UDP leader doubts credibility of the coming poll results

April 6, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Tong Lual Ayat, leader of the United Democratic Party, has expressed his concerns and doubts about the credibility of the coming poll results saying the country lacks a conducive environment to hold free and fair elections due to political repression by forces affiliated with the two peace partners.

“These elections are being conducted to only meet interests of the two parties, the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in the north and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in the south.”

The leader of the Southern Sudanese UDP opposition party, who backs Lam Akol’s candidacy for the Government of Southern Sudan presidency, further said no political party without a military wing is expected to win the April elections as the two peace partners’ loyal forces are used to disrupt the campaign and electoral programs of other the political parties.

Southern Sudanese opposition parties blamed the SPLM for intimidating and arresting their members. Tong regretted the lack of public freedoms critical to a fair election.

“For a free, fair, and credible election, it is essential that all activists including journalists and media organizations are allowed to operate freely,” he said.

“Because of limited freedoms and movements, I was late last year arrested by the local authorities for a month in Aweil town, capital of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, on the ground that I did not inform them prior to the launching of political activities of my party,” he lamented.

“Given these examples, I tend to doubt credibility of the upcoming elections because I have seen that the two parties are not ready to accept peaceful transfer of power through elections. Voters are forced to disclose who they would vote for in the upcoming elections,” he added.

“I have never seen this situation anywhere in the world than in Sudan and this is why I have repeatedly told friends and colleagues in the party that conditions are not yet conducive for a free, fair, and credible elections result. Unless there is a dramatic improvement in the situation it is unlikely that the Sudanese people will be able to vote freely for leaders of their choice,” he said.

Asked why he is not campaigning, having been registered and credited by the National Elections Commission to contest in the upcoming elections, he said his party is faced with numerous challenges including logistics and funding for conducting electoral rallies.

“Political parties were supposed to get funds from the government. No funds have so far been allocated to all contesting parties except those participating in the government of southern Sudan. The rest of the parties did not receive any fund hence made it difficult to conduct rallies on their expenses,” he said.

Other figures have raised concerns about intimidation, arbitrary arrests, detention and torture of those opposed to the ruling Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement. In Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Unguech Jongkoor, a prominent politician in the area, recently broke silence accusing two SPLA generals of involvement in local politics and he called on President Kiir to rescue the situation saying his generals are becoming major obstacles to the conduct of free and fair electoral rallies in the area.

He accused Major General James Ajonga Mawut Ajonga and Lieutenant General Pieng Deng Kuol of causing havoc by harassing and issuing threats and language of intimidation against the local population.

Another southern opposition party, SPLM-DC of Lam Akol, has often complained of harassment during the campaign season. For instance, on February 18, security officials arrested members of the SPLM-DC, Denis Yor, Priyjwok Ajawin, and Amjad Marino, at Juba Airport and took them to a military detention centre where they spent the night before being released without charge.

(ST)