South Sudan rejects referendum postponement, warns Egypt over “interference”
By Julius N. Uma
December 4, 2010 (JUBA) – Southern Sudan’s ruling party the Sudan’s Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) will not accept any proposal aimed at delaying the timely conduct of the regions self-determination referendum, a senior party official said Saturday.
The deputy Secretary General’s remarks follows reports that Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil, the Chairperson of Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) allegedly plans to ask the country’s political leaders to delay the referendum for three weeks, citing the little time remaining until January 9, 2011.
Anne Itto Leonardo, the SPLM deputy Secretary General in the south told journalists that any attempt to postpone the referendum vote would be violation of Sudan’s 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
The CPA ended over two decades of civil war between the north and south of Africa’s largest country with the SPLM and Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party agreeing to share power and the south’s oil wealth for a six year period.
After this interim period, in which both sides agreed to make unity attractive, the south would be vote on secession by 9 January 2011.
“The SPLM and the southern government out rightly reject plans by anybody to derail processes leading to the successful conduct of the southern referendum. What is all these we are hearing when voter’s registration is peacefully going on?” asked Itto, who is also Minister for Agriculture and Forestry in the southern government.
An estimated nearly 3 million people, she said, have so far registered in the ongoing exercise, while the north reportedly recorded only 76,000 registered voters. Overall, there are 2,623 and 165 registration centers in south and north Sudan respectively.
Meanwhile, SPLM deputy Secretary General also attacked on the Egyptian government, after it emerged recently that Sudan’s northern neighbor lobbied the United States to delay the southern referendum.
A leaked diplomatic cable from the US embassy in Cairo said southern secession in 2011 could have “fatal implications”. Egypt believes that the south’s independence could destabilize the region causing an increase in migrants into Egypt.
The cable asked the US to lobby the Government of Southern Sudan to delay the vote by four to six years to allow the south to develop into a more viable state should it chose to vote for independence from the north.
Egypt appears concerned that an independent southern Sudan would side with other riparian nations who want to be able to sue a larger share of the Nile’s water.
Itto told the press conference that Egypt should be working towards a positive peaceful outcome in the referendum.
“Egypt will be disappointed by the positive outcome of the referendum which they are trying to be against. Instead, the Egyptian government should concentrate on creating a peaceful co-existence with its neighbors like south Sudan for economic gains,” she said.
She however, noted concern at the “very little progress” that has been made in post-referendum discussions between the two governments, mainly on issues like security, oil revenue sharing, citizenship and the north-south border demarcation.
On this, Dr. Itto urged the Khartoum-based National Congress Party (NCP) to demonstrate full commitment in the negotiations, saying the latter is well known for its history of violating agreements ever since the 2005 peace deal was signed.
“Since the CPA was signed, the NCP has continuously violated set agreements. I urge the NCP leadership to show full commitment to the full implementation of the CPA provisions,” she said, citing the Abyei protocol, north-south border issues and the forthcoming referendum.
(ST)
Ahmed Chol
South Sudan rejects referendum postponement, warns Egypt over “interference”
We who know the NCP have to cautious and the SPLM has to be prepared for everything including war, otherwise we will all be shocked by the outcomes.
Ahmed Chol, the future commander of Anya-nya III if the south joins the north
Ajok Garang
South Sudan rejects referendum postponement, warns Egypt over “interference”
Egypt MUST stop interfearing in the affairs of South Sudan ……the referundum is ours and no body is going to help us in it when its come to voting and the future is our ,the independence of South Sudan is not about Arab League or has nothing to do with Sharia law .sharia law this time will work in Middle East not in South Sudan .we are ready to see who is going to foot her footstep in our determination .
Ajok Garang Ajok Nhial .
Peter Nhiany
South Sudan rejects referendum postponement, warns Egypt over “interference”
First of all, I want to thank Deputy Secretary General for her remarks on the position Egypt is taking regarding South Sudan’s referendum. It is not up to Egypt to decide the fate of the South Sudanese citizens.
Being an ally of Khartuom does not and will not serve an agenda that will benefit the citizens of Southern Sudan, and Egypt must stop sticking her nose in sensitive topics related to the right of the South Sudanese. Khartuom has violated sets of items pertaining to CPA.
