Pro south Sudan referendum protests hit Australia

South Sudanese living in Australia are undertaking massive protests against what they describe as the Khartoum government’s attempts to sabotage the upcoming referendum.

They poured, in masses, on the streets of Queensland chanting songs of freedom.
The Sudanese community claimed they were taking to the streets to fight ongoing attempts by President Omar Hassan Bashir to delay the referendum in Sudan meant to decide on the cessation of the south.

“Sudanese around the world who have lost families and friends in Africa’s longest civil war, are outraged and shocked at the lack of response from Khartoum government, regarding the outstanding issues in the 2005 peace deal,” said Mr Godfrey Alue, the Internal and External of My referendum for Freedom (MRF) drive.

He said they were afraid any sabotage by the north would result into conflict.

“War is inevitable if Bashir’s government does not stop failing the referendum,” Mr Alue told the Daily Monitor in an interview Monday.
Civil war in Sudan between Islamic dominated north and mainly Christian south has lasted more than two decades. About two million people have lost their lives and over four millions displaced.

In 2005, a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed between Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and National Congress Party. Top on the list of the CPA was the referendum on the separation of Sudan.
‘Provocative tactics’

But south Sudanese claim the north has been very reluctant on the implementation of this key part of the agreement.
“The Khartoum government is using delaying tactics in implementation of the CPA including an attempt to start the war for instance by killing of innocent civilians in Abyei region in 2008,” the MRF International Co-coordinator, Mr Biong Deng Biong, said.

He also cited the recent aerial bombardment of south Sudan territories close to the border.

“War is the last thing South Sudanese want to see now,” Biong said, adding that the solution to conflict in Sudan lies in Khartoum sticking to the January 9, a date set within the CPA for the referendum.

He said that Sudanese in the diaspora are instrumental deciding the independence of the south.
The protest would put pressure on Mr Bashir’s government to implement most of the key aspects of the agreement, particularly, the Abyei referendum and border demarcation.

Others include popular consultations for Nuba Mountain and Eastern Sudan and the issue of citizenship.
The MRF Director in Australia, Mr Ken Ochieng said there is strong need for the intervention of the international community to push for the full scale implementation of the CPA.

“South Sudanese feel helpless and want the Australian and the international community to recognize the need to take action. Innocent families are at risk of genocide like the one in Darfur especially in Abyei,” Mr Ochieng said after presenting their position paper the Queensland Parliament.

Other protests have rocked Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney.
The update comes at a time when South Sudan President Salva Kiir has approached President Yoweri Museveni asking for military and diplomatic support against Khartoum ahead of next month’s referendum on secession.