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From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Thu Nov 11 2010 - 11:48:44 EST
<http://allafrica.com/sudan/> Sudan: Payne Calls on Sudanese Leaders to
Finalize Agreement on Abyei and South Sudan Referenda
11 November 2010
_____
Calls for Accountability and Peace in Darfur
On January 9, 2011, the people of South Sudan and Abyei will vote in a
referendum to decide their political future, according to Sudan's
Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA.) This week, the United States reiterated
that the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation
Movement (SPLM) should agree on the details of the referendum on Abyei while
noting an alternative plan may be possible.
Congressman Donald M. Payne, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa and
Global Health, released the following statement: "In two months, the people
of South Sudan and Abyei will vote in a referendum to decide their political
future, according to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Unfortunately,
we have witnessed over the years that the National Congress Party (NCP), the
ruling party in Sudan, signs agreements but rarely honors them.
"The NCP regime has put forth one obstacle after another on the issue of
Abyei. In July 2005, the Abyei Boundary Commission (ABC) issued its final
report on settling the dispute over Abyei. The ABC was mandated to "define
and demarcate" the area known as the nine Ngok Dinka Chiefdoms transferred
in 1905 to Kordofan in North Sudan. According to the CPA, "upon presentation
of the final report, the Presidency shall take necessary action to put the
special administration status of Abyei Area into immediate effect.", but the
Bashir government never implemented the ABC's decision.
"In May 2008, Government of Sudan forces destroyed the town of Abyei,
displaced over 60,000 people, and killed over a dozen. Abyei town was
largely burned. In June 2008, the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's
Liberation Movement (SPLM) signed an agreement on "defining and demarcating"
the Abyei area. The parties agreed to refer the Abyei dispute for
arbitration to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). In late 2008, the
parties presented their oral arguments before the Permanent Court of
Arbitration, and a final decision was made in June 2009, providing more
territory to the NCP government. The NCP initially accepted the PCA decision
but later reneged on that agreement as well.
"Two months before the Abyei referendum, the NCP is still obstructing and
reneging. The Abyei Referendum Commission has not been setup because the NCP
has rejected several candidates chosen by the Government of South Sudan.
They are now demanding more concessions. The NCP obstructionism over Abyei
is designed to delay the referendum in both Abyei and South Sudan. The NCP
strategy is also focused on dividing the South Sudanese people by holding
Abyei hostage. The NCP continues its aggression because it knows that there
are no consequences for its behavior. Unfortunately, some people believe
that the more you reward the NCP, the better the situation. The reverse is
true.
"If the NCP hates to see a democratic process in Abyei and refuses to allow
a referendum, it should then hand over Abyei administration to South Sudan
so that the people of Abyei can vote in the January 9 referendum. It is
critical that -- as much as we are eager to offer carrots to a regime at war
with its people -- we also make the consequences clear. Acceptance of the
referendum outcome by the NCP should not be the only demand. We must also
demand a just peace in Darfur and accountability."
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