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.

The Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) has no objection to proceed with conducting the fifth Sudan National Population and Housing Census on April 22 2008, provided that concerns raised by GoSS council of ministers to the Sudanese presidency are addressed, minister of Information and Broadcasting said.

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)