Sudan slams US skepticism over conducting credible elections in 2010
November 28, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government responded angrily to a statement by the US administration which expressed doubts that the April 2010 elections could be held in a credible manner hinting that it should be delayed.
“In Khartoum, the two parties to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)—the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM)—continue their discussions to resolve key outstanding issues relating to the 2010 national elections and the 2011 referenda in Southern Sudan and Abyei. Unfortunately, the parties have not yet demonstrated the political will necessary to achieve resolution on these difficult and sensitive issues”.
In the past the US has been adamant about conducting elections on time despite signs that this may not be possible in light of political disagreement and long standing objections by opposition parties that the NCP is restricting free press and political campaigning with wide powers granted to the security bureau including those relating to arresting individuals.
The Sudanese foreign ministry spokesperson Muawiya Osman Khalid described the US position as “sabotage with a goal of achieving special agenda” adding that the number of registered voters surpassed 10 million which he described as a “good figure”.
Khalid noted that the border demarcation between North and South “is a long technical process” stressing that the committees are carrying out their duties in “coordinated and coherent steps”.
The Sudanese official called on the international community “to ignore the voices which seeks to doubt the elections” and the support the democratic transformation process and encourage the political parties “to carry out their role towards its members”.
This week in Khartoum the US special envoy to Sudan Scott Gration said that he is “pleased to see that Sudan is entering into the registration period that things are proceeding, and we look forward to a good election in April”.
The change in US position could indicate failure by Gration to make the NCP or SPLM reach a middle ground on last year’s census results used to determine geographical constituencies which the ex-southern rebel group views as objectionable because it claims to understate the population of Southerners. There is also a dispute of the draft national security bill as well as the referendum law.
The negotiations between the NCP and SPLM on elections and referendum have been dragging on for months which could jeopardize the timing of holding both processes. The elections have so far been moved up 3 times.
The SPLM categorically rejects any delay in rescheduling the 2011 referendum amid regional concern that the South may resort to unilateral declaration of independence.
The Sudanese political parties including the SPLM are scheduled to meet in the coming weeks to determine whether they will take part in the elections which they alleged to be marred with widespread fraud.
The Islamist opposition leader Hassan Al-Turabi said any boycott decision has to be made by a coalition of parties and that it is useless for one single party to make such a move unilaterally.
(ST)
Gatwech
Sudan slams US skepticism over conducting credible elections in 2010
Readers,
This issue is very serious. And I can first blame South Sudan government for being built on a corrupt and weak foundation. If you have a father who is a thief, it more likely that most of the children can become thieves. This so-called GOSS is built on useless foundation by useless ruling clique.
I wish the independence South after 2011 will start with a new radical chapter of strong foundation to shame the present GOSS. We can start by arresting all the thieves who have looted GOSS money whether they have run to China, India, America, Australia, Britain and all the continents including in our neighbouring countries. It can be coordinated with authorities in those countries! It has to be a radical change to do away with these shameful foundation of six years interim period.
The of sale voter registration slips has now become a very big business used by our traditional corrupt minded people in the South. They go and repeatedly register in several registration centers and get many slips and sell them. This is because registration is done without any ID being shown. You register with one name here and register there with a different fake name ten times. It has become like grain business or money exchange in the markets.
These GOSS traditional thieves should not get surprised because it is said “like father like son.” Every where you hear people asking ’Mony’ indi slip hana der biewu bara.
The elections registration is misunderstood by these thieves offsprings and has turned into another corruption booming business. People sell their rights for the sake of money. They have looted the public money for 5 years and not yet enough. They are now selling their rights. Shame!
johnmaker
Sudan slams US skepticism over conducting credible elections in 2010
That is the kind of moved all sudanese people need.The govt in khartoum is nothing but terroristically impunity political mediocacy.First and foremost, this khartoum govt will change it atitude unless being pressuries.
And that why US should be more involved and scrutinized first the kind people they send to such very evil zone.
I am not completely supporting Mr Gration’s moved toward every discusion took place between Ncp and SPLM.So Obama adminstration should enggaged to every step made by so called NCP in khartoum.
The ncp now are moblized foodies parties to deem the future of the south sudan.The letter issued by US is too late.The would have involved long time rather then right now.
Rodolfo Riak
Sudan slams US skepticism over conducting credible elections in 2010
Future will talk:
We all knows there will be no free and fare, or even no election next year. Khartoum regime always in favour of hypocrisy, something other nations don’t like. failure to maintain the CPA is going to be the political whamy for NCP. No one will stand with NCP agenda of sabotaging the peaceful political process. The future will talk and NCP will paid the bill of their arrogant.
Samson Shawel Ambaye
Sudan slams US skepticism over conducting credible elections in 2010
God be with US. It is unimaginable to expect fair and free election in 2010.
Time1
Sudan slams US skepticism over conducting credible elections in 2010
This Election is a public relation compaign by the NCP to clean its dirty face in the international community.
There is no democratic elections at all, there is no freedom of press , there is no freedom for opposition to campign without intimidation or arrests, there is no transparency in the way the lection commission is working, some parties have been ban from registering, votes registration slips are being bought and sold everywhere, many people have been denied registration claming they do not have valid IDs, Sudanese abroad only a few number of them have actually registered, the national media is baised and pro-NCP, security bill not passed so they are still detaining anyone who oppose NCP, also there are reports of rigging by NCP, they only register people in the area with big NCP followers and ignore other area with no NCP followers.
Everybody knows that Omer Bashir is already president even before he wins these rigged elections.
This is a dead election before it start, but it is good to try, lets get the elections going andhope things will be better.
Mayom Biar
Sudan slams US skepticism over conducting credible elections in 2010
Though the general election exercise seem to be diffiuclt yet the SPLM will still preasures the NCP to except they conduction,