SPLM-USA diaspora leaders denounce disenfranchisement

USA-SPLM Chapters Leadership Denounce the Disenfranchisement of the Marginalized Sudanese in the Diaspora

For immediate Release: PETITION

Date: 11/23/2009

Contact Isaac Gang: [email protected]
Washington DC contact Deng Deng Nhial [email protected]

To: National Election Commission (Khartoum/Juba)

cc: Government of Southern Sudan (Juba, Sudan);
SPLM Headquarters (Juba, Khartoum);
White House President Obama;
United Nation (New York);
US State Department (Washington DC) Secretary Hillary Clinton;
US State Department (Washington DC) Special Envoy Major Gen. Scott Gration;
US Congress (Capitol Hill – Washington DC);
IGAD Countries;
EU Representative (Washington DC);
AU Representative;
Arab League

After five hours deliberation on the registration directives and procedures for the upcoming General Elections in the Sudan, which were recently approved and distributed by the Sudan’s National Election Commission (NEC), The SPLM Chapters leadership in the United States unequivocally rejects the process. There is no doubt in our minds that this is a broad daylight deliberate attempt by the NCP to rigging of the elections before it started and an outright disenfranchisement of the marginalized masses of the Sudan living in the Diaspora. These much anticipated democratic elections in the country, the first of their kinds since Nimeiry’s era. Sudan has not witnessed a democratic elections since 1985, therefore, a free and fair elections is critical to determine the future of Sudan.

Perhaps, not surprisingly, the NCP decided to stay true to its reputation; that is being a champion of the lips service competition while never getting to the finish line in the implementation of CPA. The SPLM chapters’ leadership in The United States along with many Sudanese around the World was shocked by the initial list of the countries approved to participate in the registration, and as a result, voting exercise. The initial Diaspora list, which included Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Sultanate of Oman, Bahrain, UK, US and Belgium was a clear message from the NCP that the registration and voting exercise in the Diaspora was not meant for all Sudanese but only for “Some Sudanese.” Mostly the NCP’s affiliates”. Other countries right at the doorstep of the Sudan, such as Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to mention just a few, were intentionally excluded mainly to satisfy the interest of the NCP. After serious concerns were raised by the SPLM Leadership in Sudan, NEC added Kenya, Uganda, Canada, Malaysia and other countries still need to be added. The US-based Leadership, in response, considers this decision sorely impartial, as its position stipulates on a number of issues presented herein.

First, the SPLM Leadership does not agree with the strict documentations requirements. The requirements of Sudanese passport, National ID (gensia) and birth certificate as proof of citizenship in order to be registered to vote is a slap in the face for the Marginalized masses of the Sudan, most of whom were born either in a refugee camps or villages, where such required documents are naturally rare, because birth certificates are normally issued by hospitals and related modern facilities, these are rarely available for persons born in villages, is the general case for majority of the marginalized Sudanese. Such criterion is merely unjust, suggesting that other fair criteria should be instituted.

Second, as though the above are not enough barriers, the NCP’s driven selection of registration/polling centers leaves even more to be desired. For instance, in the US, there are three registration centers and all of them are located miles and miles apart, the selected Centers (New York, Oakland California and Washington, DC). Out of fifty States in the United States, Sudanese are domicile or live in forty States so logistically it is a strain on Sudanese. Nothing can describe the general situation better than the words of the Alaska SPLM chapter chairperson, Marol Deng, when he said “in Alaska, I, along with few members of my cabinet may be able to get tickets to go to one of the registration centers, but there is no way we will be able to transport over 3, 000 Sudanese from Alaska to the lower 48 (referring to the 48 states on the mainland beside Alaska and Hawaii) in order to register.” This is exactly what the NCP wants to see; to create a simple modality that presents as many obstacles as possible so that no one, other than the targeted few, will be able to registered and subsequently vote. Its intention is that those who feel neglected will either put up or shut up. As Leaders of the SPLM defending the democratic right of all Sudanese People, we reject this approach to the National Elections and demand that National Elections Commission (NEC) to note the logistical difficulties and device a pragmatic solution to rectify the problems taking into account our problem solving methods and avoid voter’s apathy.

