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Sudan Tribune

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Unknown bandits in W. Equatoria burn dozens of casted ballots papers

April 21, 2010 (YAMBIO, Western Equatoria) – Truckloads of casted ballot papers have been burnt in Western Equatoria’s Yangiri and Yere payams, the state’s High Election Committee (SHEC) confirmed Tuesday.

A policeman sits next to ballot boxes at the start of vote counting at a polling station in Juba, south Sudan April 16, 2010. (Reuters)
A policeman sits next to ballot boxes at the start of vote counting at a polling station in Juba, south Sudan April 16, 2010. (Reuters)
The destroyed ballot papers were being transported from Yangiri in Ezo County and Yere in Mvolo to Yambio for entry purpose prior to state provincial announcement it was due next Sunday according to SHEC previous statement.

The burning truck did not hurt the driver and persons on board, so far no efforts is being done to arrest the culprits.

The ballots were casted at Yangiri 12 and Yere 20 polling centers, since the closure of polling center results from the said were signed by party agents and displayed outside.

SHEC officials have described the dark scenes as appalling and hindrance of democratic system in Western Equatoria State.

Mr. Lawrence Sulubia heads SHEC, who sounded demoralized confirmed that “two trucks that were destined for Yambio with elections materials were set ablaze by unknown bandits.”

In Mvolo the ballot papers were supposed to be retrieved and transported by UNMIS choppers (helicopters), however due to mechanical problem with UNMIS fleet, UNMIS failed to collect the ballots papers since last Sunday.

Sulubia said, he had instructed the Constituency Election Officer (CEO) to rent a car and transport elections materials to Yambio, however, Mvolo’s Commissioner ordered the CEO not to accompany the materials, he only imposed one police man and one intelligence officer to accompany the ballot papers – hence, the ballot boxes were burnt between Mvolo and Mambe junction.

Independent Gubernatorial candidate won majority votes in both Yangiri and Yere payams respectively.

According to Lawrence Sulubia, Justice Abel Alier, Chairman of National Elections has been informed of the burning incidents in Western Equatoria – SHEC has been ordered by NEC to write urgent report on the devastating scenarios in Western Equatoria.

Asked whether, SHEC will announce the results without Yangiri and Yere results, he said, “no, we cannot announce the results unless we establish reference to the burnt ballot papers, officially, there were three result forms, one was displayed with scored votes outside the polling centers, one was supposed to remain with the State High Election for reference purpose and, the other to the National Elections Commission.

He added that, both forms have been burnt, preventing NEC to know the exact results. However, exit polls and party agents result showed Col Bakosoro leading the incumbent by thousands of votes.

Opposition and Independent candidates in different parts of southern Sudan accused the ruling party of intimidations and violence against their supporters in the region but the authorities deny such implications.

The WES is accused by the Independent candidate of being behind these incidents which would lead to nullify the results of Yangiri and Yere, two areas where Col Joseph Bakosoro was supposed to be the winner.

Sources from SHEC also indicate that, Jemma is mounting pressure on the staff who are doing data entry, as of yesterday Jemma and her security apparatus pressed the SHEC to enter the results and announce it without Yangiri and Yeri payams.

(ST)

27 Comments

  • Acid
    Acid

    Unknown bandits in W. Equatoria burn dozens of casted ballots papers
    It is totally out of coward, what a shame!

    Reply
  • Kuany Dak
    Kuany Dak

    Unknown bandits in W. Equatoria burn dozens of casted ballots papers
    Shame on this cowardic people, it is bad to burn ballots papers.

    Reply
  • Gatwech
    Gatwech

    Unknown bandits in W. Equatoria burn dozens of casted ballots papers
    Dear readers,

    Jemma Nun is acting like Taban Deng Gai in Unity state, Clement Wani Konga in Central Equatoria state and Simon Kun Puoch in Upper Nile state.

    Only the smart Kuol Manyang has pre-rigged the votes by manufacturing ballot papers in Bor town and mobilized the whole army to vote for him. Kids were also suspected to have voted for Kuol Manyang in Jonglei state.

    But that was a smart rigging instead of Taban Deng Gai and Jemma Nunu who want to forcefully and primitively rig election results after they were already known.

    SPLM has lost to independent candidates every where except in Eastern Equatoria, but the primitive style of rigging by SPLM is now the biggest problem to deal with.

    Shame!

    Reply
  • babadit
    babadit

    Unknown bandits in W. Equatoria burn dozens of casted ballots papers
    what ashame on this ugly looking woman who do not have ability to look for ways of solving problems. she behave like Taban Deng Gai
    please do acept defeate

    Reply
  • Comet Zone
    Comet Zone

    Unknown bandits in W. Equatoria burn dozens of casted ballots papers
    Dear Southerners,
    If I may ask you, really why are you pin pointing at yourselves in respect of this seven to eight months power in leadership? and it expires. I’m urging you all to be calm if your choice didn’t go through, there is time still we have independence of Southern Sudan on the 09th -January -2011 and immediately a new government will be formed a government of your own choice. You all just stay claim and wait for the official results if you loose that is not a sickness instead a good leader will show respect to the citizens and advice them to remain calm rather than motivating them into violence. A good leader will always say WE but not I. Who knew that one day the Southern Sudanese Citizens could have a voice and power in the Sudan as what is happening now. We no longer eat under the table as we used to be considered in the last from the creation of the world up to 09th January 2005. The best is knocking on the door just within seven to eight months time you will see and smile a lone. Let’s not always shout and sing this odd song of SPLM is A today, tomorrow is B, next tomorrow will be C and last time it was O. No its not SPLM but ABCD……………………..Z
    Come on my dear Southerners the game is over

    09th January 2011 oyee
    South Sudan oyee
    People who love South Sudan oyee

    Reply
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