Inclusive transition process essential in South Sudan’s constitutional
review – Carter Center
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March 19, 2011 (JUBA) – The Carter Center urged the ruling party and
the opposition political forces in South Sudan to put aside mistrust
and to work together over issues related to the constitutional shape
of the new state.
The Center put out his call nearly two weeks after representatives
from nine of the 11 opposition parties withdrew from the the technical
committee for the review of the Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan
2005.
The opposition forces said the ruling party violated the spirit of
consensus agreed between the parties, when it appointed 41 members
from the SPLM while the other forces got only 11 seats. They also said
the ruling party passed some decisions by its mechanic majority
They also rejected the SPLM decisions to maintain the current
parliament elected in April 2010 for five, considering it as "a sub-
system within an old system” and it not could be "the new system in an
independent and sovereign Republic of South Sudan as of 9th July".
"Distrust between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and
opposition parties is a critical challenge that undermines the unity
of Southern Sudan on the eve of its independence," reads the Carter
Center’s March 17 statement.
The Center lauded initiatives by the south-ruling party to have the
opposition included in the constitution drafting and transition
processes, describing it as positive steps towards national unity and
inclusion.
According to the Center, the 21 February decision to increase the
numbers of SPLM members on the committee was likely to render
opposition participation meaningless due to the ruling party’s
dominance.
Initially, the Technical Committee to review the Interim Constitution
of South Sudan included 24 SPLM members and 11 from the opposition
parties. On 21 February Salva Kiir appointed more 17 people of SPLM
increasing to 41 the members of his party in this panel.
The Southern Sudanese opposition already blamed Salva Kiir in his way
to appoint the members of the technical constitutional committee
because he selected them without prior consultation as it was agreed
on the 17 October 2010 in a conference attended by all the southern
Sudanese political forces.
(ST)
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