By rejecting this politically calculated move by the NCP, we urge the US Government, US Congress, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and the Office of Special Envoy for Sudan Major Gen. Scott Gyration at State Department, The African Union, The European Union, The IGAD Partners Forum, the Arab League and other friendly countries to diplomatically intervene immediately since registration is thirty days beginning November 1, 2009 and to examines our recommendations to reverse this inevitable disastrous elections consequences. The United States Foreign Policy on Sudan calls for pragmatic engagement with the International Community to see to it that Sudan stays peaceful and conducts peaceful National Elections, resolution of Darfur, implementation of CPA, and a peaceful Referendum which results into a new born nation State of Southern Sudan at peace with its neighbor, we therefore appeal to the International Community, Civil society, Think Tank, NGOs and educational institutions to proactively engage.

Recommendations below to pave the way for a fair and democratic elections process

? Extend the registration period from one month to three ending January 30th 2010 to allow uninterrupted registration of all citizens in Sudan and in Diaspora.

? Countries we think should be included if not yet included in the registration/voting process even though we are aware of the NEC list are: Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia,DRC, Liberia, Chad, Libya, India, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, U.A.E, Belgium, Italy, UK, France, United States, Canada, Cuba, Australia, New Zealand.

? Any Sudanese with a passport, permanent residency card, temporary residency card, political asylum documents, refugee document in the country of residence or domicile indicating Sudan as a place of birth and or Sudanese citizen as well as their eligible children must be allowed to register and vote.

? Recommended registration centers in the United States Washington Seattle, Oregon, Indiana, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, SPLM Chapter Leaders and Sudanese Community Leaders and Civil society will coordinate which cities to be visited for registration.

? A third party from each country must be involved in safe-keeping and management of the registration/voting data recommendation is International Foundation for Elections Systems ( IFES ) who are currently in Sudan with a Country Director and two Deputies in Khartoum and Juba.

Failure to correct this during these preliminary stages will result in the election exercise being dictated by the dominant political party NCP, rather than being executed following a pattern of true democratic process of transparency and accountability. The thirty days registration period, the selected registration Centers are designed in such a way, by the time Sudanese try to obtain documents of eligibility to register, the time will have expired and therefore disenfranchising majority of Sudanese in Diaspora as well in Sudan.

The resources for logistics, registration and voting in Sudan and Diaspora is the responsibility of National Elections Commission ( NEC) who officially requested assistance from UNDP, therefore, we urge NEC to seriously live up to its obligations.

The undersigned are the SPLM Chapter leaders in the US:

1. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, NLC member, USA

2. Lam Thot Muang, Chair of the 7-member committee

3. Isaac K. Gang, Secretary General, SPLM Southern Regional Council

4. Peter Gak, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of California

5. Kenneth Elisapana, Chairperson, Midwest Coordinator.

6. Mun Nam Koak, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Iowa.

7. Deng Deng Nhial, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Washington DC Metro Area

8. Edward Laboke – Acting Coordinator of East Coast.

9. Atem Mator– Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of South Dakota

10. Abuk Makuac, Southern Representative of the SPLM Women’s League

11. Mangok Mangok Mayen, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Mississippi.

12. Aluk Baak, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Arizona

13. Lawrence Mogga, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter-Texas

14. Makoi Paul , Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Indiana

15. Makoi Wol Manuer, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Michigan

16. Ador Akok Athuai, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Missouri

17. Abiel Akol, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of New Hampshire

18. Duol Rut, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Nebraska

19. Dut Mangar Malek, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Connecticut

20. Philip Ruach Chan, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Georgia

21. Suzy Anip Chol, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of North & South Carolina

22. Abraham Majak, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of North Dakota

23. Miaj Riek, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Wisconsin

24. Emmanuel Mayen, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of New Jersey

25. Bul Aguer, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Utah

26. Machar Wek Aleu, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Oregon

27. Pal Khot, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Washington

28. Abraham Gideon, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Colorado.

29. Diany Deng, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Alabama

30. Daniel Deng Mayan, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Minnesota

31. Deng Chol Mourter, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Tennessee

32. Tokmac Abol, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Pennsylvania.

33. Jacog Deng Mabil, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Massachusetts

34. Ben Arthur, Chairperson, SPLM Chapter of Maine

35. Maker Kosta, Representative, SPLM Chapter of New York

36. Marol Deng, Chairperson of Alaska