Sudan’s Deputy Speaker says no obstacles to timely conduct of referendum
By Julius N. Uma
August 7, 2010 (JUBA) — Sudan’s long-awaited referendum on self-determination will go ahead as planned regardless of whether the North-South border is fully demarcated or not, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly said yesterday.
The late Kwaje, formerly Agriculture and Forestry Minister in the southern government died on Sunday after a heart failure in a Nairobi hospital.
Comparing the current referendum to the April general elections, the Deputy National Assembly Speaker said whereas critics thought the elections were bound to fail, government proved them wrong.
He also linked the elections to the widely disputed southern census results, but said that never affected the outcomes of Sudan’s first-ever multi-party elections.
“Before elections, there were debates on whether this thing [election] would be successfully conducted after a disputed census results, but it turned out a success. In the same way, delays in the North-South border demarcation will not affect next year’s referendum,” Atem said.
The Southern Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), according to the National Assembly Deputy Speaker, remains truly committed to the full implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
He further explained that the SPLM’s mandate, among others, entails adequate preparation of the southern population for the referendum, already scheduled for early next year.
“For the referendum to be meaningful, a massive civic and voters’ education is required in addition to early registration. This mandate has been entrusted to the SPLM by the people,” Atem clarified, when asked about what role his party was playing in the referendum preparations.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Early this week, the Chairman of the North-South Border Demarcation Commission, Abdella Al Saddig was quoted as saying there were conflicting opinions among its members, especially on technical issues.
While the Chairman of the Commission, Al Saddiq represents the North, his deputy, Riek Dogoal, who also leads the membership component from the South, has not accepted some technical aspects of the demarcation process.
Though non-political, Al Saddig said while some members of the Commission suggested that foreign companies could be used in the demarcation process, others were totally opposed to the idea.
Some areas of controversy were also cited in the borderlines documents, a move likely to further delay the much-awaited North-South border demarcation process.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the CPA Assessment and Evaluation Commission, Derek Blamably, has reportedly ruled out any legal or constitutional conditions connecting demarcation of the borders and holding of the referendum.
He however remains optimistic that both the northern ruling NCP and its southern counterpart, the SPLM, will remain steadfast in ensuring that the remaining issues within the 2005 CPA are successfully implemented.
ST