Why would it be a good idea to delay the referendum for three weeks? What is it that could be acheive in three weeks that had not been done in the past five years? It is Egypt’s waste of time and resources to lobby for the delay of the referendum which is not going to happen not matter how much they can pay to lobby.
Egypt should understand that, anyone who is actively planning to push referendum vote for a later date is playing with fire.
Egypt should be working actively to find some means to build positive relationship with Southern Sudan after referendum instead of making negative attempts to delay referendum.
Referendum is a right for the South Sudanese people, and they are the one to decide what is good for their future. Their choice should not be altered in any way whatsoever.
South Sudan’s government leaders must be vigillance and careful about not latting intruders influence and engage them with hidden political agendas. There is no way and no room to delay referendum vote.
It is the life of the South Sudanese and should be conducted as scheduled and as stipulated in CPA major articles. May God bless South Sudan, and South Sudanese. Peace prevail in South Sudan.
And thanks to all the South Sudanese who are fighting for their rights.
Peter Nhiany.
U.S.A.
P.S: I will cast my vote in January to be part of this precious and historic moment of my time. I was forced to leave my country by war, and return by taking part in voting for our independent.
Kijana Bol Detion-Alier-Abiu
South Sudan rejects referendum postponement, warns Egypt over “interference”
The Egyptian “ interference” to southern Sudan’s coming “referendum” will lead us to unknown destination with Egyptian government, which could not be possible for the ruling party ‘National Congress Party (NCP)’ to use Egypt as their tools of mediatizing our own country. That is precipitous; let Sudanese government think high before preatomic.
thxs Itto
Bol Detion-Alier-Abiu
Biliu
South Sudan rejects referendum postponement, warns Egypt over “interference”
Postponement is not an option!!
Nguetbuny de Luelpiny
South Sudan rejects referendum postponement, warns Egypt over “interference”
Give those Arab shirt Itino.
Egpt will be the next if they are playing with fire
Tone of liberator Africa
Diu J.Kuek
South Sudan rejects referendum postponement, warns Egypt over “interference”
Thanks To SPLM leadreship to opposed unacceptable proposal aimed to procrastinating timely conduct of Southern Sudan Self determination referendum;Southern Sudan referendum should meet the date 9/Jan/2011 as per CPA.
The Chairperson of SSRC so call Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil to plans to ask the Country ‘s political leaders while already has been plans with his NCP as one of plan ‘B’ quoted by Presidential adviser Mr Saleh Gosh in Northern Sudan recently.
I congratulated Mr Justice Chan Reek Madut for his affirmative statement opposed cheap request by Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil, any delayment of Southern Sudan referendum will cause catastrophic to the Whole Nation and I think we will not be the loser.
Again thanks to Her Excllency Dr Ann Itto as the SPLM leadership side; I trust our Leaders as per their commitment to complete the mission as we come a long way that ultimately goal must be achieve.
All these political attempt against Independence of Southern Sudan will not prevail through our enduran,
Egyptian Government is lobbies for the postponement of Southern Sudan Self-Determination Refenendum for their self benefits over Nile water and being dominated Sudan since Anglo-Egyptian Era.
United States of America as CPA broker I hope can not betray their position as signatory witness regarding the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
May God bless people of Southern Sudan.
By Diu Jieth Kuek
1988
South Sudan rejects referendum postponement, warns Egypt over “interference”
My concerns for the new state of southern Sudan are the fact that their is no monetary money nor has there been any attempt to build new hospitals, schools and social programs for the people of southern Sudan. My people open your eyes no government is stronger then any of its individual citizens why i ask are there no larger projects to develop the south instead money is being drawn away and has gone missing. i believe the Egyptians in there general concern for south Sudan but they can also help in developing and funding projects to develop the new nation instead of spewing rhetoric for personal gain.
1988
South Sudan rejects referendum postponement, warns Egypt over “interference”
Diu J.Kuek
“Mr 1988 that is not the genuine excuse brother.the South Sudan State will be establish without Monetary Fund,We have our natural resouces its our future asset and no money has been missing believe me . we have plans.
I can assure you South Sudan after Independence is the Leading Nation in East African Countries in term of economically and politically.”
