngok said that oil fields area is part of their land.
Asked when the ruling will be implemented, he said “an international technical committee will soon be in Abyei to begin the demarcation of the area according to the map defined by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.”
The decision of the arbitration also raised question over who will take part in the 2011 referendum on whither Aybei people want to be part of northern and southern Sudan.
On the issue of referendum, the chief administrator said, citizens of Abyei will simultaneously vote for their referendum the same day southern Sudanese would be voting on self determination.
“The residents of Abyei will cast a separate ballot from that of southern Sudan at referendum,” he said.
However, Arop Mayak declined to comment on whether non-Abyei residents would be allowed to vote at referendum.
Last Thursday Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir told the leaders of Messeriya in Abyei that they would have the right to vote in the referendum even where the land was awarded to Dinka Ngok.
But southern Sudan government minister for presidential affairs and SPLM co agent, Luka Biong dismissed Bashir’s statement saying they the Abyei Arbitration tribunal confirmed the tribal understanding to delimit the nine chiefdom of Dinka Ngok and thus the other tribes could not take part in the referendum.
(ST)
Otong
“A Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” says Abyei Administrator
Chief Administrator of Abyei area and any other politician from South Sudan should be very careful when commenting on Messeriya right in Abyei area, according to arbitration ruling messeriya got the oil out side the Abyei area so Abyei belong to South Sudanese only, we shouldn’t give them hope to be part of development or any thing to do with Abyei.
Father Critic
“A Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” says Abyei Administrator
Well done Arop Mayak,I really like your proverb.A little that you have is better than none and therefore ,A journey of thousand miles start with a step.Soon very soon the oilfield being given to Khartoum Government is going to be claimed back to Southern Sudan by all means.
Critic Ngueny from Bor town
Joseph
“A Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” says Abyei Administrator
Chief administrator of Abyei Mr. Arop Mayak, you are not yet settle, according to Bashire want the Messeriya to vote for the referendum, it’s only Dinka Ngok to vote. This issue of oil should be discuss, even part of it belong to unity state.
jongkoth
“A Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” says Abyei Administrator
Hey people please be careful here when you talk about Panthou/Heligh, this area is not under Abyei as the NCP/NIF is generalising the whole area of Upper Nile(Unity state) to be part of Abyei.
you people representing SPLM in the Hague and those involved in ABC, why didn,t you specified this issue during the process? what do you think your former master should if you are not directing the committees as sons of the area?
I hope you will not get lost here to direct the other team during North-South border demarcation.
Jongkoth.