SPLM “unlikely” to boycott the elections – Machar

By James Gatdet Dak

March 31, 2010 (JUBA) – The Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan and SPLM deputy chairperson, Dr. Riek Machar Teny today (Wednesday) said it is “unlikely” that the SPLM will boycott the April elections in Sudan.

Dr. Machar who led a high level party team for the last four days in Khartoum, on his return from the national capital today, said he discussed with the parties concerned issues that were raised by the opposition parties that requested for the postponement of the elections.

He said the request to postpone the elections came from opposition parties, but the SPLM had to listen to any issues that would make the conduct of elections free and fair, saying his team got answers based on their consultative meetings with various parties including the National Elections Commission (NEC).

He said he had come back to Juba to brief the chairman, Salva Kiir Mayardit, and for the SPLM Political Bureau to discuss the outcome of the Khartoum consultations.

Machar who was also accompanied by Yasir Arman, presidential candidate, Deng Alor Kuol, Foreign Minister and Dr. Luka Biong Deng, minister of GoSS Presidential Affairs, said the elections are assumed to be ongoing until the Presidency says otherwise.

“The elections are on. Since the Presidency has not met to say otherwise, the elections are on. No body has said the elections are off,” he told a group of journalists at Juba Airport.

He said his party was intervening to dialogue with both the NCP and the opposition forces to find a solution that would address the concerns raised to the Presidency by the opposition parties.

Dr. Machar added the party is going to hold an extraordinary meeting today to come out with a decision on the fate of the elections.

Machar is expected to travel back to Khartoum this evening after the meeting of the Political Bureau.

(ST)