Sudanese NCP official criticizes referendum law as ‘recipe for war’
January 3, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese presidential adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen Al-Attabani and the leader of the National Congress parliamentary bloc criticized a portion of the referendum law adopted in the national assembly last month saying it contains a ‘recipe of war’ in it.
Al-Attabani in an interview with the Khartoum based Blue Nile TV on Sunday described article (67) of the law which refers to post-referendum arrangements as the “most sensitive” clause saying that it lacks a specific timeframe to agree on issues including demarcation of borders, nationality, the Nile Waters Agreement and other issues.
He said that failure to resolve these issues prior to the referendum particularly demarcating the borders would lead to a war similar to what happened between Eritrea and Ethiopia and what happened in Pakistan.
The Sudanese official also disclosed for the first time that the NCP struck a deal with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) on the passage of the democratic transformation laws comprised of the National Security law, trade unions law, in return for the passage of the referendum laws for the South and Abyei and the Popular Consultation Law for the South Kordofan and the Blue Nile.
After a series of retaliatory measures by SPLM including giving its MP’s boycotting the parliament and leading two demonstrations last month in the Sudanese capital, the NCP conducted marathonic talks to bridge differences on the referendum law among other bills.
The NCP bloc attempted to introduce changes to the original text of the law that angered the ex-Southern rebel group leading to its MP’s walking out during the voting session. The NCP utilized its simple majority to endorse the law.
However, the NCP later changed hearts and agreed to send the bill back to the parliament to remove the amendment following criticism from the US administration and the EU.
Some observers have speculated at the time that the SPLM abandoned the demands of other Northern opposition parties, which joined hands with the ex-rebel group in last month’s demonstrations, particularly on the National Security law in return for the referendum law.
The SPLM voted against the law and its chairman Salva Kiir vowed not to sign it urging Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir to follow course.
Al-Attabani voiced doubts about the meaning of a partnership with a “secessionist movement that does not even recognize Sudan’s independence”. He said the SPLM is proposing the New Sudan project which he described as an incriminating proposal because it “criminalizes the history of Sudan and does not even recognize its independence”.
The NCP official also accused the SPLM of failure because of lack of clarity in putting forward the New Sudan project adding that this is also due to the paralysis of its political will.
He also referred to the Juba conference held last September under the auspices of the SPLM which included Northern opposition parties saying that it lost its moral legitimacy and was effectively a venue to put the NCP on trial.
Furthermore, the Sudanese presidential adviser claimed that they have information that the SPLM is funding opposition parties in the north to stir demonstrations and protests.
“The SPLM talks about attractive unity yet seeks independence then speaks of democratic transformation but does not apply it in the South” Al-Attabani said.
(ST)