Sudan 1st VP defends signing of CPA, says rebellion days are over
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September 19, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese First Vice President Ali
Osman Taha spoke out for the first time against the growing number of
critics who assert that the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)
gave too many concessions at the expense of the North.
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Sudan’s First Vice President Ali Osman Taha (Reuters)
In recent weeks many pro-government columnists have written fiercely
against the US brokered peace accord in which Taha was the lead
negotiator from the government side. The deal ended more than two
decades of North-South war which was considered the longest conflict
in Africa.
In accordance with the CPA, the people of South Sudan were promised a
referendum in which they had the choice of voting for remaining united
with the North or establishing their own state. The exercise which
took place last January resulted in a near unanimous vote in favor of
secession.
South Sudan officially became an independent country last July. The
most visible aspect of the country’s breakup is losing 75% of the oil
reserves which has already taken its toll on the North’s economy in
the form of an acute shortage in hard currency.
Many observers say that the army in particular as well as hard line
Islamists, are unhappy to see the South let go after the many
sacrifices made during the civil war years.
Taha who arrived in South Kordofan’s capital city of Kadugli said that
the room for peace allows for different views and interpretations but
rejected arguments that too much were given to the South.
"We offered them [Southerners] incentives, which others viewed as
concessions and compromising the rights of the nation at the expense
of the public interest, but the diligence on which peace was built on
was that he no concession supersedes the value of peace and enacting
it” the 1st VP told South Kordofan legislative assembly.
"The shameful concession is one made to the enemy but compromises
amongst the sons of the nation is tolerance of brotherhood" Taha said.
The Sudanese second top official also warned that the government will
no longer tolerate any new rebellions and will only deal with it
through military means.
"No to rebellion, treason, and going against legitimacy. No return
afterwards except through consultation, uniting ranks, respecting
other opinions, adherence to the rule of law and the provisions of the
constitution," Taha said.
He said that any who attempts to achieve demands through bearing arms
would be dealt with swiftly by Sudan Armed Forces (SAF).
Serious fighting has erupted between SAF and fighters from Sudan
People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) on the North-South Border
States of South Kordofan and Blue Nile. The two sides traded blame
over who started the fighting.
The territories are still home to tens of thousands of people from
ethnic groups that sided with the south during the civil war that
preceded the south’s independence.
Efforts by the African union to broker a peace deal and ceasefire have
failed so far.
The fighting in Blue Nile prompted President Omer Hassan al-Bashir to
declare a state of emergency there and sack the elected governor,
Malik Agar, who is also the SPLM-N chairman.
The party, an offshoot of the ruling party in the south, was shut down
shortly afterwards and dozens of its members arrested.
On Monday, SPLM-N claimed to have repelled an attack by SPLM-N in
South Kordofan.
"Yesterday (Sunday), the SPLM was attacked by the Sudanese armed
forces near Talodi. There was heavy fighting and the army was repulsed
by the SPLM-North" Yasir Arman Secretary General of SPLM-N told Agence
Frabce Presse (AFP) by telephone from London.
"As a result, the government lost three outposts at their garrison in
Talodi. Our forces are now besieging Talodi," Arman said.
SAF spokesman al-Sawarmi Khalid Sa’ad denied there had been serious
fighting in Talodi, saying only that troops retaliated after the
SPLM-N tried to "disrupt the security" in the area.
(ST)
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