FVP GETS TOUGH, PUSHES NCP ON CPA, ABYEI, AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000229 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SU SUBJECT: FVP GETS TOUGH, PUSHES NCP ON CPA, ABYEI, AND DARFUR REF: A. KHARTOUM 105 B. KHARTOUM 219 Classified By: POL Michael Honigstein for reasons section 1.4 (b) and ( d) ¶1. (U) After months of focusing on southern politics while remaining quiet on CPA problems, Salva Kiir -- Government of National Unity (GNU) First Vice President and President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) -- lashed out at the National Congress Party (NCP) during a January 28 press conference. He expressed frustration over the slow implementation of the CPA, especially inaction on the recommendations of the Abyei Boundaries Commission (ABC). He also said that the SPLM could utilize its past relationship with the rebel groups in Darfur to help resolve the crisis if the NCP gave it the opportunity. ¶2. (C) Kiir acknowledged that there were logistical issues blocking CPA implementation, notably landmines and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). He said that these factors were the main reason SPLM troops in the east and SAF troops in the south had not been redeployed. However, Kiir questioned the NCP's attitude towards the CPA, citing inaction in Abyei, the failure to establish an Ad hoc Technical Border Committee in a manner consonant with the CPA, and the fact that the critical National Petroleum Commission has only met once. In particular, Kiir felt that ignoring the ABC report was a clear CPA violation, and that the issue may have to be sent to IGAD or another international organization for arbitration. While Kiir had previously expressed many of these views (Ref A),it was the first time he applied this pressure publicly and with such force. ¶3. (C) The normally calm and soft-spoken Kiir was described by attendees as noticeably angry as he fielded questions from the press, including aggressive questioning from the government-controlled media. During their breakfast with A/S Frazer on January 25, SPLM leaders formerly aligned with John Garang said that they have been encouraging Kiir to take a forceful and public stand against the NCP and to push harder on the CPA (ref B). Three days later, he does exactly that. HUME