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NCP Official: Sudan Will Not Undermine Referendum

   Peter Clottey 05 September 2010
   If  the January referendum does take place, it will have little impact
   on the conflict in Darfur, in western Sudan, which has been in a lull.

   If  the January referendum does take place, it will have little impact
   on the conflict in Darfur, in western Sudan, which has been in a lull.

   A  top  official of Sudanâs dominant National Congress Party (NCP) has
   denied   reports   that  the  government  will  use  the  military  to
   destabilize  the  semi-autonomous  south  Sudan  ahead  of the January
   referendum.

   Rabie  Abdelati  Obeid  said the NCP is committed to ensuring the full
   implementation  of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which
   paves the way for next yearâs referendum.

   He described the report as propaganda orchestrated by opponents of the
   NCP to cause anxiety among residents in the south ahead of the vote.

   âThe  NCP  is  insisting  that  the  referendum  should be carried out
   according  to  a  transparent procedure and without any influence (by)
   any  of  the  political  parties,  (that is) both SPLM (Sudan Peopleâs
   Liberation Movement) and NCP.  Both partners now are working together
   and  it  is  to their own benefit that this referendum will be carried
   out according to a transparent and just procedure,â he said.

   Obeid  said  the  acceptance  of  the  January  referendum  results by
   Sudanese,  as well as the international community, will largely depend
   on the credibility of the vote.

Obeid

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

   The  CPA  stipulates  that residents in the south should be allowed to
   decide  in the 9^th January referendum whether to remain part of Sudan
   or secede and become an independent country.

   NCP  official  Obeid  said  his party would respect the results of the
   January vote.

   âThere  is  nothing  that  is  proving that the referendum will not be
   carried  out  because now there is seriousness by the NCP and the SPLM
   for   the  period  of  the  arrangement  of  the  referendum  and  the
   post-referendum. Now the whole Sudanese (population) is ready for this
   referendum  and  I  donât  think  that  there would be any obstacle to
   hinder  the  convening of this referendum in the beginning of the year
   2011,â Obeid said.

   He  further  said  that  a  lot of people expressed doubt and concerns
   about Sudanâs recent elections saying it could not be organized.

   Obeid,  however,  pointed  out  that,  despite  the criticisms and the
   doubts,  Sudan  was able to organize a credible vote monitored by both
   local and international observers.

   âI  can  say  100  percent, as I am an NCP leader, that the referendum
   will  be  carried  out.  It  will be transparent. It will be fair. The
   people of the south will also not be affected by any views or opinions
   of  any  political  parties  and  they will have their own will to say
   either âYesâ for unity or âYesâ for secession.â

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