Sudan’s elections board reviewing opposition protest memo
March 7, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The National Election Commission (NEC) announced that it has started reviewing a memorandum of protest submitted to it by opposition parties regarding reforming the rules set by the commission on the campaigning.
The parties say that new rules published by the NEC meant that they have to give 72 hours notice for rallies held inside their own party premises — and had to ask police for permission to meet outside.
Furthermore, they accuse the NEC of switching the process of printing voting slips from abroad to presses inside Sudan — a move they would lead to duplicate papers and ballot box stuffing.
“It seems the National Elections Commission is working very closely with the National Congress and is issuing circulars that infringe on the rights of political parties,” said Yasir Arman, presidential candidate for the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM), which joined a troubled coalition government with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) after the 2005 accord.
The NEC Deputy Chairman and spokesperson Abdallah Ahmed Abdallah said Sunday in a press statement that the NEC held its first meeting to review the opposition parties memorandum prior to responding to it.
Abdallah dismissed the deadline set by the opposition parties to respond saying that the NEC is not concerned with the ultimatum saying they will reply as soon as possible.
The NCP criticized the step taken by the Sudanese opposition parties saying they are seeking to find a way out of taking part in the April elections adding that they have no right to question the NEC impartiality.
(ST)