Slow voter registration process continues in Lakes State
By Manyang Mayom
November 5, 2009 (RUMBEK) – Slow voter registration continues in Lakes state as local communities are suspecting that they will be taxed by government if their families get registered.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) during the war period, collected food and stuff from civilian across Southern Sudan through local registration of chiefdoms. Bulls and tins of grain were required from each local chief, also men were recruited to join the rebel army though chiefdom records.
People are not aware of the significance of the voter registration, said a member of the electoral process who declined to be identified. “This community has not being aware about registration process; they assumed that they are going to be taxed” he said.
He also noted that registration teams have no transport or other commodities to facilitate the accomplishment of their duties. He also highlighted the absence of mobile teams to reach isolated population.
Mamer Maker, local resident of Matangai “said that Radio is not enough to carry out awareness campaign about election registrations activities in this state. He suggested to hold information meetings or other form of direct contact with the population.
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He also said it would be difficult to determine the requirement of 18 years old, as minimum age to participate in the elections. “Because our community determine age through event that happened before child was born; people are now guessing age.”
Furthermore, National Congress Party (NCP) objects the dominant position of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement of (SPLM) the registration process in Lakes state.
However the SPLM in Lakes state downplays the NCP blame that SPLM agents dominated the registration centers in Lakes state. The SPLM says it assigned some 58 members to monitor the registration centers.
Rumbek Central County SPLM secretary Abraham Mayen Kuc warned that any registration carried out by others political parties apart from registration of National election commission (NEC) in the area, should be seen as illegal and the authors must to be held accountable.
(ST)
Lado
Slow voter registration process continues in Lakes State
Listen to this:
A Nuer was in an airplane. Other passengers got drinks in cups with uniform color. The Nuer got his in a different color by chance. The Nuer lashed at the hostess: “Am I not equal to others that you gave me a different cup? Take it away. I do not want to drink”. One passenger volunteered to exchange cups. The problem was solved. The Nuer was satisfied that his “dignity and equality” was restored. He did not care about how people thought of him. He cared about the end result. Anyway, that was the Nuer equality at its best anywhere at anytime. What remains to be seen is whether all the Nuer will ride a car and live in a house like that of Salva Kiir in order to be equal. In Gambella the Nuer said they wanted a Nuer president in the same office with the Anyuak president in order to be equal. It seems like a joking matter but it is serious for the Nuer.
Time1
Slow voter registration process continues in Lakes State
The electiosn has already been rigged by NCP, they have marginalized and excluded many southerners fromt he elections, therefore it is not free and fair.
Lakes state prepare yourself for the Referendum, organise your people and register then all for referendum, do not wait for this fake NCP election commissioners with Arab stamp in their buttocks.
Time1
Slow voter registration process continues in Lakes State
Also what is the job of the government of each state in southsudan, the SPLM cadets, what are they doing?> sleeping? Is this time for sleeping? this is their jobs to go from house to house to enlighjtent he people and to carry out workshops about referendum in every neighborhood and every village. Being lazy will really make you loose your rights as human being. Lakes states authorities have to wake up and work properly for this registrations especially for referendum. This things cannot be achieved if people do not work hard for it.
Time1
Slow voter registration process continues in Lakes State
Where is the $20 million donated by USA and $million BY Japan and donations by EU and other millions donated by others countries plus the government of SUdan money, all this money was meant to help with logistics, to organize and champaign for elections.
Where did all this money go? has been money been properlyu used to reach the people on the ground? What happen to the UN claiming they are helping the elections with logistics and other important support?
All lies and lies going around and around, now the election is already dead before it started.
Jupiter Maguangdit
Slow voter registration process continues in Lakes State
Dear author,
Salva Kiir can not divide himself into many Salvas so as to cover all the ten states of the south talking to the people, this is impossible. The same thing to James Wani Igga, the man can not divide himself to carry out all the duties that the other SPLM members are expected to perform in their respective states, this is also impossible.
The issue is that SPLM members after getting salaries have isolated themselves from the masses forgetting that this is the time they should come nearer to the people and win their hearts and build confidence between them (SPLM Leaders) and the masses who suffered during the 21 years of war as you have mention in your article, quote: “The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) during the war period, collected food and stuff from civilian across Southern Sudan through local registration of chiefdoms. Bulls and tins of grain were required from each local chief, also men were recruited to join the rebel army though chiefdom records.”
Unquote: the four years of the CPA should have been the years of political activity not the years of sitting in the Bars drinking beer and say ‘you see we will fight them this time till they finish’. That is a big lie; you can not always rely on the army while sitting in public office, misuse public resources for personal benefit and assume that you are the commander of that army. You will see one day that this army will turn against you and snatch power from your corrupt hands.
In conclusion, Comrade Salva Kiir should make use of those indications and immediately issue presidential orders relieving any governor, commissioner or an SPLM member who fails to carry out his/her duties in regard to voter registration so that what happened during census should not repeat itself this time in the south.