South Sudan says results of next week census are questionable
By Isaac Vuni
April 16, 2008 (JUBA) — Southern Sudan government gave a reluctant green light to conduct the fifth census next Tuesday. However it underscored that due to the incomplete preparedness, the process should not serve to determine wealth or power sharing.
Gabriel Changson Chang pointed out that GoSS which is still under incomplete status of preparedness, would therefore reserves the right to have an opinion on the general outcome of the census results; if the issues raised are not addressed by the presidency and permit the census to go ahead.
Addressing press conference at southern Sudan assembly building today in Juba, minister Chang said in order to achieve the desired objectives of the fifth Sudan National Population and Housing Census, the institution of Sudan presidency may have to extend the deferment period or extend the counting period in Southern Sudan.
He said the deferred period of seven days would not be enough to address those vital concerns presented on behalf of the people of southern Sudan to Sudan presidency by southern Sudan council of ministers.
“GoSS will have no objection to the census going ahead but can these issues be resolved within seven days?” He said. “I think it will be very difficult if not impossible.”
Despite the fact that GoSS president is party to the presidency in Khartoum, the people of Southern Sudan have the right to hold an opinion on the result of the census if their expressed concerns are not met within the seven days.
Besides, “We are still holding on that ethnicity and religious be included on the forms in order to dispute claim that Sudan is an Arab country and an Islamic state”. Its high time such assumption proven by figures, underlines GoSS spokesperson.
Otherwise, “the decision of the presidency should have been first conveyed to GoSS council of ministers before declaring it publicly,” he observed.
Chang refuted allegation that government of national unity had already sent census money and it was misused by Juba government. “On contrary GoSS released its fund to start the census campaign process as the central government in Khartoum was deliberately delaying funding and that such allegations are debatable in roundtable of the two commissions of census northern and southern sector.”
The cabinet of southern Sudan, during an extraordinary meeting yesterday April 15, 2008, came out with the following resolutions:
– Funds for security arrangements must be availed in order to secure the process of population and housing census throughout Southern Sudan.
– The repatriation of the Internally Displaced and refugees to Southern Sudan be expedited and intensified.
– Forms and census questionnaires delivered to most areas in Southern Sudan are inadequate and in most cases in language that is not used in the particular area; for instance Arabic questionnaires are send to greater Equatoria were majority speak and write better in English and vice versa for greater Upper Nile .
Those vital discrepancies mentioned above must be address or removes so that people of southern Sudan have smooth exercise of fifth Sudan national population and housing census.
He also emphasizes that Sudan national census result should not be used for border demarcation or allocation of resources if southern Sudan demands are not fully addressed by the presidency in Khartoum.
Minister said that GoSS was to receive 400 vehicles but only 110 were received hence inadequate mobility and logistics facilities in almost all the areas of Southern Sudan if not addressed within the seven days will negatively impact on the success of the census process, said Chang.
That GoSS commission for Census had submitted to the government of national unity a budget proposal of six million for provision of security and logistic but Khartoum distanced itself from funding and instead wants GoSS to shoulder such funding yet the entire census process is within the competency of the government of national unity.
He said insecurity was instigated and sponsored by those enemies who do not want to see people of southern Sudan to live in peace.
On Friday April 11, government of southern Sudan passed a resolution differing conducting census for the later date. On Sunday April13, the national cabinet met and urged GoSS to re-consider it decision and refer the issues to the presidency who met and discussed the resolutions of Goss council of minister and concurred with the concern raised and deferred the fifth Sudan national population and housing census from 15th to 22nd April 2008.
(ST)
John Garang alias Johnsalt
South Sudan says results of next week census are questionable
Congrat mr. Changson it is a sign of complicity to comply with unjust rules and/or means of doing things. we cant right two wrongs to give a positive answer. |Even in the United States and other western countries, where religion and race are almost history pleasntries, there are reservation for them in the censuses….Leave alone sudan where unjustified claimed have been advance about it rightful region; in the arab world or the african world…Remember my fellow sudanese, and our limelight in the emancipation of our historical injustices; our lives begin to end when we become silence about things that matter. Keep up Hon. Changson, our blessings are with you….Aluta continua. Census was already abrogated when it failed it test of within the first two years -from july,2005 to july 2007!!
Shuggar
South Sudan says results of next week census are questionable
Bravo Mr. Chang, you are the true son of Sudan. No census till all pending questions are resolved. Please, Mr Gobriel defuse the big fuss Omar Al Bashir and his aides are doing. They have everybody in the north – where no grievances are occurring to their people – ready and poised to the census yet, they are started buying those with no conscience to draw the census in their favour for 2011 elections.
Moggapata Kenyi
South Sudan says results of next week census are questionable
Hon.Gabriel,rmember this Census is the turning point to 2011 election.And you are the hope of this generation.Never allow any unjustified political pressure to losse your vision.
Becsause it is better to have a dry piece of bread with a person whom you love than to have a banqued with alot of hatred.
The president of GOSS must know that curring out cunsus without solving the problem of rligiom and ethenicity is a big blow.That means he has learn nothing and forgetten nothing.
Moses Kur Akech
South Sudan says results of next week census are questionable
I think Changson is absolutely right to stress out that Southerners have the right to decisively voice out their concerns and be worked out comprehensively. The sensitive concerns (religion and ethnicity) brought up in this census are essential to the future and thus should not be neglected. I think there has to be consistency between president and the council of ministers before ultimate decision is taken.
Ethnicity and religion will determine whether Sudan belongs to Arabs or Africans.