Sudan’s NCP shifts its position on referendum quorum, demands more
By James Gatdet Dak
September 25, 2009 (JUBA) – The debate between the partners to the Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which aims to formulate the referendum law for the people of Southern Sudan remains heated as the National Congress Party (NCP) has extremely shifted from its initial position on the quorum of the required voters turn out.
In a press conference held in Juba on Friday, the Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan and Deputy Chairperson of the SPLM, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, said the NCP had shifted from its previous proposal of 75% of the required quorum of the would-be registered voters turn out to a more demanding position of 90% required to recognize the outcome of the referendum
Machar said his party has proposed 50% as the required quorum of the general voters turn out to recognize the exercise of the referendum.
“On the turn out quorum of the registered voters the NCP has moved from 75% to 90%, when we [SPLM] said, well, at least 50% of the registered voters, if that is done, then such a referendum should be recognized.”
The two parties also remain deadlock on the percentage of registered voters required to declare Southern Sudan an independent country. The SPLM has proposed 51% while the NCP proposed 75%.
Dr. Machar further added that the SPLM accepts only indigenous people of Southern Sudan to vote in the North and demands that any other person in the North that claims to trace his or her ancestry to the South Sudanese indigenous communities should only vote in the South after being verified by the respective local chiefs; a position rejected by the NCP.
Machar also said the SPLM has conceded to accept about eight locations in the Diaspora in which the indigenous people of Southern Sudan can also be allowed to vote in the referendum.
These locations include Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Egypt, USA, Australia, UK and Canada.
He said there are several other contentious issues among which include the post-referendum arrangements, which he said should be discussed in a separate forum according to his party’s position.
The post-referendum issues include discussions on what to do with the liabilities, assets, water, Joint Integrated Units (JIUs), oil, international agreements, etc. in case the South would vote for separation.
Machar stressed the need to discuss these issues separately after finalizing on the referendum law itself so that the parties are not booked down by the post-referendum discussions.
He said the post-referendum issues should not only concentrate on what to do in case the South separates but also what Sudan’s system should look like in case the South votes for unity, which he said should also involve re-structuring of the state itself.
“If it [referendum result] is unity, what form of unity should we be committed to because we all want to sell unity, making unity attractive? So we need to make it attractive even by re-structuring the state itself,” Machar explained.
“So these are issues which we should not be booked down with them now when we are discussing the referendum. We should discuss them separately. We in the SPLM are ready. We have also done our homework,” he continued.
Machar also added that the SPLM has presented its proposals on Abyei referendum and respective popular consultations for Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile and are awaiting the NCP’s response.
He further added that the two partners are also working on other national laws that would make democratic transformation of the country possible and create an enabling environment for free and fair elections in April 2010.
(ST)
Gatwech
Sudan’s NCP shifts its position on referendum quorum, demands more
Dear readers,
As I wrote in my last week’s comment, the SPLM leadership must be vigilant with its minority internal unionists who want to hijack the referendum process. This tiny group probably has already made an alliance with the NCP to try to defeat separatists who want to make the process fair. They have stabbed at the back the aspiration of the people of South Sudan which has been championed for all these years.
However, they should be assured that the will of more than 90% of the people of South Sudan can never be defeated. If the process fails until January 2011, the South will be forced to opt for its second plan ‘B’ and that is unilaterally declaring independence in the Juba parliament. And by the way there is nothing new in that because even the Sudan’s independence was declared in the Khartoum parliament in January 1956. There was no referendum conducted by these so-called new masters in Khartoum.
Can’t you see how NCP is just a bunch of unreasonable notorious group? What is the logic behind the shifting of their own previous proposal from 75% of the voters turn out to 90%? This is purely stupidity! It is an act by a regime that never wants peace in the Sudan. And again they are sticking to 75% of the votes required to declare the South independent when the international experience tells of a simple majority vote of 51%.
The SPLM should stick to its position of 50% of the general voters turn out and the 51% of the votes required in declaring the South independent. The SPLM should also be strict on the criteria to be used to identity the potential intruders who may now claim to be Southerners or trace their ancestry to the people they have been killing since 1955. Only the indigenous people of South Sudan should vote wherever necessary, but no room for intruders.
oshay
Sudan’s NCP shifts its position on referendum quorum, demands more
This is SPLM diplomacy at its best, they’re totally incapable of defending Southerner’s rights, 20 years of war and now 90% instead of 50% will be needed for the separation of the South.
This is a failure government and a failure movement that has led to the death of our nation and has achieved totally nothing.
