Lakes State: Contractors protest delay in payment for election Jobs
April 28, 2010 (RUMBEK) – Over 2500 poll workers staged a protest in the capital of the Lakes State over the delay of payment by the state higher electoral committee.
Samuel Machar Riak, a member of state high election committee in Rumbek said that the issue is about payment of poll officers who worked with the electoral body during the polling and counting days.
“There are some 2730 poll workers; the money did not arrive on time. On 22/4/2010, they came to our office, and attempted to storm the office and they even wanted to suspend all work we were doing,” said Samuel.
He further said the protesters demand demanding immediate payment of remaining ten days, but the regional committee failed to pay them due to delay of money transfer from Khartoum.
He also said that “now poll workers take law into their own hands and this make everything difficult for us to access bank to pay them since we are hostages”.
Lakes state caretaker governor Telar Ring Deng, was stopped by over 2,730 polling staffs officers who were protesting against state election committee in Rumbek at palm-tree hotel. However, Telar ensured the team leader of Rumbek committee that if the commission fails to pay money by Friday to protesters, then he will not be responsible of protection of the state committee.
“I put a rope to my neck today, all protesters must contact me directly and not the NEC office here in Rumbek and I have to contact NEC both in Khartoum and in Rumbek, if there is any further delay in money transfer, then I will be the first hostage of protesters before NEC head here in Rumbek, who will be the second hostage.”
Money transfer usually take time from the Bank of Sudan in Khartoum to Juba and then to Kenyan Commercial Bank (KCB) branch in Rumbek.
“We are in contact with Khartoum and now people take law into their own hand. We are locked inside offices and we cannot move and this money will not come if we are not allowed to move,” said Machar.
Machar appealed on protesters to be patient and understand the situation saying that “we are using a foreign bank. People are accusing NEC and this accusation is unfair”.
The National Election Commission (NEC) has seriously been criticized by both politicians and civilians over falling short to provide a full logistical support to various polling centers and civil voter education.
(ST)
Bill Dhieu Manyang
Lakes State: Contractors protest delay in payment for election Jobs
Dear Manyang,
This is sad that NEC are now unable to pay the poor nationals who sacrificed much of their lives in a very horrible situation to do what its take to conclude the election.
This is the right time that governor elect H.E Eng. Chol tong should step in to make sure that these people are paid on time.
Peter Nhiany
Lakes State: Contractors protest delay in payment for election Jobs
Something is going on wrong with NEC officials in Lakes State. Why would they delay those amazing workers’ salary? This is a big shame on NEC.
Raising nonsense reason to be the cause of the delay of the Salaries. I don’t believe what they are giving as an excuse is not not a vilad reason. Other electoral employees got their incentives, why is it that Lake State’s got their delay.
Come on; stop playing those kind of foolish tricks money game that we all know. I do not blame the protesters at all for their action, but I would ask them to protest peaceful, and even press charges on those who are in charge of their salaries. I hope good results come out on Friday.
Peter Nhiany.