US open to ‘brief delay’ in Sudan elections, SPLM still undecided on boycott
April 4, 2010 (WAHSINGTON) — The United States today appeared to be giving mixed signals regarding the timing and conduct of elections days after its special envoy Scott Gration said he is confident that it would “be as free and as fair as possible”.
“The United States is concerned by the troubling developments, including serious restrictions on political freedoms, which have led to the ongoing uncertainties” on the election, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said.
“It is important for the government of Sudan immediately to lift restrictions on political parties and civil society,” he told reporters during the daily press briefing in Washington today.
Sudan “must also ensure that all voters are able to participate in the election by improving conditions on the ground, including in Darfur and elsewhere, and by providing meaningful access polling places.”
Crowley’s remarks contrast rosy ones made by Gration who sought to avert the crisis brought about by threats of major political parties to boycott the elections. The opposition has demanded a postponement and reform to the electoral process.
Last week after a metting with National Election Commission (NEC) officials Gration said that the board ” have gone to great lengths to ensure that the people of Sudan will have access to polling places and that the procedures and processes will ensure transparency”.
The NEC today affirmed its position on holding the elections as planned.
“The National Elections Commission is working to have the elections on the dates we specified on April 11, 12, 13,” deputy head of the NEC, Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, told reporters after with Gration.
“The NEC confirmed to Gration that it had completed all the necessary procedures to have the elections on the specified dates,” he added.
The US however today suggested it is open to a slight delay in opening the polls and voiced opposition to a “lengthy delay”.
“We recognize that there may well be a need for a brief delay. But that needs to be something that is done so that Sudan can make the kind of improvements and address the legitimate concerns that the parties have about where we are in the election process. But we would certainly not favor a lengthy delay of any kind” the US state department spokesperson said.
A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to Agence France Presse(AFP), said a brief delay would mean no more than around a month.
The Umma Party led by Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi have said that Gration promised them to press the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on accepting the 1-month delay they requested as part of demands to return to the elections arena.
The NCP has strongly rejected any delay to the polls threatening Southerners to push back the 2011 referendum if the join the calls for postponement.
Yesterday, the Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir reiterated his threats to expel any foreign observers if they call for postponing elections.
“There is no chance to postpone the elections, even if one day…… any observer party requesting to delay the elections or interfere in our affairs….will not stay [another] 24 hours in the country” Bashir told a rally in Al-Jazeera state in central Sudan.
“[Our government] before expelled the British ambassador and the Canadian ambassador and special envoy of the United Nations … Whoever tries to insult us we will cut off their neck and extend his tongue to abuse us we will cut off his tongue” he added.
SPLM BOYCOTT
Meanwhile, divergence of views within the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has emerged between the Northern Sector and the Political Bureau over whether or not to boycott the April elections in Northern Sudan.
Spearheaded by the withdrawn presidential candidate, Yasir Arman, the Northern Sector has called for a total pullout from the elections at all levels in the North.
The SPLM Vice President Riek Machar who came back to Juba on Monday after trying to convince the North sector in Khartoum’s meeting, said an emergency meeting would be held by the party on Monday evening in Juba to address the issue.
Machar said more than ten SPLM candidates contesting for positions of governor in the Northern states have already signed up to boycott the elections in a letter he brought to Juba to be discussed.
They are joined by others in the Northern Sector who pushed for total boycott at all levels in the North, including the parliamentary elections, he said.
He however explained that a decision had already been made last week by the party’s Political Bureau to conduct the elections in the North, except in Darfur and elections for legislature in Southern Kordofan in addition to the national presidential race.
So far only the Sudan Communist Party (SCP) and the Umma Reform and Renewal Party (URRP) has announced a total boycott. The Umma party is expected to make a final decision by tomorrow though it appeared leaning towards full participation.
The Umma Party said after a lengthy meeting last Friday that their participation in next week’s poll is contingent upon fulfillment of eight conditions which include ensuring the neutrality of the media and freedom of access to it by all political parties, government funding of election campaigning, prohibiting the use of government resources by any party, regulation and determining a specific ceiling for campaign financing and spending, recognizing that elections in Darfur region will be incomplete and creating a body to oversee the work of the NEC.
