SPLM’s Edward Lino says Abyei not bothered by messeriya cries

By Ngor Arol Garang
January 5, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Edward Lino, a native of the oil contested region of the Abyei and a prominent member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), said Abyei citizens and their politicians are not bothered by Messeriya cries over recently adopted referendum bill for Abyei.
 
Edward Lino “We are not bothered because CPA which is the basis of this adopted referendum does not recognize Messeriya as residents of area in reference to Abyei,” he told Sudan Tribune.
“It only recognize their right to access water and grazing lands for cattle, he said adding it does not mention their rights to participate in local elections and referendum,” he added.
Lino’s statements come following calls made on President Basher not to sign the recently adopted referendum bill into law by members of the Messeriya community in the National Assembly.
On Wednesday December 30, Members of Messeriya community at the Sudanese parliament walked out of the house hours leading to the passage of the bill claiming that the law did not mention their tribe.
The members of the messeriya bloc in the assembly described passage of the law as flaw and conspiracy against their existence.
However, Edward Lino today told Sudan Tribune from Juba described their boycott as out of law. “Messeriya do not have any single right to claim in the passage of Abyei referendum.”
“Humans can compromise but will history really permit, he posed stressing that citizens of Abyei respects and will abide by the court ruling to allow Messeriya rights to access water and grazing areas,” he said.
“We do not have problem having their shoats and cows entering our region for water and grazing, he said revealing that they are already in the area.”
He further said they are even defying provision of the CPA to come without arms; they are now coming with arms and our local populations are arms free” “This is unacceptable and Messeriya through central government must show commitment to each of the provisions in the deal,” he stressed.
(ST)