Sudan NCP & SPLM forms committee to review referendum law
August 2, 2009 (KHARTOUM) —The two major parties in the government of National Unity (GoNU) have agreed to establish a joint committee to narrow differences with regard to the referendum law.
The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) stipulates that the people of Southern Sudan will be afforded a right of self-determination through the exercise of an internationally monitored referendum to either choose to create an independent country or confirming the current unity of Sudan.
The dominant National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) have been grappling for months over provisions of the referendum law.
The committee will consist of Idriss Mohamed Abdel-Gadir, Mohamed Al-Mukhtar, Marwa Gaknoun and Abdel-Rahman Ibrahim from the NCP.
The SPLM side will consist of Michael McCuay, Weik Mamir, Out Deng Ashwil and Paulio Wanwila.
The main issues being discussed on the referendum law include the seat of the Referendum Commission, its chairmanship, composition of the Commission, voter definition and qualification and voting centers.
Among the key sticking points is the percentage of votes required in the referendum to declare it favoring independence, the population allowed to vote, determining the post-referendum process and the share of Sudan’s debts the South would carry with it if it secedes.
NCP officials said that they interpret the CPA as asking both the North and the South to make the separation option more difficult through the law.
(ST)
Kur
Sudan NCP & SPLM forms committee to review referendum law
We will go it alone if necessary. They should know that any delay for the referendum in both Abyei and the South proper is something that we can’t entertain.
Kur