Furthermore, Al-Mahdi’s party demanded that the right of South Sudan to hold the 2011 referendum as planned should not be subject to negotiations or political maneuvering.
The party said that should the government agree to the aforementioned terms, the elections must be postponed till next May which is different from the original date proposed by opposition parties which falls in November.
“If these eight conditions are not fulfilled by April 6, the Umma party will boycott all the process of elections,” Sara Nugd-Alla, a member of the Umma Party political bureau told reporters last week.
Yesterday however Al-Mahdi softened his stance saying that the government responded to 80% of its demands and that they are negotiating the remaining 20%.
SOUTHERN IDP’S WANT ARMAN BACK IN THE RACE
The internally displaced people (IDP) from the Southern states residing in Khartoum have called on Arman to consider reversing his withdrawal from the presidential race against Bashir describing it “as deprivation of their rights to vote”.
“We call upon SPLM leadership to consider their decision This decision is painful and has dire consequences as majority will not vote. If majority resort to not casting their votes, then what has SPLM done? They have simply denied us our right to vote as candidate of our choice has been withdrawn” said Peter Gadet Tut.
“Because we are interested in voting, SPLM should consider returning Arman so that we exercise our fundamental right to vote in favor of candidate of our choice” he added.
Reiterating the same call, Garang Deng Mawien who lives in Sudan twin capital of Omdurman at Wed El Bashir, , described Arman’s withdrawal from the presidential as an “abrupt and unwise decision”.
“We did not expect SPLM embrace and take such decision at a time all has been prepared and majority is acquainted with posters, pictures and other displays for Arman” Mawien said.
“We have voluntarily moved all the camps in and around Khartoum talking to the internally displaced camp to vote wisely in favor of Arman in the upcoming elections and nobody approached us to tell us that SPLM would soon withdraw” he added.
“We have done this in the name of change we had hoped and wanted to be brought by none than other Arman. If they knew they would withdraw why did they allowed our resources to be spent?” he said.
Arman said that vote fraud and Darfur conflicted prompted his decision to withdraw.
“I took the decision to withdraw for two reasons. Firstly, after having campaigned in Darfur, I realized that it was impossible to hold elections there due to the current state of emergency,” he told AFP.
“Secondly, there are irregularities in the electoral process which is rigged.”
But on Saturday, the URRP chief Mubarak Al-Fadil disclosed that Bashir threatened the SPLM that he would scrap the peace agreement unless they withdraw Arman from the race and promised concessions that secure a smooth path to secession.
The SPLM denied Al-Fadil’s story saying that they have turned down such requests from Bashir.
The parliamentary, local and presidential elections are a crucial step in the 2005 north-south peace deal that ended a 21-year civil war and paves the way for a referendum when southerners would decide whether they will opt for secession from the Muslim-dominated north.
(ST)
James Dak from Juba and Ngor Arol Garang from Khartoum contributed to this article.
Kim Deng
US open to ‘brief delay’ in Sudan elections, SPLM still undecided on boycott
Folks,
There is no room for Unionists’ conspiracy against referendum for South Sudan. Who are those arabized Nubians to tell direction South can take? They are just wasting their time due to fact that the ring leader of self-determinatuion, Dr. Riek Machar will never yield any signal to their cheap call.
Gatwech
US open to ‘brief delay’ in Sudan elections, SPLM still undecided on boycott
Dear readers,
Opposition parties are coming back to join the race. Their on, off, on, off confusions indicate a typical shivering of potential losers.
Scott Gration, slight delay into rainy season do not work unless indefinite postponement and do referendum first.
It is now becoming clearer that Yasser Arman and his Northern Sector have joined the Northern Opposition parties in their conspiracy to look for ways to destroy the coming referendum. This has been the intention of Yasir to push for boycott of election in the whole North after learning that he would fail the elections.
