South Sudan’s United Democratic Party launches separation campaign
By Ngor Arol Garang
December 6, (JUBA) – Tong Lual Ayat, the leader of the United Democratic Party on Sunday said his party has officially launched its campaign for the south to vote for separation in the regions self determination referendum. The campaign will take place in all the ten southern states and in northern Sudan.
Southern Sudan’s plebiscite, which could see the south secede from the north, was agreed as part a 2005 peace deal ending decades of civil war.
The region has been at war with the north for most of Sudan’s independence over religion, identity, resources (oil and water) and political and economic marginalization.
Ayat says that the mainly Christian south, which is also home to traditional believes, should vote for independence after its experience of being in the same country as the Islamic north.
“We are out in the ten southern states and northern Sudan campaigning for the interest of southern majority. Our people have suffered for a very long time in support of unity. So, let them try another option to see how it will work,” said Ayat, the leader of the United Democratic Party.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune in Juba on Sunday, Ayat said he would not mince his words in advocating for separation.
“There is no time left to tell the truth. Political leaders must mince no words on separation option. We must come out publicly and tell them the truth. This truth is that our people should be allowed to decide their own destiny without the use of force and influence,” he said.
He also called on the regional government to create a conducive environment for all political parties to carry out their activities without fear of threat and intimidation from the south’s security services.
“We the leaders of political parties particularly our members and supporters in the region have an important role to play in the successful conduct of the referendum if [a] conducive environment is created by the government of south Sudan. I am saying this because I have personally experienced restrictions and arrest when launching official activities of my party in April this year,” said Tong, referring to Sudan’s Presidential, national and regional elections.
“The mission of the united Democratic Party is to ensure that our people get their freedom by vote and not by gun. This is the official position of the UDP leadership and remains one of our driving principles. We cannot compromise it with anything come what may,” he stressed.
He said he has taken campaign to all ten states of southern since October. Our members and supporters across the country started campaign in October. “The secretary general is now visiting all the ten states of south Sudan. He has finished seven states and remained with only three states of Upper Nile, Unity and Western Equatoria,” explained.
(ST)