SPLM vows no concessions in South Sudan referendum

By Ngor Arol Garang

November 13, 2009 (JUBA) –The Leadership of the Sudan People Liberation Movement, (SPLM), at an extraordinary political bureau meeting has unanimously agreed not to make any concessions on the going talks with dominant National Congress Party (NCP) over Southern referendum.

Following his return to Juba after twelve days in Khartoum since October 31 to discuss outstanding issues on CPA implementation, the Vice-President of South Sudan government Dr Riek Machar told the press on Thursday he would brief the party on the progress made at the level of the joint political committee that he co-chairs with Sudanese Vice-President Ali Osman Taha.

He said that the NCP’s latest proposal has come down from the two-third turnout demand but declined to state the exact figure until the party’s politburo discusses it.

The SPLM position is that the turnout be 50%. The NCP came down “a little bit from two-third but we will discuss this in the Politburo, and after that you will be informed,” Machar said.

Earlier, the two parties almost agreed on 51% of votes to declare the South an independent country as long as two-third (66%) of voter turnout is achieved.

The NCP leadership ” are showing signals towards reducing their initial positions on required percentage for voter turnout but it is still long way to concede,” said Paul Mayom Akech, the official spokesperson of the government of Southern Sudan and minister of information and broadcasting service.

Paul Mayom further added other people, he declined to name, are not giving complete attention to referendum to allow focus on other national matters.

The US special envoy to Sudan, Mr. Scott Gration during his stay in Khartoum last week held tripartite meetings with Taha and Machar to discuss the referenda and other pending issues. Gration also held talks with the Sudanese officials on Darfur peace process.

“The SPLM has always shown interest and sense of responsibilities to engage in peaceful settlement of all key sticking points but the other people always likes being rigid and obstacle to successful discussions,” he said adding that they like taking detours to arrival at conclusions.

The South Sudan government spokesperson said the two peace partners have a lot to be discussed before elections are held. Reform bills such as power of national security service to detain, cease wealth or property, investigate or hunt suspects; he adds stressing need to reach consensus also on census results.

The referendum review committee members includes GOSS minister of Legal affairs and constitutional development, Minister of foreign affairs, Minister Roads, Bridges and Transport, minister of information and broadcasting services among others.
Mr. Pagan Amum, SPLM Secretary General, said the meeting discussed number of issues relating to the forthcoming elections, ongoing voter registration, Southern referendum and popular consultation for Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

The meeting had also examined and discussed results of the recent concluded all-party conference held in Juba last month, and the boycott of parliamentary session by SPLM members of Parliament in the National Assembly over NCP deliberate reluctance to discuss crucial bills requiring immediate deliberations and endorsement by the house, he said.

(ST)