Yasir wants to fail together with the referendum if he could not win to postpone the referendum himself. He and his group called SPLM-North joined by Pagan Amum have picked boycotting the elections as the only way to cause crisis with NCP and disrupt the process of elections and therefore of the referendum since the former is the prerequisite to the latter.
Southerners in the SPLM should now be careful and refrain from jumping in support of this boycott the SPLM-North.
The SPLM Political Bureau should DISOWN those 13 candidates for governorship who have sensed their loss in the elections and want to destroy the chance to referendum in the South.
paul baak anyaar
US open to ‘brief delay’ in Sudan elections, SPLM still undecided on boycott
This is too vague to be credible. Who on earth would still dilly-dallying like these parties when it is barely a week before the Election Day? What’s difficult here? If any party wants to boycott elections, yes go ahead and do so, malak? Those who will contest should call it business too. you are confusing the public if you don’t know that.
thieleling
US open to ‘brief delay’ in Sudan elections, SPLM still undecided on boycott
Dear readers,
Our machines are well oiled on dealing with this American administration. Our job is to make sure there is no ideological jurist or radical activist on the bench of American Foreign Policy when it comes to Sudan, especially South Sudan issues. Therefore, we thanks prodigal son of south sudan like James Gatdet Dak who feeds professional news to the uninformed massess of south sudan. Please, keep up the good job. We are right behind you.
We are working well with the American people and the gov’t. The high-powered connection is in our favor. We know what’s up!! American gov’t is practicing its diverse views on sudan. The real pragmatic one was the one given by General Gration earlier. But they do not want to put their eggs on one basket. They want to leave room for future bargains with the next gov’t in sudan.
Dinka Boy
US open to ‘brief delay’ in Sudan elections, SPLM still undecided on boycott
Time1, Gawtech, Kim Deng,
This related to both of you guys.
I know how foolish you are in your flimsy arguments. What are those cues that shows that when Bshier win, he will grant South Sudan independent. Aso, if we SPLM know that Yasir Arman will loss then why do we withdraw him since it is what people like you want. You said withdrawal of Arman is good for CPA! wow! you might be Nuer in thinking indeed because we can not fail in that type of sentments. How come if good for CPA while it really violate its(CPA). Do you think that withdrawing the candidates at the last minutes is prestige after the dateline? Can you name me one important thing NCP and SPLM signed base on CPA inorder to go for referendum. I doubt my friend your educational level because your analog still level indeed if not in saturated stage.
Have you ever taken leadership courses which help you understood the values of contracts,or any business courses. Wow! Contract is afirm agreements that can not be broken unless by death or violation. Now, where are you and your level of studies? Please, can you check your juxtapositions before wasting your nasty product in your anus.
Which election are you talking about? South Sudan election without Sudan general election,right? If you wish that way, please you better talk about election in the South without election and referendum as well. I have to remind you that NEC never talk of repacement,but NEC is telling South Sudanese that you guys withdraw your candidate after the time limit(45 days),in which the Arman name will be there in his box because he will be consider a valid candidate according to CPA. Tell me sometime if we will peacefully go to referendum without this election. Now, you have to know that every international observors are talking against SPLM at the moment because normal people can not prefigure the possibilities as valid result. Shut up! what kind of Dinka is this, perhaps adapted kid.
Manyang
Whom will Salva Kiir and his running mate vote for in the presidential election?
Those opportunists at the SPLM top leadership must remember that the useless decision they took last week will haunt them till their graves. At the last minutes you have betrayed our course. The marginalised people of the Sudan are re-mourning the death of their love one because of your ill informed decision of withdrawing SPLM candidate.
My message to few pretenders who claimed to be the champion of self-determination on this board is that you are wicked. You are politically unriped. You lack political direction and vision. Most of the people who claimed to be the champion of self-determination are the same individuals who joined the NCP in the 1990s against SPLM. Shame on you all. How can any wise individual support the withdrawal of SPLM candidate at the last minute. It will never make our yearning for independent south sudan any easier as you claimed. Self-determination was not given by NCP but we “South sudanese” fouhgt for it. The two fools at the top of SPLM let themselves intimidated by Bashir.
