When John Garang signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) back in 2005, he made sure it included a referendum clause by which the people of south Sudan could decide their own fate.
They could remain part of a united Sudan or become an independent entity.
Garang told his people that it was a golden choice and they must take it seriously. The referendum is set for January 2011, and southerners are gearing up for it.
But statements of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made on Sunday have infuriated people here. In particular, his comment on Radio France Internationale that "the UN has a big responsibility ... to make unity attractive".
Protesters have been carrying banners screaming: "Down, down with the UN coward Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Ban Ki-moon repent before judgement."
Another said: "Why not hand over Bashir to ICC to get good leadership?"
![[QODLink]](http://english.aljazeera.net/mritems/Images/2012/2/13/20122131780495734_16.jpg "Suppressing the narrative in Bahrain")
