Sudan Radio Service speaks to residents in Malakal, Upper Nile, southern Sudan

Report from SRS - Sudan Radio Service, 16 December 2009:
Malakal Residents Optimistic After NCP-SPLM Accord

(Malakal) – Residents in Malakal, Upper Nile state, have expressed their satisfaction following the announcement by the two principle signatories to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that they have reached an agreement on referendum and popular consultation legislation.

Over the weekend, the NCP and SPLM reached an agreement over the referendum laws for southern Sudan and Abyei and the popular consultation process for Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

SRS spoke to some residents in Malakal on Tuesday.

[Resident 1]: “I hope the two partners, despite the time they are taking to dodge these issues, will eventually agree to solve them, because these issues concern everyone. Even Pagan Amum and Yassir Arman had urged that these issues should be resolved, because people are heading for the referendum without any clear solution being reached. But we thank God that the two partners have agreed about most of their differences, hoping that even the remaining issues will be solved.”

[Resident 2]: “My opinion regarding the agreement of the two partners and the pending issues is that these are very important things. They are the partners who are responsible for the CPA and they are the only two parties who can implement the CPA. This is a good step which will lead to the democratic transformation that people are demanding.”

[Resident 3]: “After many differences, arguments and arrests, the two partners have decided to agree. As long as they have agreed on something that will lead the country forward, that is good.”

The parties agreed that a 60 percent turnout of registered voters and a 50 plus 1 percent 'Yes' vote would enable the south to declare independence following the referendum for self-determination which is scheduled to take place in 2011.