By Chaplain Nemaya

Juba, Sudan (Borglobe)... Considering the late formation of the referendum commission and bureau, with international referendum observers and registration of voters not yet in place, given only three months ahead of the conduct of referendum; an advocate Lawrence Korbandy yesterday said, two institutions National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) are historically responsible for the delay and the aftermath of the referendum. Korbandy made these remarks at his office.

According to Korbandy, the said two institutions and the presidency that include, the President of Sudan, Bashir, his Vice Osman Taha and the President of South Sudan Kiir, violated the national interim constitution of Sudan by delaying to form referendum commission and invite international observers as stipulated in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

“Delay by the two institutions and the presidencies to timely implement referendum activities is a violation of the National Interim Constitution of Sudan and the referendum act, South Sudan referendum is a process determined by the constitution and the law that guides it. It should have been enacted by the beginning of the third year of the interim period” Korbandy explained.

He affirmed that, “timely conduct of South Sudan referendum is well stated in article 220, of the National Interim Constitution of Sudan. And that sub section one authorizes the National Assembly to enact this law by the beginning of the third year of the interim period.”

Korbandy said he agrees with South Sudan political parties’ statements that, incase of any delay to conduct South Sudan referendum, they as political parties shall ask South Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA) to declare independence for the South.

Maintaining that, these statements are not reckless as the international bodies call, and NCP should neither call them political remarks, because the National Interim Constitution of Sudan recommended the conduct of referendum by 2011.

He also noted that, it is the same constitution of Sudan that approved the Interim Constitution of South Sudan.  Hence, SSLA has the mandate to declare independence for the South, considering these legal arrangements.