South Sudan minister warns of war if referendum delayed
By Julius N. Uma
September 13, 2010 (JUBA) – A senior south Sudan official has warned citizens in the semi-autonomous region to brace themselves for all possibilities, including war, if the referendum on the region’s possible independence from the north does not go ahead as planned in January 2011.
Southerners are due to go to the polls in January 2011 to choose between unity with the north or their own independent state. According to most analysts, southerners will certainly vote in favor of secession from the north.
Michael Makuei Lueth, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs at the Government of Southern Sudan [GoSS], yesterday told stakeholders attending a half-day referendum meeting that southerners want to see the referendum take place successfully.
However, he warned that if the exercise failed to take place, “southerners should prepare themselves for anything, including war.”
Makuei, who was flanked by his under-secretary Dr. Julia Duany Aker, emphasized the importance of civic education on the two referendum options, saying that voters need to be enlightened on the existing laws, citing the Referendum Act.
Enacted in December last year and consisting of nine chapters and 69 sections, the Referendum Act provides guidelines on how the referendum should be conducted and those who are eligible to vote.
The minister further disclosed that the much-awaited voters’ registration is likely to get underway next month. However, no specific date has been fixed so far.
The registration process, which was originally set to commence in July, has been reportedly delayed due to some irregularities cited in the voters’ registration forms.
According to Makuei, success in the referendum, either in favor of unity or secession, will be determined by 60 percent of valid votes counted. He also warned those with no intentions of voting in the referendum to abstain from registering.
“Many of you are very excited about the referendum and when registration begins, they will hurry and register. Those who think they will not be able to vote in next year’s referendum should not register,” Makuei said.
He further said that advocates involved in the referendum work should not be harassed by any party, warning that any form of interference in their work would be contrary to constitutional provisions.
“If you are an advocate for unity or separation, you need to go and talk to the people and persuade them on why they should buy your idea. No one has the right to harass you in your work,” Makuei said.
Sudan Tribune has learned that the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) is already in the process of establishing an information team committee to liaise with the media fraternity during pre and post-referendum period.
Similarly, the GoSS is reportedly in the process of setting up a security committee, comprising of trained personnel who will be required to observe standards of fairness and impartiality.
Southern Sudan Referendum Taskforce, another body setup by the GoSS, has already assumed its duties. Those include preparing people for the referendum, post-referendum arrangements as well as providing technical guidance to government ahead of 2011.
(ST)
Jamjamez
South Sudan minister warns of war if referendum delayed
Mr. Minister! you should have explicitly said the word war, it could be used by those who needed an escape goat to start war or point fingers to Southern Sudan and displays the South as war mongers. I hope you are aware of the report last week by IHS Jane about Southern Sudan preparation for the war. Why do you think they don’t talk about it in the North, It is because they want first to spill the blame on our side. Be careful with what you say in the world of today, Plus most of you ministers will pack you bags and come to your houses in Uganda and Kenya where you have bought mansionette with the embezzled public funds from South sudan and leave the poor and the disable alone to be fried by the modern bombs from the North. If you mean war, you should be ready for it and not run anywhere.
As Southerners, war is what we are aware of and cannot be preached to us. We want freedom and after all freedom is not absolutely free! we know there will be some sacrifices but we dont want the blame on our side. We should point the fingers North because all of us are working hard to let the world know what the North is all about.
Mine is: lets play the real worldly political games for now however we must be aware not to hope for someone’s help this time. we should protect ourselves and we can not be told that. We all know.
Thank you sir.
Grader
Minister absolutely
If the ALI KARTI, Sudanese foreign minister can threaten WAR then wats wrong with us doing the same?
ALI KARTI was head of Popular defense Force in the 1990s; he knows what price they paid … everywhere including kit, Jebeleen, Nimule and BUNA just to mention a few.
Job well done Makuei
telfajbago
South Sudan minister warns of war if referendum delayed
We have a saying that ” a bite start from leaking ” since the implementation of the CPA with Southern Sudanese masses fixed on exercising their legitimate right of self-determination, the National Congress Party had never stopped in supporting factionalism and its militias to raise havoc in the South and further threatening the SPLM/A with the consequences of declaring independence from the parliament of South Sudan. I believe that; the leaders of South Sudan should prepare their masses for the worse possible scenarios and that is the war with north in case referendum was denied or its result disputed, in order to a void shocking their masses with abruptly going back to war .Furthermore, in any war to be won the three triangles of the Army; the masses and the Government must work in a feast of harmony ,and if you do not prepare these in advance it would be difficult .So the minister is now doing what he suppose to be doing three years ago.
Adam
South Sudan minister warns of war if referendum delayed
Dear Readers
War is inevitable. In both cases we’re going to suffer and loose the promising chance of development. If people are forced by SPLA/M (Not SPLM/A) gangs and extremists/terrorists to vote for separation, a new era of bloodshed will begin. It is well-known that many people in the South are fed up with the tribal line and corruption of SPLA/M. War has already started in Unity and Jonglei states. Preparations are underway to strengthen the troops politically and logistically. The North, the UN, the US, the EU and the international community will not accept the separation results if the SPLA gangs do what they did in the last elections. This time many will observe the process of referendum. It is better that SPLM should control SPLA or otherwise we are in severe war when the thieves will fly to Kampala and Kenya and elsewhere leaving the poor people in the rural areas, villages and towns burn and starve to death.
