The SPLM-IO group Sunday said it rejects tasking the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) with the drafting of the constitutional text for the permanent constitution outside the forum of the constitutional conference.

In a press release seen by Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, Deputy Chairman of the SPLM-IO group Henry Dilah Odwar said they disagree with the procedures proposed in the draft for the permanent constitution-making.

He revealed that the proposed draft mandates the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) to draft the text for the permanent constitution outside the forum of the National Constitutional Conference.

He argued that the process of permanent constitution-making is different from the process of constitutional review of an existing transitional constitution. He stressed that the NCRC cannot be entrusted with the task of permanent constitution-making.

"The SPLM/A (IO) maintains that permanent constitution-making is a popular exercise in which the people of South Sudan must exercise their right to deliberate on matters of governing their country," he said.

Odwar, who is the head of the SPLM-IO negotiating team, demanded that the organization of the National Constitutional Conference should be handled as a people-driven process that reflects the aspirations and the will of the people of South Sudan, rather than be a government-driven process.