Jonglei voter registration not affected by insecurity – official
By Philip Thon Aleu
November 23, 2009 (BOR) – The chairman of Jonglei state National Electoral Commission (NEC) says Monday that voter registration “has not been affected” by insecurity threats aiming to sabotage the process.
Ajang Alaak, the head of the NEC in Jonglei told the press in his office, however that voter registration per day is low and the transport of registrars remains a big challenge in the restive province.
At least 5 people have been killed and 5 children abducted over the weekend in Bor County which hosts the capital of Jonglei state. Mr. Alaak’s comment comes at a time where security situation at Bor villages remains tense following attack by armed men in different locations last week.
“The registration process has not being affected. There is no big threat,” Mr. Alaak responded when asked whether the voter exercise faces some shortcoming from insecurity build-up in areas surrounding Bor town. The attackers aim to “to disturb elections [due 2010] but we shall not allow,” them to do that Mr. Alaak further said.
At least 690,000 legible voters are expected to be registered in Jonglei according to the 5th 2008 National Census results. NEC officials consider a substantial number of voters will be registered with at least 51% voters within the reach.
Visiting some registration centers on Saturday, a voter registrar told the Sudan Tribune that his center has being registering over 100 people a day but the figure is now diminishing dropping to 83 on Friday. Other centers, however only managed to register 50 people per day as the highest turn-over since November 1.
On the other hand, voter registrars transport has remain a big concern alongside insecurity in Jonglei state. Mr. Alaak says that there is no sufficient funds but “we are managing to do with the little hoping that money will come.”
Voters’ registration for the Sudan’s April 2010 elections began on November 1 all over the country and set to end on November 30.
(ST)