Sudanese turn-up for SPLM Chapter elections in Canada
By Mading Ngor
Nov 28, 2006 (CALGARY) — Hundreds of South Sudanese assembled at a hall on Sunday 25 November to elect the chairman of the SPLM Chapter and its various branches in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The elections started off with a prayer by one of the South Sudanese pastors Daniel Bishop.
The host of the event Michael Marror Liech, also the Interim chairman of the Chapter and the Election Committee welcomed the voters.
“Never for the past ten years have we been under one umbrella”, he said amidst applause. “Based on the overwhelming attendance, it means that we are serious”, he added.
The candidates were seated parallel from one another; some sat on the right as others were seated on the left while they face the voters.
Many of the attendees were chanting “SPLM oyee, New Sudan oyee” throughout the whole process.
Just before the SPLM representative in Canada, Mr. Peter Both came forward to speak; a singer came along and broke to the Sudanese community one of the revolutionary songs of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA).
He began: “ya jamaa junub mabekoff yom shakala.” To which the would be voters responded “naam, naam aniina rujal, shalla ne mut malu!”
At this point there was a long and loud applause in the crowd and ululations from women followed suit.
Peter Both hailed the spirit of unity shown by the Sudanese in Calgary. He urged them to continue to work together with the movement and reminded them of the SPLM led Government of South Sudan (GoSS)’s seriousness in safeguarding the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in January 9 th, 2005 in Naivasha, Kenya.
The election chairman Michael Marror called upon the candidates one by one to share their agendas with everyone else. He has a unique way of introducing them to the voters.
“Let the candidates speak to you, let them lie to you, and they will be judged by their actions”, he said with a smile as he looks directly at the crowd.
And turning to the contestants he told them if you don’t say something sweet to a girl, she is not going to get married on to you.
Each candidate was given at least 3 minutes to state why he was running. It was now their turn to talk.
“When you see me, make sure you see the unity”
“For two years nobody competed with me because I am doing a good job”, said Peter Dut Ngor Aher who was running for the finance office, as the audience laughed cheerfully.
His challenger, Ador Deng amused the voters when he said “Thank you for voting for me; thank you because I know you already voted for me”.
In a fierce battle for the control of the SPLM Chapter’s chairmanship in Calgary Stephen Yang said his main agenda for running was to maintain the unity between South Sudanese.
He charmed the voters with his phrase “If you see me, make sure you see the unity.”
On the other hand, one of his opponents Angelo Kon promised to help out those students who were borrowing loans from the Government of Canada to finance their education once elected.
(The New Sudan Vision)