A high rank SPLM official said an unilateral declaration of independence made by representatives of the people of South Sudan can be a legal means for self-determination if the NCP boycotts the referendum that should take place until January 9, 2011.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement says in the Protocol of Machakos that the referendum in one among other means for Southerners to express the right to self-determination.SPLM secretary general Pagan Amum met the press on Saturday. SCR News asked him what the other means the CPA does not specify were.
Mr. Amum answered that South Sudan has its elected Assembly and the lawmakers represent the people who elected them.
He explained that South Sudan could follow the lead from Sudan that became independent in January 1, 1956 through an Unilateral Declaration of Independence although the Cairo Agreement called for a referendum.
Mr. Amum added that in alternative the Southern Sudan Assembly could ask the international community and the UN to conduct and monitor the referendum in case GoNU and GoSS fail to organize it.
Mr. Amum called upon the NCP to establish immediately the commissions for the referenda in Southern Sudan and Abyei.
He urged the peace partners to speed up border demarcations around four contentious points in Upper Nile, Unity and Northern and Western Bahr el Ghazal states in areas rich in oil, gold, copper, water and grazing.