By Jacob K. Lupai
(Reading, United Kingdom 24 Aug 2010)
In a sample of southern Sudanese resident in Reading in the United Kingdom a response to a question on the referendum was definitive.
For convenience southern Sudan was granted the right to self-determination in an agreement signed on 9 January 2005. The agreement is popularly known as CPA (comprehensive peace agreement) which stipulates that on 9 January 2011 a referendum shall take place in southern Sudan for the people to choose either to separate to form an independent state of their own or to remain untied with the people of northern Sudan. The CPA was signed after a long protracted war that lasted about 22 years between northern and southern Sudan. The war had generated bitterness of enormous proportion partly due to the unjustified loss of lives and, destruction of property and infrastructure in the South.
In an answer to a question on what they think of the referendum the respondents said the referendum is an attitudinal test of southerners after the long bitter and destructive war. The respondents also said the referendum is the fulfilment of the CPA.
However, the significance of the CPA was downplayed. The respondents were of the opinion that with or without the CPA southerners would have struggled for ultimate freedom without having to go through an imposed interim period of six years. The respondents think the referendum will take place on time. The only obstacle in the timely conduct of the referendum is seen to be the North. Nonetheless the South is seen to be capable of going it alone.
The respondents see the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly as the ultimate body that shall bring freedom. The opinion was that the CPA was not freely given but it was brought about by an armed struggle. The respondents’ stand is that if the North dishonours the referendum the South should break away.
However, the respondents were hopeful that the referendum would take place as expected. As the South has suffered that much in the hands of the North the respondents consider the referendum like the crossing of the Israelites of the Red Sea to the Promised Land.
The respondents are of the opinion that there is no middle way. Southerners either have the referendum to gain freedom or they have to remain under the Islamic rule of the North. The respondents have made their choice very clear and their choice is separation. They said it is the South to care about the referendum and implement it. The respondents expressed delight that the southern youth are in the lead for separation.
They said for unity to be attractive religion should be out as a tool of rule. The respondents affirmed that all religions should have been treated equally but not for a single religion, Islam, to be adopted as the only state religion and the law of the land.
According to the respondents their grandfathers were deceived but there is no way the present generation of southerners will be deceived again. They said the present generation is much more educated and better informed. The CPA was not presented to the South on a silver plate but the present generation fought for it, the respondents confirmed.
On what problem the South would face if it separated the respondents were of the opinion that there would not be a problem if separation was through the referendum. However, the respondents cautioned that the South should be prepared for any eventuality.
On the other hand the respondents said if the South makes a unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) the North may likely go to war with the South. The respondents’ view is that the North’s reluctance to have the North-South border demarcated and the lack of interest in the full implementation of the CPA is a deliberate attempt to frustrate the South to the verge of UDI.
The respondents also viewed the North as hoping to play the blame game in order to occupy southern land and oil fields in the event of UDI. The North is seen to be calculating that the South will be weak to resist the northern occupation of southern lands. The ultimate aim of the North is seen to be land grabbing and exploitation of southern resources in the event of separation.
On the right of those in the Diaspora the respondents said they should be allowed to vote in the referendum. The respondents also said those in the Diaspora should conduct peaceful demonstrations in the countries of their residence for the referendum to take place on time and monitored as stipulated in the CPA. They are of the opinion that there should be active communication between those at home and those in the Diaspora. The respondents said southerners the world over should understand that the common opponent is the North and any difference among southerners should not be allowed to be used by the North to derail the referendum.
In conclusion the respondents said southerners should be united now and that the leaders should double their efforts in being vigilant. Among southern leaders the respondents considered Dr Lam Akol Ajawin as a dangerous traitor but were of high praise of Salva Kiir Mayardit as a person that would lead southerners to the Promised Land as did Joshua in the biblical story of the Israelites.
The author can be reached at jklupai@googlemail.com