Relieve commissioners too, Southern Sudan oppositions argue
By Philip Thon Aleu
February 11, 2010 (BOR) – Constitutional post holders contesting in
April elections in South Sudan, including state governors, are due to
resign on Friday February 12, 2010 but County Commissioners will not.
Opposition parties want them to relinquish powers too before campaigns
starts on Saturday February 13.
During the Wednesday UNMIS civil affairs and UNDP assisted a political
parties roundtable, in Bor, representatives of the opposition parties
say that County Commissioner in Jonglei state, and indeed south Sudan,
are the chairpersons of the ruling party; the Sudan People’s
Liberation Movement (SPLM) at the local level and may indirectly use
their powers to favor their candidates.
County Commissioners are nominated by State Governor who is
chairperson of SPLM State secretariat. Nine southern Sudan states are
being run by SPLM governors except Upper Nile.
“[County] commissioners are very aggressive to SPLM opponents and for
peaceful elections, they should also be relieved,” said William
Gatjaith of United Democratic Front (UDF) told the workshop on
Wednesday at Freedom Hotel, Bor. Other political parties rather than
the SPLM, supported the issue of relieving commissioners with Sudan
African National Union (SANU) representative at working citing
incident allegedly committed in Fangak County “when the Commissioner
called soldiers to tie-up” SPLM rivals during voter registration
exercise last year. Sudan Tribune can not independently verify claims
that Fangak commissioner ordered opposition crackdown then.
The request to replace the local leaders with interim authorities was
not responded to in the meeting. Sudan Tribune contacted National
Election Commission senior member Dr. Mum Kou Nhial who is an expert
on election processes. Dr. Mum says the NEC is employing Constituency
Electoral Officers (CEOs) in all corners of the State who will help to
check on the behaviors of political rivals. He added that
commissioners will not be involved in the organization of the
campaigns.
State governors will resign on Friday February 12 handing-over powers
to caretaker governors. NEC says all government assets such as
officials vehicles and will not be used during the campaigns “to
ensure that opponents [who are not in public offices] are not
disadvantaged”.
(ST)
Dinka Boy
Relieve commissioners too, Southern Sudan oppositions argue
State governors resign in feburay and hang over the the power to who? wow!
There is element of peace in this election in the South.
James John
Relieve commissioners too, Southern Sudan oppositions argue
Very nice to hear that no one will use government assets such as officials vehicles and will not be used during the campaigns but, is this all apply to everyone or Just.
babadit
Relieve commissioners too, Southern Sudan oppositions argue
This is the time, but i belief some governors in other State in the south will continue to gov’t asets and funds for their campaigns.
this will spoil the future of the rest of the years, and all commissiners are infact had to live offices too
Kur
Relieve commissioners too, Southern Sudan oppositions argue
So we have to send everybody home and leave the official duties of the state unattended because somebody doubts that the local leaders are going to be impartial in election? I does not make sense. Please we do not want disorder to prevail during the election.