Sudan's SPLM slams ruling partner for delaying demarcation of Abyei border.

Text of report in English by Paris-based Sudanese newspaper Sudan Tribune website on 23 July

21 July, 2010 (KHARTOUM) - The South Sudan vice-president Riek Machar today criticized the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) over the delay in demarcating the borders in the oil-rich region of Abyei.

The NCP and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) took the issue of Abyei borders to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) which defined the borders in a decision accepted by both sides exactly a year ago.

The ex-Southern rebel group complains that that its members of a joint demarcation team feel threatened by armed militia elements, which the SPLM claims are sponsored by Khartoum.

Abyei, which is close to key oil fields and includes rich pasture land, is used by two main groups, the Dinka Ngok, linked to south Sudan's Dinka people, and nomadic Missiriyyah Arabs, associated with the north.

"The demarcation of this border has been stalled and politicized unnecessarily. This now threatens that peace. The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) calls on the government of Sudan to join it in efforts to demarcate the area within 30 days" Machar said in a Op-Ed article sent to Sudan Tribune.

"The Government of Sudan and its members on the Joint Demarcation Committee, however, have not fulfilled their commitment to demarcate the area. The frustrations of the SPLM Joint Demarcation Committee have been well documented as have the SPLM's attempts to encourage the GoS to facilitate their work. Instead, the government has politicized the tribunal decision's implementation and in doing so, made false promises to the Missiriyyah and other nomads whose livelihoods depend on these areas" the …