SPLM Says Referendum Must Bring Lasting Peace To Sudan

9 November 2010 – (Khartoum) – The SPLM deputy secretary-general for northern sector says the referendum exercise should lead to a lasting peace in Sudan.

Speaking to SRS in Khartoum on Sunday, Yasir Arman said that peaceful coexistence must be obtained for the referendum to be successful.

[Yasir Arman]: “Firstly, the exercise must lead to a lasting peace and on top of that it is important that peaceful coexistence in the country is maintained. We also need to get away from the people who make hate speeches, or those who advocate for violence and the like. There is a need for a democratic environment that gives everybody the chance to freely express themselves whether those people happen to be pro-unity or pro-separation in both the south and the north. Now as far as the campaigns are concerned, what I can say is that those campaigns should inform the voter of the procedures, so that the voter chooses wisely what he or she would like to vote for. There are meetings that are currently taking place to try and resolve the financial challenges that are facing the exercise.”

Arman also called on their partner the NCP, to have a political will for the sake of reaching lasting peace in Sudan.