However, if the referendum is conducted in peaceful, free and democratic way and with the true participation of all political parties, Sultans, youth, community and spiritual leaders without terrorism, intimidation and intervention, then the North, the UN, the US, the EU and the international community will accept the result of the referendum. But this will not make the separatists happy. One can visualize the leaders of the new war emerging from animal dung. They will start killing tribesmen of Equatoria and Nilotic groups. This time, the war will be long and painful. The North will be united like never before and wont spare an effort to maintain the unity of Sudan by iron and fire. The international community will enjoy the beautiful war scenes on TV. The media will have a continuous hot news on destruction, famine and displacement. The region will be set in fire. Uganda will be taken by LRA – Kenya will be taken by Somalis and Qaida. Obama will be sorry to be an African.
So in both cases the Southerners are going to suffer hard – harder this time by the stupid behavior of SPLA/M. The way out to this is to overthrow the current corrupted GoSS and hold the referendum in a better time and conditions with the support of the international community.
Adam Milawaki, Kansas City
Akuma
South Sudan minister warns of war if referendum delayed
Everything will be possible so long independent of Southern Sudan is in Southerners’ heart. there is no hindering for that anyway.
But All Southerners need to be aware that their fellow partners are well organizes to your rights and they want to treat you a second class citizens in your ancestor land.
Do everything in your capacity as someone who has right in your land.
Dr. Akuma
USA
julius mowanga
South Sudan minister warns of war if referendum delayed
SPLM-PB has failed us to be a first class citizens of the Republic of Sudan when they heeded to the US Interference in our fulfillment of Dr. John Garang’s Vision of the New-Sudan to rule the whole country as one entity,when they withdrew from the election race in the Northern States and pulled the hopeful Presidential candidate Cdr. Yassir Arman.
The CPA in its 7TH article has stipulated the possibility of amending its provisions by an elected parliament,which will definitely cancels all the controversial laws,especially the Islamic Sharia and the National Security’ law,…etc.We lost the golden opportunity to reform Sudan to be a democratic state with the upper hand in its ruling to the full right people,with leadership of South Sudanese people.
The call for securing the timetable of the referendum is absurd because NCP’s main goal is to form an Islamic State in Northern Sudan,which is fully backed by USA A administration as we see the heavily involvement of the CIA in training the National Security apparatus in Khartoum,just to keep the NCP/NIF in power to fight the so called Islamic Terrorism.In the other hand USA insist in implementation of the last leg of CPA-the Referendum- to secure their exploitation of the South Sudan mineral resources and the Oil in particular.WE have to question the naivety of our leaders in SPLM/A about abandoning such tactic!!!
This referendum has fundamental values democratically because SPLM/A is a totalitarian regime,barring all other political parties and activist to practice their legitimate political right,in organization and peaceful gatherings beside the rest political activities.The lack of democracy will label the referendum outcome with a lot of suspicions which will result in dividing our nation politically.There should be at least a fair and transparent encounter between SPLM and the rest of the political power that will nourish the democratic aspects of the ordinary citizens.SPLM/A is obliged due to the CPA to work for Unity option,not Secession,in away that makes every citizen of South Sudan what will impact his/her vote in this referendum.
SPLM/A has dominated the media and blocked every other voices uttering concern of the real motive of the political cadres going against the freedom of speech,political organization and advocacy.SPLM acted as sole representative of the people of South Sudan without the public mandate,while the whole region is infested with various political parties and Militias.Many political figure has assorted to Khartoum based media outlets to vocal their concerns,which has protrated negatively in South Sudan and been labelled as a DESTRUCTIVE tool of NCP/NIF.The polical atmosphere is very gloomy due to such systematic harassment and intimidation by all GOSS-SPLM officials in their call upon the citizen to vote in a certain way that will ensure their grip of the power and wealth looting.
South Sudan is a sovereign state since the incipient of the CPA in 2005,it is a matter of time to declare its political independence,but the ordinary people needs to be educated of how to practice democracy and accept their rival political views in order to live in a democratic society.
Democratic advocacy is more important than urging people to actually participate in the referendum without foreseeing the impact of such practice in their political future.The April 2010 election was a very bad experience of how the ordinary people of South Sudan practicing their political freedom in the voting polls.
This referendum should be a corner stone of teaching our people how to practice democracy without intimidation or harassment,inorder to build an enlighted society politically to govern themselves.Political parties,democratic pluralism is what needed prior to the declaration of our independence from the totalitarian regime in Khartoum,it takes all of us to advocate it and encounter any totalitarian tendency by SPLM/A or any other political party in South Sudan,for a better political future foe our coming generations.
Long live our fallen heroes who fought for our political freedom and sovereignty.