SPLM Secretary General hints on history of self-determination

September 7, 2010 (JUBA) – The Secretary General of the southern Sudan ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Pagan Amum Okiech, said the National Congress Party (NCP) has in the past violated a number of peace agreements based on self-determination for the people of Southern Sudan.

Amum who also holds the portfolio as Minister of Peace and CPA Implementation in the southern regional government said the movement’s history on self-determination goes back to 1991 by Nasir-faction group following the split in August that year. He said the same call was later also confirmed by Torit-faction and in some other documents in Frankfurt and other subsequent forums.

Amum who explained on his party’s history of self-determination during a live exclusive interview on Southern Sudan Television (SSTV) on Tuesday evening show, said the NCP however did not respect such agreements on self-determination.

He made an example about the Khartoum Peace Agreement (KPA) signed in April 1997 which he said for the first time provided for the exercise of right of self-determination and was to be determined in a referendum after four years of interim period from 1997 to 2001, but only ended up violated by Khartoum. This should have taken place more than nine years ago.

He said NCP is currently repeating dragging of feet despite its promised commitment to implement the process of self-determination when it signed the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) with the movement in January 2005.

The SPLM Secretary General said the Southern Sudan referendum should take place on January 9, 2011 as scheduled in the CPA without any delay, adding that it has to be free and fair.

In his response to phone-in calls from viewers who urged that there should be strong unity within the South in order to successfully separate from the North, Amum said his party was leading in trying to achieve consensus with other political forces, but added that each and every person would ready himself or herself to self-determine his or her political future in the referendum.

The trend of choice on the two options of unity and secession has clearly indicated that overwhelming majority of the people of Southern Sudan will vote for separation, Amum added.

Amum who is one of the SPLM’s heavy weights is currently the lead negotiator on post-referendum arrangements with the NCP. These included the future of oil (its production, transport and marketing), currency, security, international treaties and agreements, assets, debts, etc.

The President of the Government of Southern Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, has established a Taskforce under the chairmanship of his deputy, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, to oversee the conduct of referendum process including the negotiations on post-referendum arrangements as well as preparing the government for post-referendum governance in the region.

(ST)