SPLM RESOLUTIONS AND COMMUNIQUE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KHARTOUM 001620 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS, AF/SE NATSIOS, AF/AS FRAZER DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SU SUBJECT: SPLM RESOLUTIONS AND COMMUNIQUE REF: KHARTOUM 1612 ¶1. (SBU) This cable conveys the text of the SPLM Interim Political Bureau (IPB) resolutions and communiqu from the IPB's October 4 to 11 Meeting. SPLM Interim Political Bureau Resolutions: -------------- BEGIN TEXT OF RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTIONS ¶1. The IPB directs the SPLM General Secretariat to coordinate the mapping out of political programs and to develop an agenda to be reviewed by the Interim Political Bureau before the presentation to the Convention to be held in the first quarter of 2008. ¶2. The IPB after reviewing the SPLM activities commends the ongoing efforts of the SPLM General Secretariat and directs further intensification of the SPLM work, particularly the current political mobilization and organization of the SPLM as well as the sensitization of the grassroots on SPLM political agenda. ¶3. The IPB and the INC members shall lead the SPLM mobilization and reorganization campaign. ¶4. The IPB calls upon the Sudanese people to join the SPLM en masse to achieve democratic transformation and enhance peace-building; in order to realize the vision of New Sudan. ¶5. The IPB deplores the lack of cooperation between some SPLM State Chairpersons and their State Secretariats and directs the General Secretariat to resolve such matters. SIPDIS ¶6. The IPB notes with deep concern the recurrent violations of human rights in Juba and other towns in Southern Sudan by indisciplined elements from the regular forces; and urges the GOSS to consider the following measures: (a) The Ministry of SPLA Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to take the necessary disciplinary measures, including the transfer of the current military police from Juba; (b) Replacing all military bodyguards stationed in the houses of constitutional post holders with police; (c )Prosecution of individuals that commit human rights violations against fellow citizens and foreigners; (d) Replacement of General Headquarters police station in IDP camps and the border with State police; without prejudice to the competence of national and Southern Sudan components, such public security, civil registry, CID, immigration and aliens, anti-narcotic and smuggling and customs units. (e) Significant investment by GOSS into the security sector by providing resources for training and capacity and institutional building of police service. ¶7. The IPB directs the General Secretariat to carry out awareness campaign on human rights and security. ¶8. The IPB directs the General Secretariat to draft an SPLM membership "Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures" that shall be presented to SPLM INC for approval. ¶9. The IPB shall establish a committee to review the Interim Basic Rules and Regulations. ¶10. The IPB directs the SPLM General Secretariat to set up a CPA Implementation Unit within the Secretariat General to monitor and compile violations and other relevant information on the CPA. ¶11. To strengthen communication, coordination and information sharing, the IPB encourages both SPLM Sector Secretariats to organize regular consultative fora on current issues attended by SPLM leaders at Executive, Legislature and Secretariats. ¶12. The IPB directs the General Secretariat to establish SPLM Satellite TV, Radio and newspapers. ¶13. The IPB directs the General Secretariat and both Sectors to meet regularly to coordinate their work. KHARTOUM 00001620 002 OF 004 ¶14. The IPB while recognizing the importance of its partnership with the National Congress Party that is critical for the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA); regrets the serious deterioration in this relationship as a result of the violations of numerous provisions of CPA by the NCP. In this regard, the IPB resolves the following: (a) Mobilizes the Sudanese people around the objective of achieving peace and democracy in the Sudan; (b) Calls upon all the Sudanese political parties to support the immediate implementation of all outstanding provisions of the CPA; (c) Encourages for South - South dialogue; (d) Mobilizes the region around the objective of holding an IGAD Summit where the SPLM and NCP shall submit their reports on the implementation of CPA; (e) Mobilizes the international community to organize a meeting of IGAD Partners Forum (IPF) focusing on CPA implementation; and (f) Requests the UN Security Council (UNSC) to call a meeting on CPA implementation as being one of the custodians of the CPA. ¶15. Given the deterioration in the relationship between the SPLM and NCP, general stagnation in the implementation of the CPA and the process of democratic transformation and the evolving crisis as a result; the IPB mandates the SPLM Chairman to set up a CRISIS MANAGEMENT TEAM to manage the present situation on a day-to-day basis. ¶16. The IPB condemns in the strongest terms the raids on SPLM offices in Khartoum by police forces; and regards them as a gross violation of the CPA and Bill of Rights enshrined in the constitution and an attack on the political freedoms and democratic transfom1ation of the country. ¶17. The IPB notes with deep concern the reluctance by the NCP component of GONU to avail funds for the conduct of the forthcoming population census and exclusion of ethnicity and religion from the census form; and resolves the following: (a) To urge the NCP component of GONU to avail funds for the Sudan Population Census. (b) Maintaining the questions related to "ethnicity and religion" in the census form, as has been the case in all previous censuses. ¶18. The IPB reviewed the electoral bill and recommendations and commends the role of SPLM members in the NCRC and encourages them to continue their work guided by the recommendations which they presented and adopted by the IPB. In this regard, the IPB: (a) Reaffirms its commitment to the holding of national elections in the specified time in the constitution and CPA; (b) Calls for free and fair elections under international monitoring and supervision, as provided for in the CPA; (c) Directs the Secretariat to organize a