VZCZCXRO6613
OO RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKH #1098/01 2720720
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 290720Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4478
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001098
NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPKO SOCI SU
SUBJECT: BORDER DEMARCATION RESTARTS, PENDING LEGISLATION MAY
OVERWHELM NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
REF: KHARTOUM 931
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a meeting with Elizabeth Pelton of the
Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC) on September 17, Poloff
learned that the Ad Hoc Technical Border Committee restarted
demarcation after vice presidential intervention. Poloff also met
during the week of September 6 with international donors who
expressed concern as to whether the National Assembly is capable of
passing the host of pending legislation facing it in its upcoming
two month session. In addition, at a September 16 meeting, election
advisors for the Election Advisory Group (EAG) of the United Nations
Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) stated that the National Election
Commission (NEC) will not be able to reconcile the complaints
received regarding constituency delimitation. Election advisors
also seek U.S. support for an UNMIS team that would focus on
preparing for the referenda. END SUMMARY
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BORDER DEMARCATION COMMITTEE RESTARTS WORK
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2. (SBU) In a meeting with Elizabeth Pelton of the AEC on September
17, Poloff learned that the Ad Hoc Technical Border Committee
resolved many of its differences and had restarted work through the
intervention of Government of Southern Sudan Vice President Riek
Machar and Government of National Unity Vice President Taha.
According to Pelton, the Committee was stalled by the number of
grievances that the Deputy Committee Chairman (Sudan People's
Liberation Movement) was presenting to the Committee (reftel).
Pelton stated that Machar and Taha resolved a number of the
Committee's differences and agreed that the Committee must continue
working regardless of the grievances. According to Pelton, the
Deputy Committee Chairman was told he would be replaced if he
continued to hinder the Committee's work. Pelton said that the
Committee is actively meeting again and working on zone two (NOTE:
Zone 2 is considered the most controversial of the three zones as it
includes South Kordofan and Abyei. END NOTE) The Committee has
already missed its September 15 deadline to begin field
demarcation.
--------------------------------
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PLATE TOO FULL
--------------------------------
3. (SBU) In meetings during the week of September 6 with donor
countries including the UK, Norway and the Netherlands, Poloff noted
increasing concern about the amount of legislation that must be
passed during the October 15 to December 15 session of the National
Assembly. Scheduled legislation includes the Southern Sudan
Referendum bill, the Abyei Referendum bill, the 2010 national
budget, and reforms to the National Security Law among many other
laws. Donors fear that a number of laws critical to the
implementation of the elections and the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement (CPA) will not be passed during the session.
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CONSTITUENCY DELMITATION COMPLAINTS UNRECONCILABLE
--------------------------------------------- -----
4. (SBU) According to election advisors at a September 16 meeting of
the Election Advisory Group (EAG), the NEC cannot manage the
Constituency Delimitation complaints process. Election advisors
indicated that it may be necessary for the political parties to
"call a truce" and simply accept the existing delimitation.
Advisors said that resolution of more than three hundred complaints
received by the NEC will be impossible due to a lack of "in the
field" delimitation. The lack of technical constituency
delimitation available from on the ground surveys and lack of
delimitation expertise at the NEC means resolution will be difficult
as many complaints are below the county level, requiring detailed
mapping to resolve complaints. The NEC has delegated resolution of
the complaints to the State Election High Committees, thereby
absolving itself from responsibility for resolution of the
complaints.
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UN SEEKS REFERENDA PREPARATION STAFF
------------------------------------
5. (SBU) According to Ray Kennedy, Senior UNMIS Elections Advisor,
despite numerous requests from UNMIS, the United Nations Department
of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) has refused funding for an UNMIS
team to assist with referenda preparation. Kennedy stated that the
UN urgently needed to establish a referendum team to support the
Referendum Commission as soon as it is established and to assist
KHARTOUM 00001098 002 OF 002
with referenda preparation. Kennedy said that UNMIS would like the
United States to put pressure on the DPKO to provide additional
staff and funding for preparation, he urged UN Member States to
communicate the urgency of referendum preparation to UN
Headquarters.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: It appears unlikely that the National Assembly
will be able to pass the many bills necessary to implement the CPA
process. The United States should continue to encourage the Border
Demarcation Committee to complete field demarcation by its current
December 15 deadline. U.S. Government support for the prompt
establishment of a dedicated staff in UNMIS to focus on the
referenda also seems warranted as election and referenda preparation
must take place simultaneously. END COMMENT.
ASQUINO