Are you honestly that disillusioned and out of touch with the world ?. please research jarch, and other large american corporations and European companies who have and continue to exploit African nations, imperialism and slavery maybe gone but the white agenda and mind set to control our resources and our Continent is still alive, South Africa, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Liberia, must i go on. wake up, corruption and the theft of money in southern Sudan must stop, development of the minds of our youth are what are going to continue to positively see our nation grow and secede. I don’t know wither you don’t find it funny that you see people in southern Sudan with vehicles from the current year who are military generals with large bank accounts that pale in comparison with those of developed nations such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia etc. Rise and shine sunshine crawl from under your rock and recognize the world around you from friend to foe.
1988
South Sudan rejects referendum postponement, warns Egypt over “interference”
Genuine Leader
“Mr 1988, you have right of opinion express and space of suggestion,but what we want today is our land freedom which is very valueness than and treasury.
today,i want to guarantee my land freedom and tomorrow i will search for my resources and storing them in secure room.”
When you secure your freedom and find out that land that had been promised to has been sold what will you do then ?, Or what if you find that the land that has been given to you is not arid-able what will you do then ? seek help from a foreign organization because the new state has failed to fund programs in which to help farmers and other local companies. The logic in which the people of the south are using does not at all make any sense. Our future generation will not secede if we continue to think only to the next day.
1988
South Sudan rejects referendum postponement, warns Egypt over “interference”
Land-of-Cush
“it must be too late for me to reply your concern but your hiden agenda show that you are axcactly from arabe tribe. Well did you ever heard that 2 million get kills and other were displed? Who did that are they not your Arab governmet?
Remember that we live in South Sudan from 1956 with out getting any support from government of Sudan , no health, education, roads, building, business, and no intermarried as a one nation. Even our second capital city Juba was very poorer then any village in north Sudan.”
My blood flows the blood of the people of the Dinka tribe, as to were you pulled the assumption that i am Arab defies me. I only am spreading the wisdom and knowledge that i have learned in the west and how the west operates i would rather see myself die then to see my people suffer once again in the hands of another oppressor.
1988
South Sudan rejects referendum postponement, warns Egypt over “interference”
Land-of-Cush
“How often would you wish sudan to look like?
remain in unity or separation?”
Secession is and would be the best option for Southern Sudan and her citizens.
Manyieldit
South Sudan rejects referendum postponement, warns Egypt over “interference”
Dear Southerners, we all need to be ready for peace and War come January 2011. The referendum must be conducted on time. We can not afford even a minute to be added on the scheduled time of voting. NCP and the North alike are well known of violating sets of agreements, So my dear brothers/Sisters of South Sudan, I would like to tell you that the postponement of the referendum is (angueni thou)amount to war, any one attempt to do so must be ready to face the consequences of that action.
1988
South Sudan rejects referendum postponement, warns Egypt over “interference”
Genuine Leader
“i think the subject we discuss today, is not a developmental subject. we know there is many shortcoming in south Sudan government including lack of infrastructure and lack of fund. but, please make sure that, you could prioritized things first according to most need or want.
i am sure that no one could see your point as a critical point of view today in south Sudan except an enemy of south Sudan, every country in the world live up or cope with economical problems every period of time, but it could not be sizable with freedom in term of priority. i know you born in famine time in 1988 that is really flashback for you,and worry everyone, i agree and i am aware for newest nation difficulties, but i still seeing no most jeopardize from lack of today monetary in GOSS that will cost 2.5 millions lives of southerners Sudanese cost by freedom struggling.
the only critical question,i would like to ask Mr 1988, do you think the today lack of monetary in GOSS will cost us 2.5 lives and 50 yrs like freedom ? i would be happy to convince me and others readers here.
1988,”
No doubt that freedom of the South is must and will be done, but food security, health services and monetary funds and a central bank have not been set up over the past 5 years, Why ?. The world is watching and the world is not dumb nor blind, if the international community truly carried about South Sudan, Darfur a no fly zone would have been established, regardless of funding. My logic is this i would not purposely take food or sell my own mother for profit, or cause my children to starve in order for children in the United States, United Kingdom and the rest of the western world are suffering from obesity while my children are starving to death.