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Sudanâs Ruling Party Accuses SPLM of CPA Violations

   Peter Clottey 12 December 2010
   Dr. Anne Itto, head of the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement- Southern
   Sector

Photo: AP

   Dr. Anne Itto, head of the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement- Southern
   Sector, addresses reporters at a press conference Wednesday, April 14,
   2010  in  Juba,  southern  Sudan. Dr. Itto addressed issues of missing
   ballots,  voter  registration  discrepancies, incidents of violence at
   polling  stations  and  the  arrest of election observers on Wednesday
   morning.  Her  remarks  came on the eve of the final day of polling in
   Sudan. (AP Photo/ Pete Muller)

   A  prominent  member  of  Sudanâs ruling National Congress Party (NCP)
   said  the  Sudan Peopleâs Liberation Movement (SPLM) violated the 2005
   Comprehensive  Peace Agreement (CPA) by âopenlyâ declaring support for
   secession by south Sudan ahead of next monthâs referendum.

   Rabie  Abdelati  Obeid  told  VOA  the violation could lead to a total
   cancelation  of  the  CPA,  which  ended over two decades of civil war
   between the north and the south.

   âThere  is  a  clear item and a clear provision in the CPA saying that
   both  (the)  SPLM  and  the NCP should work together to achieve unity.
   And,  by  violating  this clause in the CPA, I think that the SPLM has
   canceled the CPA and are working against the CPA,â said Obeid.

Obeid

   Dr.  Rabie  Abdelati  Obeid  is a prominent member of Sudan's dominant
   National Congress Party (NCP)

   âI  donât  think  the  NCP  now will respect these practices and these
   announcements  (supporting  secession)  by  SPLM.  And, this will lead
   ultimately  to undermining even (the) peace and even the result of the
   referendum,  as  now  the  CPA  will  have  no effect on the political
   situation in our country.â

   The  Sudan  Tribune  quoted Anne Itto, deputy secretary general of the
   SPLM, as saying her party will support the semi-autonomous south Sudan
   secession in the upcoming referendum adding that the NCP has failed to
   make âunityâ attractive.

   âSince  unity  has  not been made attractive during the six-year (the)
   interim period, we will not stop (supporting) what our people want. We
   will  promote what they want. If they need separation, we will promote
   that because we are following the people.â

   But,  Obeid  said  Ittoâs  pronouncement could plunge the country into
   instability and undermine the credibility of the upcoming referendum.

   âNow  the  SPLM  is  working outside the framework of the CPA and this
   will  distort  the  actual objective of the CPA. On top of this, (the)
   CPA  is to achieve peace between north and south and will also distort
   the  procedure  of  the  referendum.  This will create instability and
   non-peaceful co-existence between north and south,â said Obeid.

   Meanwhile,  Sudanâs  referendum commission has said the scheduled 9^th
   January  referendum  will  proceed  as  originally  planned, despite a
   requested  delay  to allow the commission to address possible concerns
   over the recently-ended voter registration.

   Ibrahim  Khalil,  chairman of the commission, has petitioned President
   Omar Hassan al-Bashir, as well as First Vice President Salva Kiir, for
   a delay saying it will help the entire referendum process.

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