SPLM rejects Bashir’s threats over disputed issues Article Comments (7) Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Ngor Arol Garang June 24, 2011 (JUBA) — South Sudan’s ruling party - Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) - on Friday rejected what it described as political and military threats by the Khartoum government to gain concessions over issues such as the oil-producing and contested region of Abyei. The SPLM and their northern counterparts the National Congress Party are undergoing talks in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa to determine a number of arrangements for after South Sudan secedes on 9 July. However Sudan’s President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir who is expected to visit China next week China’s told Xinhua news agency, Thursday that war with the South Sudan remains possible due to the unresolved disputes between the two parties as the south is going to be independent state within two weeks. Daniel Awet Akot, Deputy Speaker of the Juba-based regional assembly told Sudan Tribune that the SPLM would not return to war. "This position remains the same. It has not changed not because we will lose anything, but because this is the position of the people of south Sudan. Our people need peace", Akot emphasized. The senior member of the powerful 27-member political bureau of the SPLM said the government of South Sudan were committed to peaceful dialogue as a means of settling some of the remaining outstanding issues in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the post-referendum arrangements. "SPLM is committed to peaceful dialogue with National Congress Party as our partner. This is what we expect from our partners as well. We should negotiate as partners so that we are able to understanding on issues being discussed. There is no need for giving conditions and threats when talks are in progress to put more pressure on discussions", he said, stressing that his party will not accept threats to concede on anything. "The SPLM and the people of South Sudan will not accept threats for concessions. We do not make concessions for threats. We make concessions when we see clear and genuine reasons for concessions", said Akot who has held a number of high level positions in the former rebel movement after joining it in 1984. Bashir said that the South will be the loser is they attempt to create troubles with the North. "We, on our part, are committed to and keen on peace. However, if the links of our brothers in Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) push them to create problems, they will lose. They have experienced that in Abyei and in South Kordofan," Al-Bashir said in an interview with Xinhua published on Friday. Akot, said the SPLM was open to international mediation with the NCP on issues the two parties have repeatedly failed to reach an understanding. "We are opened for international mediations on issues we cannot resolve with National Congress Party provided that mediators give equal attentions and remain neutral during discussions so that results of the negotiations are not contested lest they are reached", he said. The relations between north and south Sudan have recently been witnessing mounting tensions in the wake of their dispute over the Abyei area which the northern Sudanese troops seized on 21 (ST) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
