Let Referendum exercise go as planned

By Isaiah Abraham

August 4, 2010 — It has become apparent that the hardliners among Naivasha Peace Partners are digging in for a shock to scuttle the long awaited end of Naivasha Peace Agreement. The peace loving forces who had hoped for true peace between the North and the South have started to question whether the two sides were indeed genuine in the first place to sign that peace agreement. In the past few weeks, the two sides have engaged in an all out shouting against one another, because realities are dawning heavily in favor separation of the South from the North. The National Congress Party (NCP) in particular has gone that too far. It is only yesterday in Cairo that the NCP soften its stand- stand of blocking the referendum practice.

That party (the NCP) has engaged in shifted posts from one area of argument to another, hoping to frustrate the people of South Sudan from voting in January. The story changes from border demarcation issue to insecurity in the South. Now Ustaz Ali Osman Mohamed Al Taha, the restrained Vice President of the Sudan and one of the architects of the Naivasha Peace Accord has joined hardliners within the NCP, by invoking the international community wrath against Southern separatists. He used the word ‘separatist’ more than once deliberately to make a point. This has surprise many, given his consistent stature and energy he had then exerted to achieve Naivasha Peace.

In his belatedly argument, we are made to buy in to the NCP ploy that the unity project has the backing of the United Nations, African Union, Arab League, European Union, SADC and IGAD. Mr. Al Taha however is forgetting quickly that the same bodies were there during the Naivasha Negotiations, and knew the consequences of each scenario (unity or separation). When did these bodies change to favor unity over separation or vice versa? Everyone knows that the international community labored for peace in the Sudan without favoring one side in the Sudan political divide. The world has put enough effort help Sudan out of its troubles by supporting their home grown solutions. They have no different agenda than to save Sudan from chaos; to them if separation could bring peace, why not go for it, and if its unity, that could also be ok with them. I thought this has been their position all along, even today.

Internally moreover, the Accord (Naivasha South-North Peace) has a majority backing from the Sudanese. Evidence was the enthusiastic rush to enshrine it in the Sudanese constitutions (that of the South and the National one), and here it becomes a legal binding agreement with full support of our people across the country. What makes the Vice President and his group think its their rights to do away with it or block one side of the document without its due legal courses? What provision in the constitution that could allow the NCP postpone the referendum for self determination for the people of Southern Sudan and Abyei without the SPLM agreeing to it? What do these think they are? Mr. Al Taha and the group, we dare you to do it! The people of Southern Sudan and Abyei can’t take any violation of their rights and that of the constitution with their heads lying low, as it happen before in the 1970s and 80s. Mr Vice President, the South will still go, take it from this little writer. That isn’t a mere threat sir, our people mean business, either the South goes, or the Sudan is thrown to the dogs. Fortunately though, my people aren’t scared of plots coming from Khartoum these days. Why? Because, I still trust President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al Bashir of the NCP.

Ustaz (Al Taha), what makes you think that the South shall disintegrate if it goes alone? If that becomes the case (God’s forbid) is that your business? From your mouth, I suspect a conspiracy. We care less anyway, because the matter isn’t anymore about you changing colors, but about us going for the best in fulfillment of the legal requirements. Unity isn’t bad, it’s the strength, but it is just too late to strengthen Sudan at it current political foundation. Let’s move away from there and start talking about future bilateral relationships between the emerging two Sudanese nations. That is my plea sir (Al Taha). I worry much about the future of the North after the South voted away. That should concern Mr. Al Taha, otherwise the matter of the South choosing its destiny is behind us. The South yes is ‘poor’ & underdeveloped but Khartoum can’t laugh over our affairs, as if the fault lies with the Southern Sudanese. Khartoum should be ashamed to talk like that against the South.

Retrospectively, I have developed a fear that the CPA is under siege due to our own internal problems and of course from the NCP/North. This comes about due to the following factors. Let’s start with the later (NCP/North plot). One is the media war, a front the NCP has been perfected by the NCP. The propaganda war is all but about negative remarks insinuating the SPLM party. The air is filled with uncalled remarks aim at making the SPLM to lose cool and get angry to declare a state in the South (UDI). Dr. Gutbi Ahmed l Mahdi started it, followed shortly by an Islamist Dr. Mustafa Osman Ishmael. It has become an open campaign for every top leader from that party (the NCP) and other major Northern Oppositions groups (Umma and DUP). The only individual who has never been quoted publicly against my people is President Al Bashir. Mr. President being true friends to my people is a faithful man. I know he will deliver from his promise to respect the choice of my people.

Second, there is a mature plan by other marginalized people in the North who are in favor of confederation. The idea is simple: either confederation or they are given similar rights for their future (self determination). I have mentioned this elsewhere. There are voices backing that plan. The question is why now, when the Southern referendum is 12o days a way? Darfuris, especially JEM is considering self determination before Southern Referendum; what do you make of this position from Dr. Khalil group. I’m afraid this is a trouble conduit meant to disrupt the march to January by the people of Southern Sudan, and politicians in the South ought to be extra careful. JEM remember had then asked the postponement of the election…

The other is the need to organize ourselves and exercise proactive policies against the entire North (allow me to say everything here/plead too much). This is the job for think tanks. Organization I’m talking about means intensive Civic Education and registration of voters for Southerners, including that of Abyei Area. Now the Southern Referendum Commission Chairperson sounds upbeat and positive, ready to work with our people, let us help him realize his mission. On the other hand, the proactive policies I’m referring to mean preparing for the worse, incase things come to shove (worse comes to worse). Does that sound like UDI? May be! We must not keep every option open. We must not just wait until things get out of hand, and start panic on what to do. Plan B we have said here (get me right) isn’t confederation or similar arrangement under unity package. Our people are capable of defending their decisions and rights within the country and outside it (along the world corridors of power). Khartoum will do everything even after January referendum; let’s go ahead of them and leave no stone un-turn. Southern Sudan needs real freedom and dignity today. In that voting, let’s prove to chauvinists wrong by voting overwhelming for separation. The Unity box must be returned with nothing but oxygen. If we wait until the last minute to start strategizing we might hit a deadly shock of our lives. Don’t leave anyone out of the voting, the issue of any disenfranchised should appear. Let’s unite! Our brothers violently opposing SPLM are advice to join their brothers in the South for our collective future.

As far South interest is concerned, the unity among us is critically an important commodity. We are fond of putting our own interests in front of our national ones, leaving our big pictures to slip away. Whenever we quarrel we find it hard to forgive each other and start moving together. We must learn to forget, after all political issues aren’t personal. Constructive differences after all aren’t bad. We are one people and this should always stays at the back of our minds. Let’s respect one another opinion, and never carried lose sight of what we all want. Brothers remain a brother no matter the issues in question. I’m emptying my heart because of pain that comes about due to our disunity. Referendum practice should unite us and make us one people, facing similar future. This is a challenge, but we got to put up for a noble cause of freedom. Long live Southern Sudan.

Isaiah Abraham is based in Juba; he is reachable at [email protected]