Sudan’s parliament speaker rules out review of Abyei referendum bill
January 4, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Tahir, Speaker of the National Assembly ruled out the need to review Abyei referendum bill saying the issue of voters who will participate in the referenda, would be decided by the commission.
They have called on the President Omer Al-Bashir to not sign the bill and return it to the parliament, warning that the tribe will not allow the implementation of the law if signed in its current form and will hinder the demarcation process of the Abyei geographical boundary.
Speaking at the premises of the dominant National Congress Party (NCP) on Monday, Al Tahir showed understanding to the Messeriya fears to be excluded from the referendum. However, he stressed that the article dealing with who has the right to vote in the popular consultation is referred to Abyei Referendum Commission.
The arbitration tribunal in The Hague, on July 22, 2009 confirmed that the boundary of the nine Ngok Dinka chiefdoms transferred to Kordofan in 1905 are part of southern Sudan based on tribal understanding of the Abyei Boundary Commission.
This tribal approach contradicts the NCP “territorial” understanding of the ABC Experts’ mandate, which comprehended determining a defined area of land that was administratively transferred by the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium in 1905.
With regard to the grazing rights, the Arbitration confirmed the ABC Experts’ that the “Ngok and Messeriya shall retain their established secondary rights to the use of land north and south of this boundary”.
Sudanese president Omer Al-Bashir in the past said all the Messeriya, including those who seasonally migrate to Abyei for grazing land, would take part in the referendum which will decide whether Abyei would join the North or South.
Al Tahir said Abyei Protocol cited explicitly the name of Dinka Ngok because they were at the heart of the dispute adding they came from Bahr el-Ghazal to Kordofan. He stressed that the protocol mentions the Messeriya as “other tribes” because they were present in the area.
But based on the tribal criterion the Dinka Nogk refuse the participation of the Messeriya even those who reside permanently in the territory defined as part of the nine chiefdom.
The Abyei referendum commission will be designated by the two peace partners the NCP and SPLM.
The deputy speaker of the National Assembly Mohamed Al-Hassan Al-Amin expected last week a political compromise on the issue of the Messeriya participation in the referenda.
(ST)