Abyei receives ballot papers as observers continue to arrive the region
By Ngor Arol Garang
April 10, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Authorities from the oil-rich region of Abyei on Saturday confirmed receipt of the ballot papers and reception of two international and five national observers for the upcoming national polls scheduled to take place from Sunday to Tuesday.
“We have received ballot papers and voting materials from Warrap and polling stations are prepared to host electorates. All voting materials were flown in by United Nations Mission in Sudan helicopters today, and observers have also arrived,” said Alor Kuol, a local national election representative in the area.
They polling stations have been secured as local police and Joint Integrated Units being supported by the United Nations Mission in Sudan military components have already been deployed, he added reiterating that preparations are completed.
On Sunday the 11th, millions of Sudanese who have been preparing to vote in presidential, legislative and gubernatorial elections, will fill polling centers as the country continues to wrestle with significant humanitarian challenges.
Some political figures nonetheless doubt the credibility of the result citing issues of insecurity, logistics and frauds. Tong Lual Ayat, a leader of United Democratic Party during an interview with Sudan Tribune said a conducive atmosphere for free and fair elections does not exist.
“I do not see that result of these elections will have credible legitimacy. All I see is that these elections are return of power to the same peace partners but not deliverance of democratic changes,” said Tong Lual Ayat.
As the country goes for polls tomorrow, nearly 2.7 million people remained displaced in the war-ravaged western region of Darfur and another large number of Darfuris have crossed the Sudan’s border to Chad while the same conflict continues to directly affect approximately two more million people in the region.
Similarly, in the south of the country, ruled by former rebels who reached a peace deal in Nairobi with the northern National Congress Party, reports suggest about 450 civilians have been killed and 40,000 displaced in inter-communal clashes since the beginning of the year, bringing the total of the number of the newly displaced people in the region to 440,000.
The number of severely food insecure people, according to a joint assessment by the Government of South Sudan, UNWFP and UN Food and Agriculture Organization, will increase from approximately one million in 2009 to 1.5 million in 2010. An additional 1.8 million will be moderately food insecure at some point.
However, and notwithstanding these challenges and concerns, citizens of Abyei are determined to participate in the upcoming elections saying it is their right to vote for leaders of their choice.
“We understand existence of myriad of challenges in the country between the two ruling parties, but need to exercise our right to vote at these elections so that credible and caring leaders are elected to follow keenly issues of our concerns knowing that we have mandated them through our votes,” said Deng Kuol, a law student at Juba University.
“I came here not for holiday but to cast my vote to the leader I have identified and assessed as suitable candidate to deliver to our expectation once elected to the office after these elections,” he said by phone from Abyei.
(ST)