Sudan’s referendum body chief threatens to resign
August 15, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The head of the South Sudan referendum commission today threatened to quit his position citing deadlock over the appointment of the body’s secretary general which could further delay the preparations for the key vote.
The referendum, a key plank of the 2005 peace deal that ended a decades-long civil war between north and south Sudan, is due to take place on January 9, 2011 and promises southerners the chance to choose independence.
However, up till this date the referendum commission is far from being up and running as it does not have permanent headquarters and have yet to create its own rules governing its work.
Furthermore, there has been no agreement on the commission’s secretary general which Southerners insist that it should be one of their own and not from the North.
The head of the commission Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil told Reuters in an interview today that the five southerners were voting as a block to prevent any northerner taking the key post of secretary-general, a principle he said he could not accept.
The secretary-general controls the funds and budget of the commission and south Sudan’s ruling party has warned the deadlock could derail the vote.
“If things continue like this I will just excuse myself that’s all,” Khalil added.
“This [commission] can only work if we can get people to be cooperative, to have mutual trust … and to approach things objectively from a national point, not from the point of view of north and south,” Khalil said.
“With things as they are, all resolutions would be a foregone conclusion,” he said. “The five [southern] members are determined to vote as a block — to me this is just not acceptable, it makes a nonsense of the whole process.”
Khalil said of the 63 positions outlined in the Referendum Law, 59 had already been filled by southerners. He said he had left the problem for the presidency to decide.
“I am not prepared to head a commission that works this way. With things are they are, all resolutions would be a foregone conclusion,” he said.
But SPLM official Pagan Amum said Khalil showed “tendencies of dictatorship” for ignoring the majority opinion in the body.
“If these problems are not resolved quickly the referendum commission will definitely fail to deliver on organising the referendum,” he added.
On Friday, the commission chief lashed out at Amum questioning in an interview with the pro-government Al-Rayaam why the SPLM has failed to have the referendum law sooner. Khalil called on the Amum to find out for himself the obstacles facing the commission to resolve them.
This week, Sudanese media reported that the commission submitted a request to the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) demanding a postponement to the referendum date saying that it would be not be possible to complete all the deliverables by the due date which includes registering the voters.
The SPLM has rejected any delay to the referendum suggesting that it will take other measures if that occurs and some observers believe that would include a unilateral; declaration of independence by South Sudan legislative assembly. But the Northern ruling party said this would amount to an act of war.
(ST)
Dinka Boy
Sudan’s referendum body chief threatens to resign
To Mohamed Khalil ,
We South Sudanese does not agree with the pushing of referendum because the years or the months that all of you wish will still be the same like the one that we spent under the CPA negotiations. I don.t think as an acceptable idea to pospone the referendum because it will remain the same. We want the referendum to take place at the right time as it was scheduled.
SPLM/A will not afford another accord like those past one that we know. NCP is dancing bitterily to spoil this CPA using some accuses,but their frequent accusses will not resist the interest of South Sudanese per CPA. We know you have hard time because of NCP,but not SPLM. Thanks
DOOR
Sudan’s referendum body chief threatens to resign
It is so sad that the northerners are playing with fire!
There is even no need for the northerners to head this referendum which is meant for the south and only the southerners should head it.
well whether you like it or not we are seceding through unilateral declaration of independent.
Grader
North Vs South rivalry
Sudan operated on South-North basis since time immemorial
It is a good that some quarters in Khartoum are realising the fruit of hatred they sown!!!
But it is too late-lets operate that way for the next few months
Young Nation
Sudan’s referendum body chief threatens to resign
The SPLM should be warned not to relingush the position of Secretary-General to any Norther Sudanese Sudan let alone a member of Islamic Front. The truth is that if head of referendum comission is headed by a Northerner, then is there is no objective reason as to why the position of Secretary-Generation should not go the SPLM. The NCP should appreciate SPLM for allowing the post of the presidency of referendum Commssion to be chaired by a Norther.
Warning! If Northerner Sudan think denying them the position of Secretary-Generation could drag the two regions of Sudan to war so be it. War is not a new phenomenon to us in the South. We have seen and endured wars since 1950s. Northerners should be warned that should the war resume the possibilities of it raging northward are imminent unlike previous wars being fought in the Southern region. No Jallaba troops in Juba, Wau, Malakal, Rumbek or any major towns of Southern Sudan.
SPLM Oyee
SPLA Oyee
Junub Oyee
Referendum Oyee
Young Nation is a Student of International Relations/Political Science at The University of Queensland, Australia.
telfajbago
Sudan’s referendum body chief threatens to resign
If the intentions of the head of the Commission Mohammed Ibrahim Khalil were to carry the referendum peacefully to either separation or unity why the head of Commission deny the Southerners to take the post of General Secretary who control the funds? Is it not fare as the North is heading the Commission for the people of South Sudan to take the post? Why the head of Commission who suppose to be partial criticizing the Southerners in the Commission for acting as one block, is it not their right? I believe that there is some thing fishy. The people of South Sudan in the commission will commit historical unpardonable mistake if they decline to die for taking the job in the commission which control the resources. The fact is that, the NCP wants to play with the referendum the way they did with last election or to continue postponing the referendum until they fully prepare themselves for the war after they neutralize any threat in Darfur, and the best way to do it is to take over the post which control every thing .Guys wake up you are heading with the regime to disputed referendum result, if any, or no referendum at all and in either cases war is enviable. The time for bloody confrontation with the regime is ticking out Are you prepared?
Sudan virus
Sudan’s referendum body chief threatens to resign
Khartoum is engulfed by marginalized people.
This time the war will not take 22 years but 22 hours to capture Khartoum and hand to the Darfurian and the Nubian.While south Sudan will unilateral seceded as independent state.
Majak-da
Sudan’s referendum body chief threatens to resign
This statement is contradictory: “However, up till this date the referendum commission is far from being up and running as it does not have permanent headquarters and have yet to create its own rules governing its work.
With: “Khalil (or whatsoever) saying there are 63 postions and 59 are taken by southerners.”
How can a commission, far from being up have some positions also taken? This is another Arabs strategy to delay southerners’ right. Be informed that no way this time round!
H5N1
Sudan’s referendum body chief threatens to resign
Just go a head and resign!!!! who cares what you had to offer? Referendum will go a head on your nose no matter who resigns or who isn’t
fckin’ Arabs, injera faces! tired of seeing you with us anyway.
Kur
Sudan’s referendum body chief threatens to resign
The voice of the majority must prevail. If the SG of the commission is appointed through an electoral procedure, why would anybody want to dispute that? We are not dividing positions between the north and south in the commission. It is something that affects our future and we must ensure that it is run people by we trust.
NCP must know that we cannot be blackmailed by threats of war. We will declare our independence if this commission fails to do its work.
Kur
Malou Luiny Joseph
Sudan’s referendum body chief threatens to resign
This is not time to cheat the southerners again. We have woken up and this time we need to head and not be headed.
The argument of Mr.Chief of referendum commission of the Jallaba community is right in deed because he has the right to do according to how he has been brieved by his boss Al-Bashir. For if he does not obey what his boss says, then he losses his position and he also faces threats and blames from the Arab community who have different agenda for southern Sudanese succession.
The hidden agenda dear southerners, must not be given time to get into the store otherwise our store has been put into fire and at the disposal of rodents.