SPLM diplomacy stresses importance of referendum law

October 9, 2009 (WASHINGTON) – With the Comprehensive Peace Agreement set to expire in January 2011, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement is trying to stress to the international community the importance of the terms of the proposed referendum law, which would govern the vote on popular determination in 2011.
When the CPA expires, the oil-sharing provisions will be terminated. Part of planning for the post-referendum period involves not only how to conduct the vote for separation, but how to run the oil economy after the outcome of the vote.
An official delegation was sent last week by the President of South Sudan, first to attend the UN General Assembly Meeting. The delegation was led by GOSS Minister of Cabinet Affairs, H. E. Dr. Luka Tombekana Monoja and the GOSS Minister of Regional Cooperation, H. E. Gen. Oyai Deng Ajak.
The two ministers, both SPLM members, met with diplomats and supporters of the CPA. They went to New York “to remind them [world leaders] that the CPA is coming to an end; we have only one year left, we need to be focused,” said the GOSS Head of Mission in Washington, D.C. While in New York, the two ministers met with Special Envoy Scott Gration. They then traveled to Washington, D.C. and gave a briefing to the members of Mr. Gration’s team at the State Department.
During the latest round of talks on the CPA mediated by Mr. Gration, no compromise was reached between Sudan’s two dominant parties. Gen. Oyai Deng, speaking at a public event in Washington last Friday, said “The last meeting we conducted in Juba ended up as utter failure.” He therefore called for additional IGAD involvement in the mediation rather than just the United States.
The GOSS Head of Mission Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth said in an interview, “we need to implement the rest of the pending issues peacefully. We remind the international community about the issues that are facing us: the issue of the referendum law, we have not actually agreed yet on who are the voters.” He was referring to one of the disputed provisions of the proposed referendum law: how to determine who can vote, that is, whether the law will allow the ‘citizens’ of Southern Sudan to vote, or the ‘people’.
“There is difference between citizens – anybody can be a citizen – and people. The indigenous people of the South are the ones to vote. Not citizens.” said Mr. Gatkuoth. The definitional issue has partly to do with where the voting will take place. NCP proposed allowing Southerners to vote wherever they are living in Sudan, including in northern states, whereas SPLM rejects South Sudanese voting in northern states except in Khartoum and Damazin, according to Gen. Oyai Deng.
Mr. Gatkuoth said that the second major point of contention on the referendum law is the percentage required for unity or separation. The SPLM position is that a simple majority is required, but NCP has also demanded a baseline of 75 or 90 percent.
“Now there is a possibility that the NCP will agree to a simple majority,” Mr. Gatkuoth said of the negotiations, “but they are saying a simple majority of what? There are three categories that they are trying to say: simple majority of the eligible voters, those who are 18 and up. Or is it simple majority of those who are registered? Or is it simple majority of those who voted?”
The SPLM position is that a simple majority should be taken out of those who voted. The issue will be discussed again at a new round of talks, but there is not yet any agreed venue.
In Washington, Gen. Oyai Deng — who was until this summer the SPLA chief of staff — also met with White House and Pentagon officials. During a separate visit last month, Kiir’s private secretary and another senior SPLM figure met with White House officials, to deliver a message to President Obama on behalf of Kiir.
(ST)