meeting between the SPLM Chairman and leaders of national political forces with a view to reaching a national consensus on draft electoral law; (d) Resolves to reinforce the SPLM NCRC team and urges all members to carry on with their work; and (e) Establishes a Standing Committee to work out SPLM strategy and technical requirements for the elections at national, Southern Sudan and State levels. ¶19. The IPB expresses deep concern about the continuation and escalation of the war in Darfur and deplores the attack on the AU peace-keeping force in Heskanita. In this regard, the IPB: (a) Supports the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Darfur; (b) Welcomes the urgent deployment of the hybrid AU/UN forces in Darfur; ( c) Firmly stands behind the SPLM initiative to help the Darfurian Movements reach a common negotiating position in the forthcoming peace talks; and (d) Condemns the recurrent attacks on Heskanita and Mahajeriya towns KHARTOUM 00001620 003 OF 004 and calls for investigation of these incidents. END TEXT OF RESOLUTIONS SPLM Interim Political Bureau (IPB) Communique -------------- - BEGIN TEXT OF COMMUNIQUE Communique The Interim Political Bureau of the SPLM met in Juba on 4 - 11 October 2007 under the Chairmanship of Comrade Salva Kiir Mayardit, SPLM Chairman. After exhaustive discussion, the IPB resolved the following: ¶1. The IPB appreciates the positive steps taken by the SPLM Chairman to appoint three Deputies and expand both the Interim Political Bureau and Interim National Council. ¶2. The IPB warmly congratulates and welcomes the appointment of Comrades Yasir Saeed Arman and Dr. Anne Itto as Deputies of the Secretary-General for Northern and Southern Sectors respectively. SIPDIS ¶3. The IPB after reviewing the SPLM activities commends the ongoing efforts of the SPLM General Secretariat and directs further intensification of the SPLM work, particularly the current political mobilization and organization of the SPLM as well as the sensitization of the grassroots on SPLM political agenda. ¶4. The IPB notes with grave concern the violations of the CPA by NCP, particularly critical issues such as; obstruction of democratic transformation, lack of initiation of national reconciliation and healing process, non-implementation of Abeyei Protocol, non-completion of SAF redeployment, lack of transparency in oil sector operations, inadequate funding of census process and delay of North-South borders demarcation, inaction on the SPLM reshuffle list in the Government of National Unity (GONU) among others; as called by the CPA and Interim National Constitution (INC). ¶5. The IPB condemns the ill designs of the NCP to dilute the institution of the Collegial Presidency by encroaching on the constitutional powers of the First Vice President. ¶6. The IPB is seriously disturbed by the actions of the NCP component of the Government of National Unity that contravene the INC, especially the Bill of Rights; such as unlawful detention of political opponents and partners alike (e.g. Yien Mathiew, SPLM member of Interim National Council),censorship of the press and harassment of journalists, high-handedness by law enforcement agencies in carrying out their duties, partisan approach by the Minister of Justice in undertaking the duties entrusted to him under the constitution, expulsion of diplomats without due consultation with the SPLM and attempts to turn the independent Assessment and Evaluation Commission into a rubberstamp. ¶7. The IPB condemns the hostile media campaign, persistent attacks and character assassination of SPLM leaders, especially by the print media, such as Al-Intibaha, Akhir Lahza and Sudan Media Center (SMC). The IPB notes with dismay that those heinous accusations only appear in media controlled by the NCP figures or well-known NCP journalists. ¶8. The IPB calls upon the Sudanese people to join the SPLM en masse to achieve democracy transformation and enhance peace-building; in order to realize the vision of New Sudan. ¶9. The IPB resolves to convene the Second SPLM National Convention during the first quarter of 2008. This is an important forum in which the SPLM shall assess and evaluate its performance as a basis for charting the future. ¶10. The IPB assisted by the SPLM General Secretariat shall develop and map out the political program of the party by sectoral committees for presentation before the Second SPLM National Convention. ¶11. The IPB notes with deep concern the recurrent violations of human rights in Juba and other towns in Southern Sudan by some indisciplined elements from the regular forces and other unidentified criminals; and urges GOSS to take the necessary measures to address this situation. ¶12. The IPB is committed and obliged to contribute to the achievement of a comprehensive and durable peace in all parts of KHARTOUM 00001620 004 OF 004 Sudan, particularly in Darfur. In this regard, the Interim Political Bureau appreciates the good work being done by the SPLM Darfur Taskforce in facilitating the unification of the Darfurian groups and the peace process; and deplores the attack on the AU peace-keeping force in Heskanita. To that end, the IPB: (a) Supports the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Darfur; (b) Welcomes the urgent deployment of the hybrid AU/UN forces in Darfur; (c) Firmly stands behind the SPLM initiative to help the Darfurian Movements reach unification and common negotiating position in the forthcoming peace talks; (d) Condemns the recurrent attacks on Heskanita and Mahajeria towns and call for investigation for these incidents. ¶13. The IPB calls for the full implementation of the Cairo Peace Agreement, Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) and Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement. ¶14. The IPB reviewed the electoral bill and recommendations and commends the role of SPLM members in the NCRC and encourages them to continue their work guided by the recommendations which they presented and adopted by the IPB. In this regard, the IPB stands for a mixed election system and for free and fair internationally monitored elections held in the specified time, as stipulated in the constitution and CPA. ¶15. The SPLM leadership shall engage other Sudanese political parties and organizations on elections and other national issues. END TEXT OF COMMUNIQUE POWERS