SPLM seeks international intervention to break deadlock over Abyei
By Ngor Arol Garang
October 15, 2010 (JUBA)- The leadership of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has called on international community to increase efforts in order to break deadlock over the future of the oil contested region of Abyei.
The oil rich region is due to hold a simultaneous vote to the south’s self-determination vote to decide whether Abyei will remain as part of the north or join a potentially newly-independent south.
Presenting SPLM position paper at the southern political parties’ conference in Juba Thursday, Pagan Amum, minister of peace and CPA implementation told the conferees that his party remains committed to an honest and full implementation of the comprehensive peace to the spirit and letter.
“SPLM remains committed to full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to the spirit of which it was signed. SPLM needs nothing apart from an honest implementation of the CPA itself even if it means seeking assistance from an international arbitration instead of returning the country back to war,” said Amum.
Amum, who is the Secretary General of the Southern ruling party and who led SPLM delegation to the over two week talks over Abyei held in the Ethiopian Capital of Addis Ababa, told the conference that the talks failed because National Congress Party was raising conditions contradictory to the peace deal.
“The talks failed because the NCP presented a complete new position which had no references. Their proposals were completely new and contrary to the agreement. They wanted Missiriya to be included in the referendum vote and to remain part of local administration. These demands had no reference that was why talks could not continue,” said Amum.
He called on the international community to give necessary assistance to break deadlock over the region between the two parties.
The Missiriya are Arab nomads who spend 3-4 months a year in Abyei to find grazing land for their cattle. The CPA states that only the Dinka Ngok who were administratively transferred from Bahr el Ghazal to Kordofan state in central Sudan by the British in 1905 would be legible to vote.
Reiterating SPLM commitment to peaceful dialogue with National Congress Party over implementation of the remaining issues, Amun affirmed that his party will not be the one to take the country back to war even if differences continues to provoke emotions of wars.
The NCP said Friday that it would not be possible to hold the Abyei referendum as scheduled in January. Sudan’s ruling party called for futher negotiations to consider delaying the vote.
On Wednesday, Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, president of the government of southern Sudan and a chairman of the SPLM, while giving his opening remarks urged the southern political parties to give high attention to the conduct of southern referendum and assured them that there will be no return to war in the country through his party.
“SPLM will never return the country back to war despite mounting tensions over the conduct of referendum on self determination for the people of southern Sudan. There can never be war because referendum is part of the agreement to be implemented,” Kiir told the conference on Wednesday.
Under the 2005 peace deal, South Sudan, which fought a two-decade civil war against the north in which around 2 million lives were lost, is due to vote on whether to secede or remain part of a united Sudan.
“There is no reverse to this peace agreement and no going back to war. We have suffered a lot and we don’t want to see people suffering again,” said president Kiir, while launching the southern political parties’ conference at Nyakuron Cultural Center in Juba.
“We want peace and no return to war,” he said. “No drop of blood should be shed again.”
The three-day conference which the president opened on Wednesday entered its third and supposedly last day with heated deliberations in the southern capital of Juba.
While some political parties appear to be supporting conduct of the referendum based on recommendation of the referendum commission, some predominantly separatists strongly opposed giving the commission the power to decide when the vote should be held.
The conference whose immediate objective was to establish common understanding between all southern political leaders to support a “free, fair and transparent referendum,” argued for a peaceful settlement of all issues so as to guarantee mutual respect and good neighborliness.”
President at the opening session attending by Sudan’s 2nd Vice President Ali Osman Taha, also called on the National Congress Party to implement an agreement on the contested border area of Abyei.
“We do not want Abyei to become a potential trigger for a conflict again between the south and the north,” Kiir said.
The southern army the SPLA has warned that the security situation in the area was deteriorating.
On Monday evening northern troops, were accused of a random shooting in the town’s market , in which one trader was injured.
(ST)
Ahmed Chol
SPLM seeks international intervention to break deadlock over Abyei
Britain cause the mess all over the whole world including Sudan and now they are reluctant to help to facilitate the two parties as part of the international community. Had it not been them, Abeyi would not be a headache right now.
Ahmed chol, the future commander of Anya-nya III if the south joins the north
Wiyual Wech Puk D. Payol.
SPLM seeks international intervention to break deadlock over Abyei
The land of abiye,together with its people is belong to south.I hope the people of abiye will vote for separation like other people in southern Sudan.