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From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Wed Oct 27 2010 - 12:17:35 EDT
Oil-Rich Abyei Part of North, Says Sudan Ruling Party Official
Peter Clottey 27 October 2010
A prominent member of Sudan's governing National Congress Party (NCP) said
it seems officials of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) are only
interested in "the richness of the oil" in the disputed Abyei region.
Professor Ibrahim Ghandour, secretary for political affairs of the NCP said
his party has documentary evidence that proves that the oil-rich but
disputed Abyei region is part of the north.
"Unfortunately, our partners, brothers and sisters in SPLM see Abyei only as
an oil rich area and they don't see the human face of the conflict. (But),
we in NCP look at the interest of the communities they (include) the
Misseriya and the Ngog," he said.
His comments came after SPLM's general secretary, Pagan Amum called on
President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir to in his words transfer the disputed Abyei
region to the south by presidential decree.
Amum was quoted as urging President Bashir to "take a decision and transfer
Abyei by presidential decree to the south, because the process of Abyei
referendum has been delayed and there is no time. that is what I see as the
future of Abyei. Let us discuss Abyei together with border demarcation, with
accepting the results of the referendum, and with the relationship between
the south and the north after the referendum."
Professor Ghandour rejected assertions that the disputed region should be
part of the south ahead of the 9th January referendum.
"Pagan Amum knows that historically, Abyei is a Meseriya area to which the
Dinka moved from south of what is called the Arab sea. and Abyei lies to the
north of that. the Dinka Ngog moved there and they lived with the Meseriya
in one community."
As part of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), both residents of
Abyei as well as the south were scheduled to hold concurrent referenda on
9th January.
But, observers say it looks unlikely that the referendum in Abyei will
proceed as originally scheduled.
NCP official Professor Ghandour said historically, the oil-rich Abyei is
part of the north.
"What we are saying is that in order to ensure peace between south and north
in case of secession or unity and in order to ensure the continuity of peace
within Abyei, the interest of the groups there particularly, Misseriya and
the Dinka Ngog (must be addressed)."
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