SPLM says elections must go ahead despite requests for postponement by the Juba Alliance

Details: Category: Diaspora; Published on Sunday, 28 March 2010 02:50; Written by The New Sudan Vision (NSV), www.newsudanvision.com; Hits: 9352

Government of Southern Sudan Representative to America, Hon. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth spoke at the Southern Sudan Conference in Victoria on Friday, Feb. 26, 2010 (Photo by New Sudan Vision).

(Washington DC NSV)– A meeting of parties that form the bulk of the National Consensus, commonly known as the “Juba Alliance,” failed to reach a deal on Saturday in Khartoum on whether to defer the elections for another six months.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement maintains that the elections must go ahead, GoSS representative to the US, Mr. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, told New Sudan Vision on Saturday.

The SPLM is concerned that further delay of the elections is not conducive for implementation of the remaining clauses of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), including the Referendum on Southern Sudan in January next year, which the Movement regards as a "red line."

He said that the alliance will continue to explore all options, including looking at the postponement of the national elections, while the southern elections for the GoSS presidency, gubernatorial seats and legislative positions could still carry on.

In a related development, the SPLM has asked to communicate its final decision on the possible postponement of the elections to its Juba alliance partners, pending a high-level meeting of the presidency next Tuesday, Ezekiel said. The Presidency will discuss the elections, formation of commissions, amendment to the election law and repealing of laws that violate the Interim National Constitution.