South Sudan Youth Forum for Referendum rejects unity

November 14, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The South Sudan Youth Forum for Referendum on Sunday rejected voting for unity in the south’s self determination referendum in January.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune from the regional capital of Juba on Sunday, Benjamin Bol Mel, chairperson of the South Sudan Youth Forum for Referendum said voter registration, which begins on Monday 15 Nov. will mark an importance era in the history of south Sudan. He said that the region had never enjoyed peace and development.

“Our people will on Monday start voter registration. This will be the start of important era in their history. It will be the important day because it will be the day on which they will register for the forthcoming vote on the self determination for them,” said Mel.

Mel said south Sudanese who will have an opportunity to register for the forthcoming vote should ensure they vote for separation on polling day.

“Our people have seen us calling and holding rallies to enlighten them on the importance of separation option. They have been attending in big numbers and this is the time to translate their commitments by turning out for registration and vote without waiving .This is because we have living experiences from unity. The unity has killed many of our people and displaced many others to different parts of the world. This is why we reject it because we have tried it twice. Our people must, therefore, register and vote for separation,” explained Mel.

SSYFR is a body composed of senior government officials and members of southern political parties that conduct regular processions across the region against voting for unity.

Mel, whose staff members organized a procession against unity on Tuesday 9 November in Aweil town, capital of northern Bahr el Ghazal State, said that secession from the north was “imminent” going by the numbers who attend the pro-separation rallies in the south.

“Such high turning out shows that referendum for our people means freedom and access to equal rights without considering certain circles or cliques being more equal than the others as repeatedly appears to be the case with successive Khartoum based governments,” he said.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune from Aweil town, Bona Makuac Mawien, minister of information and communications said the gathering on Tuesday was the largest he had witnessed in the town.

“It was every big rally as civil society organizations in coordination with churches, schools and community activists marched through corridors of Aweil town campaigning for the independence of southern Sudan before congregating at freedom square where by Governor and other high level profiles,” Mawien said.

South Sudan is widely expected to vote for separation in the referendum which was agreed as part of a 2005 north-south peace deal.

Delays to voter registration and other preparations for the vote have increased tension ahead of the poll. Talks to agree on future relations between the two regions in case of either unity or separation have so far failed.

(ST)