Kiir says right to self determination should not be downplayed
December 5, 2009 (JUBA) – Sudan First Vice President Salva Kiir Mayardit, said the right to self-determination of the people of Southern Sudan is not something anyone who is concerned about the future of this country should downplay.
“This is because the 2011 referendum is a historical opportunity for the people of the southern Sudan to peacefully determine their political destiny in the country, he said.
The president who was addressing hundreds of government officials and invited diplomats argued for preparation for both scenarios of either independent state of Southern Sudan or vote for united Sudan.
“I know that the CPA has been a very bumpy ride since its signing in 2005, but the right of the people of Southern Sudan in 2011 to choose their political destiny must survive this bumpy ride,” he said.
“Should the road toward 2011 referendum be deliberately made impossible by any person, political party or group then it will be the responsibility of the peace loving people of the Sudan to make it possible. As stated by our late Chairman Dr. John Garang that in order to fully implement the CPA, we should make the cost of non-implementation of CPA more than the cost of its implementation,” he adds.
He said the 2011 referendum must be fully a free and fair process so that people not the politicians make their own judgment on either unity or separation.
This process must be totally free from any manipulation or intimidation; he said stressing that those campaigning for two options must fight to win hearts and minds of Sudanese people to accept the outcome in a humble manner, he said.
Kiir in the past repeatedly said he would not interfere to influence the vote of southern Sudan people on issues of separation and unity but in fact he sent several signals showing his personal preference.
He continued to say that those who think can impose their own political views on the people of Southern Sudan during the referendum; should know it is in the interest of all political parties in the country to respect the free will of the people.
Slow talks on the referendum bill between the two peace partners could not reach an agreement before the end of the year, date to conclude the latest session of the transitional parliament before the elections.
The two signatories of the CPA propose different percentage on the voter turnout but do not yet reached an agreement over the issue. Also with regard to the national security law the parties diverge on the power to arrest, the National Congress Party (NCP) included it in the bill while the SPLM is strongly against.
Sudanese opposition forces and the SPLM prepare to stage a protest outside the National Assembly to demand the passage of democratic reforms and referendum bill. Last week, Pagan Amum the SPLM Secretary General accused the NCP of seeking return to war.
“We will work with all political parties in the country to push for the passage of laws that can facilitate the peaceful conduct of the referendum for the people of Southern Sudan in 2011,” he said assuring people that there will not be any form of intimidation or disruption of what has to be a truly valid representation of the will of the people.
Kiir said aware of efforts to frustrate the 2011 referendum by groups he described as various prophets of doom and gloom claiming that Southern Sudan would have been a failed state if was an independent country.
The independence of the landlocked southern Sudan is considered with frustration by different African and European countries because they do not encourage creation of new state in the unstable continent, also they continue to say that southern Sudan despite oil would remain politically fragile and economically unsustainable.
“Let me state it in no certain terms that the Government of Southern Sudan has come a long way since the signing of the CPA and we have been able not only to start building Southern Sudan from scratch but we have been able politically to contribute towards transforming and shape Sudan for better,” he assured.
“Morally and legally, I am personally bound to ensure that full implementation of the CPA including the exercise of the right of self-determination,” he said. If southerners vote for unity, “we will ensure that Southern Sudan continuous its development into strong and vibrant entity within the wider framework of a viable and democratic united Sudan.”
“Likewise, if the people vote to fulfill their right to self-determination and opt for secession, we will build on the foundation of the GOSS intuitions and become a state that is strong, viable, prosperous, democratic politically inclusive, accountable and able to live in peace with all its neighbors,” he said.
(ST)
Gatwech
Kiir says right to self determination should not be downplayed
May God bless the champions of self-determination towards independence of South Sudan.
$iong mayom
Kiir says right to self determination should not be downplayed
YES NO ONE SHOULD EVEN THINK OF SAVOTAGING THE RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION OF SOUTH SUDANESE. Any attempt by Jalaba to deny Southerners their right to create their own INDEPENDENT STATE will be seen as a DECLARATION OF WAR and this war will be fought deep inside JALABA HEARTLAND KHARTOUM. NCP SHOULD NOT PLAY WITH FIRE COMES 2011.
