South Sudan may conduct its own referendum vote, SPLA accused of violations
October 7, 2010 (JUBA) – The president of South Sudan and chairman of Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) Salva Kiir warned today that the semi-autonomous region might conduct its own referendum should the North attempt to hinder the exercise.
Preparations for the plebiscite are well behind schedule. The voter registration process will begin in mid-November and last until early December. This is in violation of the South Sudan Referendum Act (SSRA) enacted last year which states that preliminary voters registration lists are to be displayed for at least seven days, pending anticipated court objections that may arise.
The final voter’s registration list must be generated at least 90 days before the actual referendum polling day scheduled for January 9, 2011. The SPLM has consistently accused the NCP of dragging its feet for fear of losing oil wealth mostly located in the South.
Kiir told a visiting delegation of the UN Security Council (UNSC) that the South insists on sticking to the original timetable.
“He [Kiir] set out quite a powerful case for why the referendum had to go ahead on time and the fact that he felt [the] referendum would end up [with] a vote for separation,” Britain’s UNSC ambassador Mark Lyall Grant was quoted by Reuters, describing what Kiir had told envoys during a meeting in the southern capital Juba on Wednesday.
“He was not going to declare UDI (a unilateral declaration of independence). But if there is a delay, a politically induced delay by the NCP for the referendum, then it might be necessary for the south to hold their own referendum,” he added.
Lyall Grant said a new timetable, laying out preparations for the referendum was “very ambitious”.
Kiir who is also Sudan’s First Vice president has in recent days stepped up his rhetoric saying that he will personally choose secession over unity, something the NCP says is a violation of the CPA which calls on both sides to make unity an attractive option.
Senior NCP official Rabie Abdulatti told Reuters Kiir’s words were unacceptable and said Khartoum would not accept the result of an independence vote organised by the south on its own.
“Nobody would recognise it. This is against CPA. Everything about its implementation should be agreed by the two partners.”
Separately the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) accused the SPLA of amassing troops along the borders of the southern state of Upper Nile state and White Nile in the North.
The SAF spokesperson Al-Sawarmi Khalid Sa’ad warned that holding the referendum might not be possible if these violations continue, according to statements carried by state media.
Sa’ad said that the CPA security arrangements are not complete without having all troops at specific assembly points.
The North-South borders have yet to be demarcated mainly because of the existence of oil in these areas. The NCP insists that no referendum will take place without finishing the demarcation process.
(ST)
Anyang
South Sudan may conduct its own referendum vote, SPLA accused of violations
UDI is the only viable option now, given the status quo and it has to be exercise whether anyone like it or not.
Young Nation
South Sudan may conduct its own referendum vote, SPLA accused of violations
Kiir Mayar is absolutely right. The South should conduct its own referendum should the NCP exibit lack of paticipatory will in being party to the conduct of South Sudan and Abyei referenda. This is a wise move and calculation on the SPLM position than the warsome and provocative unilatral announcement of South Sudan secession as a nation. Odd as it sound, this might sound absurd to others but it is the only plan B to the people of the South.
As for North Sudan Arm Forces, Mr Saád of North Sudan arm Forces should rather wait patiently until South Sudan and Abyei referenda date expires to communicate with those of Nhial Deng, James Hoth and the SPLA gallant troops . If I may sincerely ask a rhetoric question, what is sinful with SPLA amassing, deploying, concentrating or stationing it forces in South Sudan’s Upper Nile and in and around whilte nile adjacent border areas? Can’t explain or figure out why God put us togather with such rigid and less political concious creatures called “Arabs of Northern Sudan”.
Young Nation is a student of International Relations/political Science at The University Of Queensland, Australia.
Sudan virus
South Sudan may conduct its own referendum vote, SPLA accused of violations
I think the president of south Sudan is right to choose the two options-organizing referendum voting in the south or UDI. This statement can be backed up by Mrs.Clinton’s remark that ”its difficult dealing with Khartoum”.
Malou Manyiel
South Sudan may conduct its own referendum vote, SPLA accused of violations
All roads leads to Johannesburg, there must be plan A, B, C and even D if NCP want to delay referendum politically. provide that these plans lead to the independence of South Sudan. I agreed with the president Kiir.
God is with us
Gatwech
South Sudan may conduct its own referendum vote, SPLA accused of violations
Dear readers,
Thanks Gen. Kiir and Dr. Machar for the strategy!
That is the recent strategy that conceded the commission’s SG to NCP and created deputy SG from the SPLM to be based in JUBA with the head of the Bureau as an alternative body to conduct the referendum if the NCP obstructs it.
Diro79
South Sudan may conduct its own referendum vote, SPLA accused of violations
SAF’s Accusation is an instigation to war. People WAR is coming up. lets stand with our nation. SPLA OYEEEEEEE
NEW SUDAN OYEEEEE!!!!!
David Glenn
South Sudan may conduct its own referendum vote, SPLA accused of violations
This is a form of pressure,but in what direction?
The President of the GOSS is also Vice-President of the Sudan and will remain so until January 9th,2011 and for six months after that,which means,in case anything happens to the President ,he is constitutionally the President of the Sudan,according to the CPA provisions.