Abyei demonstrates over delay in passing referendum bills

By Ngor Arol Garang

December 28,2009 (KHARTOUM) – Thousands of Abyei residents demonstrated today to protest the delay in referendum bills.

The southern Sudan ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and six political parties appealed to demonstrate peacefully on Monday to protest the delay in referendum bills for the semi-autonomous region and Abyei which has a particular administration during the interim period.

The two peace partners are at odd on who has the right to participate on Abyei referendum. The Sudan’s dominant National Congress Party (NCP) wants to give the Misseriya the right of vote in the referenda while the SPLM looks for a strict criterion over the sensitive issue.

Chanting anti government slogans with alternate slogans for peace and stability, the demonstrators called for immediate passage of the bill without insertion of any article giving non-citizens right to vote at referendum.

Speaking from Abyei town amid crowd where sounds of demonstration were heard during interview, Chol Changath, SPLM Secretary General, said citizens and SPLM supporters are demonstrating to share their frustrations over delay in passing referendums.

He said the ruling NCP has no intention to pass the bill. “This is what prompted the whole town to stage demonstration so that the world is informed,” he added.

Some of protesters came from far villages just to attend this demonstration, this shows that these citizens have something to which the government of the day should listen, he said.

Questioning National Assembly proposition prioritizing discussions on Post- referendum deliberations, he posed, where and why is the assembly interested in post referendum issues while referendum itself is not passed.

However, in statements to the media today, Yasir Saeed Arman who heads SPLM parliament bloc said the National Assembly will hold today an evening session to discuss the referendum laws for Southern Sudan and Abyei.

This came following request made by the ruling National Congress Party’s members parliament to postpone the morning session for consultations among themselves and with leaders of their party.

On Sunday 27, Arman and his group threatened to boycott the session if the version of the referendum bill, particularly the one which both parties, had earlier agreed on is not presented for deliberations.

(ST)