Jonglei-watchdog
Kiir says right to self determination should not be downplayed
Kiir is absolutely true. South Sudan right for self-determination should not be downplayed. No and never. Despite whatever arabs will do to attract our need for unity, it is late.
We in Southern Sudan need an inpendent state. The world must here this very well and msut too prepare to handle it with care so that more blood shed should not pour.
Kiir, Ministers, and Mps keep the lead. Don’t make yourself be confused by arab ‘Bank kusara’.
‘Prepare for 2011 and beyond’Oyeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Samson Shawel Ambaye
Kiir says right to self determination should not be downplayed
God be with Southern Sudan. They deserve independence from Bashir dead political system.
Biliu
Kiir says right to self determination should not be downplayed
Simple and clear, south Sudan is moving towards separation…that’s the simple fact every one most accept… and that’s the best choice for the people of Southern Sudan..Khartoum is so deformed to be reform.
Dinka Boy
Kiir says right to self determination should not be downplayed
Great job Salva Kiir Mayardit for your usual effort.
We are proud for our heros that put the lives of their citizens as the first piority. We know how you and the( Dr Garang de Mabior),and the greaters heros that we missed suffered during the struggle,and you guys have achieved it. We must attained this opportunity that we have been looking for since the formation of SPLM.
Thanks
maumau
Kiir says right to self determination should not be downplayed
Go and speak from Khartoum, it is where your office is located. Juba office belongs to Dr. Machar. You feared to contest for presidency against Al-Bashir. Kiir, you are killing CPA and the vision of late Dr. Garang which talk of independence after referendum.
Thyinka
Kiir says right to self determination should not be downplayed
The issue of the referendum should be kept in the news to force the NCP to settle it early because it will continue to be discussed till they address it adequately. The people need to be kept informed about the upcoming referendum so that they know what stake they hold and be ready for all necessary actions to realize a just and fair referendum for Southern Sudan and Abyei and popular consultations for the two areas of Nuba Mountain and Southern Blue Nile.
J.James
Kiir says right to self determination should not be downplayed
Mr. Kiir
Thank you very much for your second beautiful a ddress to the nation of Southern Sudan. It is also my second appreciation and deep respect to you and your democratic words since your speech in Kampala two weeks ago. I am peace lover and I always love those who speak about freedom, democracy, prosperity etc, similarly, I hate those who want to destroy our freedom, democracy, prosperity etc.
A leader is only respected when he delivers truth and fairness, and people normally don’t respect those who rule people through terrany and coersion. I know you are blessed hearted man but some of the people behind you are the main causers for any mismanagement within your administration, but in really sense I know that you are good guy who bad people can easily take advantage of his goodness.
Please keep on improving your records and I am sure you will prevail.
All southerners love free and independent Southern Sudan but frustrations sometimes send many people to lose hope, now go a head and talk about the growing tribalism and corruption and all will be stamped.
I hope you get that.
God bless
The writer is always peace activist.
Gatwech
Kiir says right to self determination should not be downplayed
Dear readers,
While we thank the champions of self-determination who boldly declared it in 1991’s CREEPING REVOLUTION in the person of Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, we should not relax on mere statements by Salva Kiir. I however thank Salva Kiir so much for his stance behind the right of self-determination and the support he has shown to Dr. Riek Machar who also negotiates its law. There is need for hard work to pass the referendum law before this appointed parliament is dissolved this month. Likewise, Salva Kiir should get himself to Khartoum and push Bashir to direct his NCP’s boys in parliament to pass the law.
95% of referendum law is already agreed by Dr. Riek Machar (may God bless him) and Ali Osman (may God bless him too). Only turnout quorum remains. The SPLM should not hold hostage the law just because of difference of 5% turnout out. The most important provision in the bill is the 51% that declares the South independent which is already agreed by both parties. The SPLM should instead focus on internal mechanisms that will educate, mobilize and facilitate the success for at least 90% turnuot that can have extra 30% points from 60% agreed quorum. We have only 13 months left.
