NEC rejects calls by Carter Center for a slight delay in Sudan elections
March 19, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudan National Elections Committee (NEC) denied any intention to move up the elections in line with an advice from a US based polls watchdog.
“Logistical preparations are straining the limited capacity of the NEC,” the Carter Center said in a public statement. “With a series of delays and changes in polling procedures, a minor delay in polling for operational purposes may be required.”
The Carter Center said “it is increasingly unclear if the NEC can deliver a successful election on time,” citing limited NEC and UN transportation capacity, the massive volume of materials to be deployed, the re-packaging of materials necessitated by changes in the planned number of polling stations, voters per polling station, and delays in ballots production
But Abu-Bakr Waziri a media adviser to the NEC told the pro-government Al-Rayaam newspaper that the newly printed ballots have arrived and on their way to the polling stations.
Waziri said that 31 ton of voting slips arrived at the NEC storage houses in Khartoum and will be distributed in Northern states immediately with tight security. He pointed out that second batch will head to Juba on Friday to be transported to most of Southern states.
The Center’s statement urged the NEC to make a decision as quickly as possible about any delay in the election date “so that all stakeholders have time to adjust plans.” Given the onset of the rainy season in Darfur and South Sudan in the months after the April 11 polling date, however, only a minor delay may be possible or advisable.
Opposition parties are widely expected to formally call for moving the elections date till next November citing lack of conducive environment though it is not clear which parties specifically will sign up for this.
They further accused the electoral commission of bias and protested a last minute change in executive posts ballot printing contracts from a Slovenian company to a Sudanese one in a print-house owned by the ruling National Congress party.
The Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) which signed an agreement last month with Khartoum have been pushing for a delay but the government said it is up to the NEC to make that call.
(ST)
Gatwech
NEC rejects calls by Carter Center for a slight delay in Sudan elections
NEC of Abel Alier (Bashir’s stooge) cannot accept this recommendation from the well respected Carter Center unless Bashir accepts it first.
What Bashir wants is to abort the elections in the South like the population census. Stations are rare and voting materials will NEVER be enough in the South. This is exactly the repeat of 2008 population census. So Yasser Arman will not dream of getting the votes. Bashir will also instruct LRA and Messeiriya to hit hard at SPLM strong holds during elections so that voters are scared from walking long distances to such rare voting stations.
Bashir wants elections by all means because he is in desperate need for legitimacy to show to the face of ICC.
Unfortunately the South will only reap violence which will result to the delay of referendum for very long time as such current harrassments may result to more chaos.
I recommend that the elections be indefinitely delayed (postponed) until after the referendum is conducted in January 2011.
Oduck Bol
NEC rejects calls by Carter Center for a slight delay in Sudan elections
We now some countries on this world need south Sudan to be unit with north because of their own interests while nations of south are saffering under Arab clture.
We do not need more than being left alone. We will pay any price to be independent state.
ARM
NEC rejects calls by Carter Center for a slight delay in Sudan elections
I find it astonishing how the management of these elections is being vested in an incompetent body like NEC. What is even more surprising is the fact that NEC does not see that and continues to steamroll ahead and insist the elections be according to schedule. They do not seem to care what kind of elections we have – as long as we just have elections and both NEC and UN can say the job was done. But I don’t really blame NEC as much as I blame our political parties in opposition and the UN. The UN has failed to learn from its failures elsewhere – Cambodia, Angola, Sierra Leone and Rwanda. Hastily constructing frail institutions such as NEC and asking them to manage one of the most complicated and controversial elections that Sudan has ever embarked upon is reckless and irresponsible. Whilst our political leaders play politics and fail to mobilze towards a joint vision or future for the country. Sad and Disappointing.
Kuany Dak
NEC rejects calls by Carter Center for a slight delay in Sudan elections
Gatwech,
April election must go ahead without postponment, or even sigle day delay. It will not affect our people in the south by all means, it is good that we embark on the CPA implementation. With no precondition, carter center is right to what they see fit, but it does not matter, citizens of sudan have a final say on their rights.
I think, I would not advocate of any delay of April or referendum vote in south sudan in January 2011. We do not know what will come next,but we do know what we are in control at this moment.