SSANSA CONGRATULATES SUDANESE FOR PEACEFUL REFERENDUM
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 28 January, 2011
Southern Sudan Action Network on Small Arms congratulates the citizens of the Sudan – for participating monumentally in the successful historic referendum, which is a critical turning point in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. We express our appreciation to the referendum officials, the government and political leaders and acknowledge the massive support of the international community. We hope and expect that in the immediate period ahead, the people of North and South Sudan will continue to cooperate, and maintain peace until and beyond the end of the transition process.
We recognized the reports from accredited domestic observers who recruited many of our members in various states of Southern Sudan to observe this great event; this indicates emerging collaboration among civil society organizations (CSOs) to address issues of great concern. We also note that the presence of domestic and international observers as well as the demonstrable international focus that was given to the referendum played a big role in enabling the process to forge ahead peacefully.
We ascertain as did the domestic and international observers that the referendum process was generally peaceful and calm, except regrettable incidents in Unity and Abyei states. We believe that the campaigns, against misuse of guns, which we have conducted for over one year in southern Sudan, have contributed towards the peaceful elections and referendum.
As a people who suffered in war for more than five decades, we, the people of Southern Sudan graciously appreciate the great opportunity to determine the future of our nation through the referendum vote. This demonstrates a profound commitment to pacific settlement of conflicts through democratic systems.
We now understand the terrible consequences of proliferation and unregulated trade in guns and appreciate the urgency to control them. We will engage our government to work with other states in controlling proliferation and misuse of guns including calling for an internationally binding arms trade treaty.
Knowing that the referendum result is by and large in favour of an independent South Sudan and that the a new sociopolitical dispensation is in the making , we urge the leadership of the new polity to quickly put in place legal and institutional frameworks that will guarantee good governance as well as peace and security; we will work with the government in this process.
We understand the huge task ahead in controlling proliferation and misuse of guns in southern Sudan. We will work with the government, political leaders, the churches, other civil society coalitions, and other stakeholders to identify and implement appropriate measures to control guns misuse including mobilizing citizens in all the states towards peaceful disarmament.
We call upon all the citizens of the Sudan to stay calm as we await the official release of the referendum results. We also appeal to our brothers and sisters to celebrate the outcome of referendum peacefully.
For further information contact SSANSA Secretariat on Tel: 0955 166 606 | 0926 587 897
Email: dukegefflo@yahoo.com |ssansa.secretariat@yahoo.com