The so-called lucrative New Sudan vision is dead. It was a project of the Arab world, especially Egypt to keep Sudan united. They told Garang to just demand leadership and keep Sudan united. But that leadership can easily end after Sudan is confirmed united. It was a trick. Millions of dollars were consumed by the SPLM/A in the name of the project. Separatists were rejected by the Arabs but are now 95% loved by Southerners.
Please, for those of you who still look for money from Arabs in the name of unionists to keep Sudan united, don’t waste your time. Join the Creeping Revolution for self-determination!!!
We have been cheated in the liberation struggle from 1983 to 1991 and extra many years by Arabs until 2002 Nairobi Merger declaration in the name of preaching for Sudan’s unity at the expense of the people of South Sudan. Some of us could not listen despite the fact that we have been shown the true and rightful vision of self-determination by its champions since 1991. With their wise peaceful strategy with Jallaba and Garang’s faction, they have succeeded to finally bring CPA on self-determination. Let us all embrace the coming independence of South Sudan. Say NO to the Arab project of united new Sudan. Sudan will NEVER be new.
Garang himself regretted his vision to keep Sudan united and confessed that Arab North is “too deformed to be reformed”. He realized late what he did not understand to be difficult to achieve in the first place. I don’t blame him because he did not understand Arabs well since he got his education in foreign countries. This is why he could not even speak or write Arabic well. He was very poor in Arabic, so he could not understand the mentality of Arabs and their chronic stupid culture that encourages even suicide bombers in the name of going to heaven and getting seventy white virgin girls waiting for the dead. Garang thought it was just a matter of copying the western world’s democracy and pasting it in Sudan and that can automatically change minds and keep Sudan united. But the Drs who got educated in Khartoum, speak and write in Arabic fluently understood the Arabs well from inside out.
I thank Garang for changing his mind and joining Dr. Riek Machar in self-determination officially in 2002 Nairobi Merger declaration. In the agreement in Nairobi Garang maintained the SPLM/A leadership and Riek maintained self-determination for the people of South Sudan to be free in their independent country. That was a good deal, wasn’t it?This is why Garang said those who will vote for unity are voting to be second class citizens. Garang was was convinced and joined separation in the late hour!!! He will be counted on the side of separatists and therefore his disciples who confusingly continue to call themselves unionists in the SPLM/A should be warned to respect the will of their master.
Moe Sudan
Kiir says right to self determination should not be downplayed
huh !! separation all the way, so what!! we could easily give up any part of sudan when it stinks, northerners for the north & the southerners for the south & yeah call me racist !
Critic_Ngueny
Kiir says right to self determination should not be downplayed
Dear barking dogs,
I would like to inform my barking dogs from Nuer community and useless Equatoria to be stable nowadays.They always bark at Dinkas as if we have taken anything from them.Why,what is the problem?Are they mad or what then?
Dear barking dogs,your being in Southern Sudan has nothing to do with the independent of Junnubians.You are just there to be barking but not to contribute anything as you did during the war.
I would like you also to note that Dinkas are the majority tribes in Sudan and not only that,they have only one language,which make it east for them to understand each other.How are you going to make a coalition while you don,t have one language.
Your unity as Nuer community and Equatoria is useless because of many languages you have.
Critic_Ngueny from Bor town
Gai Deng wei
Kiir says right to self determination should not be downplayed
Iam very stunned at mr kiir remarks concerning the separation of south sudan from what so call the unity.you cannt share food that you cannt have a bite and then call it a unity.we need to step up and educate south population about the reality of arabs and their policies of divide and rule.I believed that secession is a only option for the southerners.we have seen enough from arabs since sudan independence january,1956.
David Glenn
Kiir says right to self determination should not be downplayed
Dear Mr.Vice President
All this you say is good,however can you comment on reports that Ugandan’s are registering to vote in Souther Sudan?
Time1
Kiir says right to self determination should not be downplayed
Mr president is correct , there is no reverse gear on CPA.