UDF says determined to take part in the forthcoming elections
By Ngor Arol Garang
August 9, 2009 (KADUGLI) – The leader of a Southern based political party, on Sunday said his party is prepared and determined to take part in the upcoming Sudanese general elections though it denied registration for its support to Southern Sudan independence.
The party has already sent out political strategic campaign teams to the ten southern states to sell our plans to the southern populace, said the leader of United Democratic Front (UDF), Peter Abdel-Rahman Sule.
Speaking by phone from Juba, the leader went further to add that members of his party who went to greater Bahr El-Ghazal States have returned, adding that the visit of his campaign team to all four states of the region was successful and left resident campaigners and mobilization efforts in progress.
Asked whether he is aware of low turnout in the state of Northern Bahr El Ghazal to welcome members of his party during their visit, he said, “Yes, yes, I am aware, but the low turnout of the local population particularly party supporters there cannot be blamed on local party leaders because most of them were on farms busy planting crops.”
“We support farming as it is from the farm that our supporters generate cash to finance activities of their party in all the states,” he added.
Sule said that as UDF, we do not expect changes come from anywhere but peasants and pastoralists who constitutes most parts of Sudan.
Asked what other challenges the team experienced in the state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, he said there were myriad of problems not challenges during their campaign.
In Aweil, it was low turnout of supporters because the visit of UDF team coincided with the planting period, he said.
However, “in Warrap security personnel ordered the party members to end their campaign.” He complained. He also pointed out logistical problems. Local authorities did not also cooperate with the team in assisting them with transport within the region, he said.
“There were rains which also affected movement of the team by vehicles to rural towns whenever they were provided with mobility,” he adds.
“These among others were the few things the team has experienced but cannot stop our determination from taking part in the upcoming elections,” he stressed.
The Political Parties Affairs Council accepted the registration of the United Democratic Front (UDF) on March 26, provided that it replaces the words “separation of South Sudan” in the party statute with “right of self-determination for southern Sudan,” according to the published text of the council’s decision
But the UDF says the word ‘separation’ is not in the party’s constitution, “what is in the constitution ‘is independence’ for the people of South Sudan.”
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Apalo Mana
UDF says determined to take part in the forthcoming elections
The time has come for the Southreners to compete for each other.And this is what evrybody was aware of it.Look if we saying why not me or why that person is going to stand for general elections then we will form planty parties in the south Sudan then what will be the result of the general elections loose.So leaders you should united and form one big party so that we can pass and succeed win of the elections, do not let the Northern parties diceive you becuase now they look like un-united but they are not,these people look like stuipt but they are clever.they have secret in the mosques when praying.So Mr Peter stop your determined of your dicission because we are not like to loose and go back to the bush again that’s enough.
Oduck Bol
UDF says determined to take part in the forthcoming elections
Good move from UDF party.This is democracy way. Tell nations of south what your party will do for them. Then they will chose their leader instead of communist way.