Statement for Sudan Dialogue in Winnipeg by David Mabior Atem

Opening Statement for Sudan Dialogue on January 11, 2011 at the University of Winnipeg through Global College – Canada

By David Mabior Atem

First and foremost, I would like to begin by saying once again welcome and thank you for your concern and support as you all embrace the cold weather to attend Sudan dialogue.  The University of Winnipeg through Global College’s Principal Dr. Marilou with the Eyes on Sudan, Working for Peace advocate group, initiated today’s event to bring all of you together to have dialogue about the future of Sudan during the voting and after referendum. Thus, having a dialogue like this would allow us to raise some important questions such as what will be the position of the government of Canada after Jan 15, 2011 when the result of the referendum is out.

The Eyes on Sudan Working for Peace members consist of Sudanese and non-Sudanese members.  For Sudanese groups working for peace, it is their contribution to their nation as citizens because “citizenship is a matter of responsibility”.  They were a part of the problem, so they should be a part of the solution (s) that why so many Southern Sudanese from Manitoba stranded on the way to Calgary in order to cast their votes.  For non-Sudanese groups working for peace, it is their contribution as “global citizens” or “peace lovers,” because they perceive long distance problems as problems also at home.

Other important issues the North and South will continue to negotiate post- referendum issues such as Abyei referendum, questions of citizenship, national debt, security arrangements, oil and water sharing, border demarcation and international treaties. These issues will be very sensitive and could bring the parties back to war again so there is a need for international full engagement after the referendum.  Currently, enemies of peace have started war in Abyei before opening of the referendum booths.  Because of that sabotages to voting processes, the GoSS officials reported that “the worst fighting was on 9 January 2011 that lasted four hours and led to the death of 17 southerners”.

Briefly, Southern Sudanese are now in their third day of referendum voting determining their future, which will be ongoing until January 15, 2011. That referendum voting is a conclusion to the Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that was signed in 2005 with an interim period of six years.  It was fully supported by the International Community of which Canadian government was a signatory. Currently, Canada is chairing the referendum “Basket Fund” for other countries to contribute money to support the conduct of the referendum.

  I personally, believe that Canada should help in the Capacity building and construction of newly state of Southern Sudan.  Canada should continue with materials support after referendum as a young nation will be born into minimum available services such as infrastructures, no electricity, no running water, no hospitals, no modern farming system to take carry of food insecurity and no schools. In an article published by the Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 3, 2011 titled ‘Sudan’s imminent divorce’ reported that “according to United Nations Statistics released in advance of the election, 85 per cent of the people in Southern Sudan can not read.  There is one teacher for every 1,000 primary school students.  Southern Sudan has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world”. In that situation of southern of Sudan, I always disagree with some of terminologies such as a “reconstruction of war torn country”.  There was nothing in the first place that destructed to be reconstructed.  I would like to point it out to non-Sudanese who are not familiar with the situation of Southern Sudan that, what has been done by the ruling party SPLM in the GoSS for the last 5 years is far, far, far better than what was done by the Khartoum for 55 years since independent of Sudan despite richness of natural resources such as oil in Southern Sudan.

It is also important to highlight historical records on previous agreements between the North and the South that Khartoum government’s culture of violation of peace agreements is known to southerners and others beyond the borders of Sudan:

-          First Sudan’s civil war was from 1955 to 1972 that was known as Anyanya I war, which ended in 1972 with Addis Ababa Agreement.  All the promises to that peace deal were not kept.

-          Sudan’s second civil war began in 1983 to 2005 that ended with a signing of the CPA where referendum was a requirement for Southern Sudanese to choose between “separation” and “unity”. I would not make prejudgment but opinion poll is likely to be an independent Southern Sudan, which is separation.  With that, it should not be a surprise to anyone this room.  Also, I would like to give each of you an assignment tonight to pass on to other that the Sudan dialogue you have attended has clear message to Canadian government and Canadians people that the wills of the people of Southern Sudan should be respected as long the outcome represent their choice.

Last but not least, we need inclusive long-term support from the government of Canada.  As stated by the current Prime Minister of Canada that, “we take our position based on the promotion of our values - freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, justice, development, humanitarian assistance for those who need it.” Southern Sudanese living in Sudan and those living here in Canada welcome the promotion of Canadian values in Southern Sudan to bring peace and stability, which will in turn benefit southerners socially, economically and politically.  Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of you who have embrace cold the weather by joining us in this dialogue.  My special thank will go to the sponsors institutions: Global College, Menno Simons College, St. Matthews Anglican Church, Canadian Mennonite University Institute for Community Peacebuilding and Mennonite Central Committee.  In closure, drive safe and have yourself a great night!

David Mabior Atem is a co-founder for the Eyes on Sudan: Working for Peace