As usual like with the war and the Abeyi oil deal, the NCP will come out on top and that silly cow boy hat wearing Salva Kiir will come up with his usual fake rhetoric while we all know who always comes out on top.
I think it’s fair to say the SPLM should resign and Sudan remain a united country because the outcome will be the same regardless.
suffeeyo
Sudan’s NCP shifts its position on referendum quorum, demands more
NCP Party is the Party will left the Sudan one of the poorest countries in African Continent, this Party has killed many people as the can instance lefting the country from collepsing, NCP response with just killed of the civilians and left many homeless in the country, some are in exile, when i hear the demand (SPLM) Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, the Party,which had made the Change within four years in the South, NCP Party feels just nothing but ashame for this youngs Party, which hit the ground running and made the Southern to be better place Sudan.
SPLM must not accept this this concept say Southerner must vote 75% to delcare indenpendent in the South. every countries on in this world believe 50% is to delcare indenpendent, otherwise SPLM will declare unliteral indenpendents. by forces whether you like it or not.
Johnny
Sudan’s NCP shifts its position on referendum quorum, demands more
Good News for Us
This is going to be a good progress to the referendum for people of New Sudan to vote for their future “New Sudan”, thanks to the SPLM politicians for their concerned about Diasporas, I hope they are going to vote anonymously for separation which we have been waiting for until the time we make an aggressive war against the Arab countries resided to the north.
John Dit
Sydney, Australia
Johnny
Sudan’s NCP shifts its position on referendum quorum, demands more
50% is enough and enough, and that is why it’s being considered a contestant number percentage for the presidency vote, NCP never hold a election before, they don’t know, what are the rules of democracy? where did they find 90% on this planet?
50%50%50%50%50%50%50%50%Oyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
SPLM oyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
New Sudan Oyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
thanks to Dr. John Garang de Mabior
Oduck Bol
Sudan’s NCP shifts its position on referendum quorum, demands more
No worry at all, event NCP shift from 75 to 90% and again to 100% there will be no different at all. The matter is that Southerns must be sure for those who may pretend to be southern so that they could vote for the interest of Northern, other wise we are done with Arab and their culture too.
About one tribe that grabbing land of others in south because they know that they will be back up by their government if someone touch them, I can advice them that to change their behaviour be for their time comes too.
Oduck Bol
John Liai Diing
Sudan’s NCP shifts its position on referendum quorum, demands more
Dear southerners,
This is not new if our vision is to secede indeed. We already know this is a language of war and let us simply take it accordingly.
The NCP has already declared that they can not allow the South to secede by law. So, what we have to do now is to get prepared for this inevitable war.
Again, this language is enough and the world is now aware of it but the North will be surprised when they see us declaring the South Sudan as an independent nation in 2011.
John Liai Diing
jalabi
Sudan’s NCP shifts its position on referendum quorum, demands more
It’s SPLM mistake, we were very generous and gave SPLM good deal by accepting 75% for separation but SPLM declined it!! you better accept our new deal 90% otherwise we will raise it to 99.9%, don’t miss this deal or you will regret it!
Be honest, it was our mistake by giving you self-determination in the first place, we were able to export the oil and became oil country, we had a full control over the oil area + getting the 100% of the oil and not only 50%, oil means money, means having the best military equipments, strong army and secure supply and then what happened? the government made a big mistake!
I’m not against giving southerners 100% of the oil, giving southerners full right to have self-government but that should be under Sudan and not separation.
We will not let the south go .. never, we will play around SPLM because after Garang death SPLM has become very weak, no views, no strategy, lack of charasmatic leadership and corrupt organization.
Jalabi (Abo Jalabia)
Akolde Nhiak Jinub
Sudan’s NCP shifts its position on referendum quorum, demands more
MESSAGE TO Gen. Kiir, DR. RIEK MACHAR TENY, Mr. Pagan Amuom, Dr. James Wani, Hon memners of SSLA,all Governors of South Sudan States, South Sudan People, and of Course our grantor, Great Army of South Sudan People SPLA Oyee, Oyee!!
Dear Dr. Riek, Thank you very much for all these efforts!
Please, please, please, never give in to these monstors of NCP. Our cause for total liberation for an independence South Sudan has cost us in this part of the world millions if not billions of precious lives since creation. In the hands of Turkey, British and Egyptian condominimun and later in the hands of these Islamic and radical Fundamentalists and world terrorists, known over in Khartoun since 1955!
International Community MUST KNOW that NCP is instigating another civil war in the Sudan!!
I forewarn SPLM to give up this dead slogan of a NEW SUDAN vision! Dr. John Garang has it and he knows when he will revive it.
