US impressed by successful southern Sudan voter registration completion
December 9, 2010 (JUBA) – The Consul General for the United States, Barrie Walkley, expressed gratitude today for successful conclusion of voter registration for Southern Sudan’s self determination referendum by describing the step as ‘unbelievable’.
However, the Consul General admitted that he had doubts that the registration process would take place.
“I did not believe the registration was going to happen [until it started],” said Walkley when asked to comment on the exercise that concluded on Wednesday December 8.
The referendum vote is to decide whether southern Sudan remains as part of Sudan break away to form its own country in accordance with 2005 peace accord signed by former Southern rebels and Khartoum government represented by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and National Congress party (NCP) respectively. Southerners are likely to vote for become African’s newest nation according to most observer.
The south has fought two bitter civil wars against Khartoum governments since independence. Two million people were killed in the most recent conflict, which lasted over two decades.
With less than a month until voting begins time is tight. Ballot papers are not printed and discussions on contentious issues have still not resolved despite a meeting of the tripartite Sudanese presidency, which includes the President of the Southern Sudan.
The US Consul, who has in a number of African countries including South Africa and Guinea, said the scheduled date for the referendum January 9th, 2011 is still valid.
“The timeline is considerably compressed” but the determination of Southern Sudan Referendum Commission, the body charged to oversee the independence vote, voting can still go –on as scheduled, he added.
Addressing the journalists receiving training from VOA, Walkley said the that radio is the most important public medium in Africa.
“You [journalists] should take a responsibility of telling and knowing the trust,” he said adding, “you are the eyes and ears of the people.”
(ST)
Anyang
US impressed by successful southern Sudan voter registration completion
YES! Mr Consul General, they people of Southern Sudan are determine to sees their dream comes true.
LongTweng
US impressed by successful southern Sudan voter registration completion
If I’m to vote, I must registered.
If I have registered, I must vote
Now that I have registered to vote, I will be voting.
My vote counts whatsoever the position it count!
Come vote all, comes JAN92011.
Longtweng Kene
Young Nation
US impressed by successful southern Sudan voter registration completion
Dear United States,
Impressive expression to the people of Southern Sudan is not not enough as Bashir and his NCP spend unformfortable times and sleepless nights meditating to bulldoze the whole process of referendum implimentation. What they need is pressure and deployment of UN troops on North/South hotspots.
Young Nation is a BA student at the University of Queensland, Australia
Peter Nhiany
US impressed by successful southern Sudan voter registration completion
I want to thank Mr. Walkley for expressing his positive reaction on the referendum registration process.
South Sudanese are very peace people, and their ability to live peaceful is always underminded by the ruthless government based in Khartoum. Khartoum does not want the South to be a better place despite the fact that it has numerous natural resources.
Today, we South Sudanese are determined to choose our destiny that one, and I say no one has right to interfer with it.
This is a turn around moment, a moment of giving what is belong to the owner, and I mean giving us the South Sudanese our fundamental right(freedom). It is not upto Khartoum to decide our fate.
It is upto us to do so. Mr. Walkley, US consul, you have heard and read about what Khartoum is doing in Northern and Western Bar-El-Gal Southern States.
It is a behavior that would have destracted the registration process, and it is an act of inciting war.
Mr. Walkley, we are not for war at this time, and you present in South Sudan is to represent the great country; the United States of America.
Please you should advice Mr. President Obama administration on what is going on South north Sudan border. Antnove is dropping bombs on regular basis. This is unacceptable.
If Khartoum does not halt its aerial compaign, therefore, the referendum process will not be peaceful and the future of South Sudan is underminded. Please pressure Khartoum to implement the remaining aspect of CPA.
And thank you.
Peter Nhiany.