People of South Sudan equate referendum to independence, VP

July 6, 2010 (JUBA) — The Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, said the upcoming referendum means independence of the South as the public opinion is concerned on the two options of unity and secession.

He said the reading of the public opinion of the people in the region indicates their choice for independence.

Dr. Machar briefed the US diplomat on the ongoing preparations for the referendum. He said the people of Southern Sudan are more concerned about the success of the referendum than any other political and developmental event during this last phase in the implementation of the 2005 peace deal.

He also earlier on told the diplomat that the referendum should be conducted even if there would be no agreement on completion of the North-South borders. He said borders can be discussed at any time even after the referendum, explaining that the leadership in the South would find it very difficult to tell the people of Southern Sudan to postpone exercising their final political destiny because of unsettled issues on the borders which may drag on for a long period of time.

The region’s second top official also explained that there should be no direct link between the conduct of the referendum and discussions of the post-referendum issues such as oil, water, assets, liabilities, international agreements, etc, explaining that the discussions on the post-referendum issues should continue in parallel of the process to conduct the referendum itself.

He also stressed the importance of earlier participation of international monitors in the process so that they have a better judgment on the whole process.

The Vice President, who also chairs the established Southern Sudan Referendum Taskforce to oversee the preparations in the region and assist the technical Southern Sudan Referendum Commission on the conduct of the referendum, said he would call for a meeting soon with members of various sub-committees under the Taskforce to strategize on the referendum.

The three sub-committees under the Referendum Taskforce include the committee on the conduct of the referendum, the committee on post-referendum issues and the third committee on preparation of post-2011 governance in the South.

On the third sub-committee on the post-2011 governance he said the issues include decentralization of system of governance and review of the Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan.

He also added that there will be discussions on what to do with the Southern Sudanese politicians currently elected to the National Assembly and those appointed in the cabinet of the Government of National Unity in Khartoum after the referendum in case of separation, adding that the situation might also necessitate a call for new elections in the region after the referendum.

(ST)