Arabs in Khartoum and in Middle East MUST know that Dr. John Garang is watching keenly all that they are doing since August 1 2005!
Joshua,(Gen. Kiir) please, it is time you sit down with your great men Dr. Riek, Mr. Pagan, Dr. James Wani, SSLA Hon. Members, all South Sudan States Governors and South Sudan people to put forward the PLAN B to encounter NCP stupid demands day in day out!
It was 75% YES vote to allow South Sudan to secede and 50% Yes vote for Unity! What a contradiction!! Fools!
Where in the world are such percentages of 75% votes for either declaring winning of presidential nomninee or Seccession as this of South Sudan???????????????????
Does NCP know that it is high time to cheat us again as Juba Conference of 1947, in which British contributed into our lasting suffering till this hour in human History!!??
Arabs in Middle East, in Khartoum should go back into their books and consult their anscetors that South and North Sudan have never been one. Arabs MUST know that they are immigrants from Middle East of 1807. Sud(an) means land of black people of Africa!
It’s time that our fellow Africans in neghbouring countries and in the world should join us to fight for an independence African State of South Sudan! No more suffering again.
I thank brother Mohammad Adam who commented that NCP should be sent out of power, have two separate states of South and North Sudan as peaceful neghbours! Thank you Mohammad Adam, God bless you ever for your kind request to your NCP Monsters! This is exactly what South Sudanese want and they will not give it up till world ends, if it does!!!!!!!
South Sudanese should be prepared for any eventuality any hour any time now that NCP is complicating things as this!
They (NCP) either accept people of South Sudan demands or else get to war! This time round, North and South will bear war brunt as not as before when it was Southern people who suffered.
We will make sure all those towers in Khartoum are brought down in ashes in a single day, have mothers, elderly, children and all vunernable groups dead at cross fire!!
Go ahead NCP, make more stupid demands!!
braveheart
Sudan’s NCP shifts its position on referendum quorum, demands more
Riek Machar is not a savvy lawyer. He’s just an engineer with no legal expertise. This referendum under his leadershipo will turn out to be Khartuom Peace Agreement (1997). SPLM should entrust that role to Nhial Deng Nhila not Riek. That’s where his education should have been brought to test. Dr. Riek needs to take his stinky butt to Ministry of housing and planning and design programs there. He has no persuasive legal skills.
Ali abdul rehman
Sudan’s NCP shifts its position on referendum quorum, demands more
we are not afriad of this southerners, we say no to seperation no to independence in south sudan. we wills let the lights of Islam shines on you pagan. mr presidents by signing to this CPA he has betrayed the original Arabs muslims and general, we will not accept anything less than full unity under the banner of Islam.we will continues to make this referendum a hell on earth for this pagans and crasaders and destroy their dreams. ALLAH AKBAR ALLAH AKBAR
Kur
Sudan’s NCP shifts its position on referendum quorum, demands more
I think the NCP should ask for 1000%; perhaps that may make life easier for them to cheat the process. In fact, we have now realized that the people leading the NCP are a bunch of senseless individuals who have learnt nothing in the history of human development. They do not know the difference between what is acceptable and what is not.
Anyway, I want to repeat what I said a few weeks ago. We do not need a law to gain our freedom. We are going to take it whether anybody likes it or not. The clock is ticking and we know what to do when the right time comes.
However, the SPLM team should also read carefully the way the NCP changes its demands. It is now clear that when a concession is made, a new demand comes up. The SPLM has accepted allowing indigenous Southern Sudanese elsewhere to vote in the referendum only to see that NCP is asking for a 90% voter turn out. Where in the world will this demand makes any sense? This leads to me to assume two things: either the NCP assumes that it has already lost the game and wants to return to war or that with prolong discussion the SPLM will in the end give in to the NCP demands as it did during the formation of the Government of National Unity, when the SPLM gave up all important ministerial positions. But I think the SPLM will not cross the red line this time around. Any concession that fringes our right to freedom amounts to a declaration of war against the people of South Sudan.
Kur
Thomas Taban
Sudan’s NCP shifts its position on referendum quorum, demands more
This is just a joke. Is NCP serious with their demands? Let them know that, they tried to wipe the entire population of Southern Sudan but they were not able to do that. With all what they are doing, they should know that this is increasing the chance of separation to 110%. We have no fear against the NCP.
Bashir should know this better than anybody. He has ruled Sudan for 20 years and there is no way he can rule south again. If he thinks that south will not separate from the north then he is deceiving himself. Whether it is 90% or 0% the south should be prepared to break away.