Abyei students in Rumbek demand referendum commission is set up

By Manyang Mayom

October 22, 2010 (RUMBEK) – Students from Abyei attending Bahr El Ghazal University staged a march in Wau demanding that the commission to run the Abyei’s self determination referendum is established.

Under a 2005 peace agreement between north and south, the oil rich region of Abyei, is due to hold a simultaneous referendum to determine if it will remain as part of the north or join the south.

South Sudan will decide whether it wants to become independent in a vote due to begin in January.

The failure of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, who govern the south, and the National Congress Party, who govern the north, to establishing the Abyei Referendum Commission, demarcate the borders and define who can vote has significantly delayed the process.

The procession ended at the United Nation Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) compound in to present a letter their letter to Hatle Michael, the UN public information officer.

Receiving the march at gate of the compound he congratulated the community on the peaceful demonstration.

Talks on Abyei are due to resume later this month between the NCP and SPLM in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, under the chairmanship of Thabo Mbeki, the former South African President.

(ST)