Carter hopes Sudan elections meet international standards
April 10,2010 (KHARTOUM) — Following a meeting with President Omer Al-Bashir on Saturday the former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said he hopes that Sudan’s elections, set to begin on Sunday, would meet international standards.
“I hope that it will be completely compatible with international standards and safe and free and fair and that the decision of individual voters will be expressed freely without intimidation,” said the founder of Carter Center which is monitoring the three-day vote.
Carter further voiced hope the results of the election will be counted “honestly and fairly.” These are “very troubled potential times (but) we hope it will be safe and free,” Carter said.
Carter today nuanced his yesterday’s statement on the material transportation indicating that voting materials “may get there a bit late, but they will have three days at least in which to vote,” he told reporters in Khartoum.
A major opposition party, the Umma Party led by the former prime minister is boycotting the election besides the SPLM North Sudan sector as well as other small political forces. They say the electoral process is marred by irregularities and fraud.
The deputy chairman of the electoral board, Abdallah Ahmed Abdallah, admitted the existence of such irregularities saying “We know there is no perfect election in the world, this is not an exception”.
“These elections will not suddenly transform Sudan into a democratic society. That will take time and experience,” he added.
(ST)
Malakal
Carter hopes Sudan elections meet international standards
Jimmy Carter, the second worse president in United States history after George Walker Bush is so delusional or self-deriven by something else. This election will never come close to the so-called international standards. With the help of Traitor machar in the South, Bashir has no competition so how would that be even considered an election.
Thomas Athian Lual
Carter hopes Sudan elections meet international standards
Thank you to the former president of U.S.A Jimmy Carter for having that hope to the Sudanese people. I am just skeptical of the NCP Party in the Sudanese capital Khartoum that they will not allow any party contesting against them to win this election. In Africa people will determine the winner before the polling of the ballots start. I know that since Arman boycotted the election in the North of Sudan Bashir is the winner for sure.
Thomas Athian can be reach at [email protected]