Sudan’s parliament speaker threatens to push referendum law to vote

October 5, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The speaker of the Sudanese national assembly Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Tahir threatened today to table a draft bill of the referendum law voicing frustration with failure of the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in reaching a compromise.

The two parties are deadlocked particularly on the percentage of registered voters required to declare Southern Sudan an independent country. The SPLM has proposed 51% while the NCP proposed 75% and recently raised the stake to 90%.

There are also disputed post-referendum issues including discussions on what to do with the liabilities, assets, water, Joint Integrated Units (JIU’s), oil, international agreements in case the South would vote for separation.

Al-Tahir addressing final session of the Sudanese parliament before the April 2010 elections said that the parliament “has run out of patience” with the long dragging dispute over the laws.

The NCP figure added that the legislative assembly is empowered to bypass the executive branch and the joint political commission of both parties and craft its own version of the referendum bill.

He added that such a move will be necessary if differences remain adding that the parliament has a responsibility to ensuring that Southerners are able to cast their votes on self determination.

However, the head of the SPLM bloc Yasir Arman in the national assembly slammed Al-Tahir’s remarks threatening to work against any such move.

“The parliament has no right to resolve the referendum issue in that manner,” he told reporters.

Arman also reiterated the SPLM’s rejection to the national security law warning that any attempts to pass it will “create a crisis”.

Southern Sudan is scheduled to vote in the referendum in 2011 in accordance with the 2005 peace deal to either choose to confirm the current unity of the Sudan or create an independent country in the South.

(ST)