There is nothing wrong with SPLM taking top leadership in Khartoum. It will never prevent South Sudanese to vote whatever way they want to vote in the referendum. The truth will reveal itself. soon or later it will be clear if you were bribed or intimidated to withdraw our candidate.
Whom will Salva Kiir and his running mate as he always put it vote for in the presidential election? I am sure they will vote for Al Bashir. Shame on you dickeds. South Sudan does not belong to you. It belongs to the masses you have betrayed. Two of you will be held accountable for withdrawing our party candidate. One of you was supposed to contest against Bashir but you declined because of your unmature yearning for South Sudan top leadership. South sudan is not yet an independent country.
telfajbago
US open to ‘brief delay’ in Sudan elections, SPLM still undecided on boycott
“[Our government] before expelled the British ambassador and the Canadian ambassador and special envoy of the United Nations … Whoever tries to insult us we will cut off their neck and extend his tongue to abuse us we will cut off his tongue” he added.
I thought of telling El.Bashir’s chief election campaigner,Scott bn.Gration, to bring hand-amputees observers,since EL-bashir had threatened before to cut the fingers of the observers off. But now he had gone far.
Wiyual Wech Puk D. Payol.
US open to ‘brief delay’ in Sudan elections, SPLM still undecided on boycott
Dear SPLM leaders.
first,we waste our resources to compaign Arman,then we withdrawn him,that show fear.
second,coming election is not a pre-requisite to referendum that is a thing we all must know either Arabs of Bashir or those from southern sudan.I hope whether Bashir is going to won the election, southern sudan will still stand as a nation by itself as others African nations.no unity with arabs is hoping from south sudan,only separation.comfort our Arman,let him not loss all hopes because of his withdrawal,we still have a relation with him.YEAR 2011 WILL SHOW OUR STRENGTH AND COURAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
samson Ogalla
US open to ‘brief delay’ in Sudan elections, SPLM still undecided on boycott
sudanese are still concidered to be un capable politican in the their country that;Amarica disided to get help of them to have fair election.
To the side of SPLA/M the party haven’t have work plan in their main office the are always be surprised when things happened near them and they will start dealling away with it and for get it. Is not far for us to be decived once again by the great foxes of the north.we have to be carefull and waitch them out what they have planned for us a head.
Kuany Dak
US open to ‘brief delay’ in Sudan elections, SPLM still undecided on boycott
US must stop staggering on people election. Sudan election need careful approach.
Simpleman
US open to ‘brief delay’ in Sudan elections, SPLM still undecided on boycott
That is total unwise decision by SPLA, why did they just fear bashir’s threats on coup, impediment of referendum and so fort, and then you gave up the prominent man who has the biggest number of cohort countrywide to knock out that ICC wanted criminal (bashir).
That’s why you always go in total mess of your governance; don’t you remember the expenses you have wasted for Arman’s campaign? Don’t’ you think this money could have done a certain project that will benefit the community if at all you are thinking of them? Who is bashir, without him, we can still declare our bilateral.
Independency. Don’t you think that coming of Arman to power mean a peace to Darfur which you are claiming to be the reason of Arman’s withdrawal? Again if you claim of election fraud where were you from its genesis? Were you been sleeping in UK with the money SS money that you use to steal and spend in oversea?
Please SPLA keys personnel, re-think in your premature decision.
Luate the Graet, (is for justices)
Time1
US open to ‘brief delay’ in Sudan elections, SPLM still undecided on boycott
If you are a true south sudanese please ignore all this stupid people, they use south sudanese name i hope all of you have discovered their game by now, SPLM fought for freedom of blacks here in Sudan and will not make a decision which will hurt them or destroy their destiny. Arman made his own decision to withdraw and his will should be respect, that is what democracy is about to accept others peoples views. even if Arman wins do this opposiiton think it will help their cause, it will not help your cause as long as you northerners violate the rights of southerner.