Former Government of South Sudan Liaison Officer to Kenya John Andruga Duku wants the international community to pressurise the Khartoum government to put all the measures in place for the poll that could result to the formation Africa’s 53rd state. Photo/FILE
Civil society groups in Southern Sudan have organised demonstrations on the ninth of every month to push for the referendum slated for January to be held on time.
Through a group, Countdown to Southern Sudan Referendum, they accuse the Khartoum Government of wanting to delay the historic self-determination referendum by failing to swear in the Referendum Commission to start its work and begin registration of eligible voters.
Addressing journalists in Nairobi, the group headed by former Government of South Sudan Liaison Officer to Kenya John Andruga Duku wants the international community to pressurise the Khartoum government to put all the measures in place for the poll that could result to the formation Africa’s 53rd state.
“The international community should go beyond just making statements and take Khartoum to task to expedite the process. We want the referendum to take place on time and be credible. To us it is a matter of life and death as it cannot be repeated. We must get it right as any mistake will be expensive to all of us,” Mr Andruga said.
Accompanied by official Jervasio Okot, Mr Andruga said recent April elections where he said President Omar Bashir got less than 10 percent of votes in Southern Sudan although his campaign platform was unity, showed residents were ready to secede.
“The allegations that Southern Sudan is not prepared to become independent and govern itself is nonsense . The same was said about Rwanda after genocide that it would have cycle of killings but it has now progressed in terms of development,” Mr Andruga said.
During the demonstrations to be held in whole of South Sudan, Mr Andruga said, locals would push holding of civic education about the referendum, for the polls to held not later or before January 9, 2011 as stipulated in Comprehensive Peace Agreement and that the international community respect the outcome regardless of whether people vote for secession or unity.
“We will further demand for immediate swearing in of Southern Sudan Referendum Commission and a date for registration of eligible voters set. We will also appeal to international community to correct the mistakes of last elections by participating in the process of civic education , registration exercise and monitor the process,” Mr Andruga said.
The ninth of every month was chosen for the protests as former Southern Sudan President John Garang died in plane crash on the July 9, just 21 days after he was sworn in.
Dr Garang’s Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement\Army fought a 21 year war with Bashir’s National Congress Party government which ended on January 9, 2005 following the a peace deal signed in Kenya.
Under the agreement, Southern Sudanese people were to decided whether to remain under united Sudan or secede.
On Sunday, Mr Andruga said following the size of Southern Sudan which is equivalent to Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda combined and its poor infrastructure and inaccessibility of roads, “we feel there is no time to lose but to start civic education immediately.”
Mr Andruga’s group has already launched campaigns in Nairobi, Juba, Kampala and would soon be going to Ethiopia and South Africa.
“We strongly feel that in order for us to get the process move forward the international community should be present on the ground as observers to give credible outcome of referendum,” Mr Andruga added.
He claimed that opponents of the region’s secession were funding tribal militias so that it could appear that South Sudan could not govern itself.
The insecurity, he added, could also scare people from registering and participating in the referendum.
Mr Andruga said the East African Community member states including Kenya which chairs Inter-Governmental Authority on Development issues on Sudan, should play a major role in ensuring the referendum succeeds and was done in a proper manner to avoid a return of chaos in Africa’s biggest country.
He said the referendum would be the biggest thing in Africa after the football World Cup as it would greatly impact on future of the continent.
“For people of Southern Sudan unity means war, oppression, marginalisation, slavery and genocide. Since independence unity has been forced to us which drove Sudan to two major wars. Anybody including the African Union and UN who are saying unity of Sudan be maintained are saying let war be in Sudan,” Mr Andruga said.
He said dispute between north and south Sudan over boundary should not be used to delay the referendum adding that the borders at independence in 1956 when south had three provinces should be used.
