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SPLM Spokesman: Government Blocking Referendum Preparations

   Peter Clottey 09 September 2010
   Sudanese  President  Omar  al-Beshir (R) walks with Sudan's First Vice
   President  and  south  Sudan  leader  Salva  Kiir  at  the  airport in
   Khartoum, as he prepares to leave for Chad, 21 Jul 2010

Photo: AFP

   Sudanese  President  Omar  al-Beshir (R) walks with Sudan's First Vice
   President  and  south  Sudan  leader  Salva  Kiir  at  the  airport in
   Khartoum, as he prepares to leave for Chad, 21 Jul 2010

   The  spokesman  for  the  Sudan  Peopleâs  Liberation  Movement (SPLM)
   political  movement  of  south  Sudan  said his party is âpanicked and
   disturbedâ  over the referendum commissionâs lack of progress ahead of
   the scheduled 9^th January vote.

   Yien   Matthew   Chol   told   VOA  that,  despite  promises  of  full
   implementation  of  the  2005  Comprehensive  Peace  Agreement  (CPA),
   Sudanese  President  Omar  Hassan Al-Bashirâs ruling National Congress
   Party  (NCP) has âconsistentlyâ blocked efforts to hold the referendum
   as agreed.

   âThe SPLM is worried over the current situation that there is no clear
   move.  Even  when  we  sometimes reached agreements with the NCP, they
   just  at  anytime  run  away  and  cling  to  the  positions which are
   anti-fair and free referendum,â he said.

   Provisions  of  the  CPA allow residents in south Sudan to decide in a
   referendum  whether  to  be  part  of  Sudan  or  secede and become an
   independent nation.

   Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)

   Chol  also  said  that,  under peace accord, the semi-autonomous south
   Sudanâs  referendum  should  be  held  concurrently  with  that of the
   oil-rich enclave of Abiye.

   He  expressed concern that the NCP has so far failed to cooperate with
   other  parties  to set up the Abiye commission to organize that areaâs
   referendum, which is also scheduled for 9^th January.

   But, officials of the ruling NCP dismissed the accusations as baseless
   propaganda  saying the party has been working closely with the SPLM to
   organize the January referendum.

   Chol  urged the international community to put pressure on Khartoum to
   guarantee  its  commitment  towards a free and fair vote. He also said
   that  there  are ample reasons to believe that the ruling NCP wants to
   control the activities of the referendum commission.

   âTwo  days  ago,  there was a decision and a clear agreement made that
   registration  will  start  and  take  like  a  month  which  commences
   approximately in October and that is good news partially. As far as my
   knowledge  is  concerned,  to  the very moment, the commission has not
   received yet its budget, technically, to start the work.â

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