Allegations of intimidation in W. Equatoria balloting

April 12, 2010 (YAMBIO) — Confusion and disarray have emerged in many polling centers particularly in Southern Sudan’s W. Equatoria State, with many voters struggling to find their names on the published registration lists.

Western Equatoria — one of South Sudan’s largest and poorest states — is preparing to vote in a tightly policed election, widely seen as a test of its democratic progress.

The run-up to the election has been confusing for onlookers. Again, many other polling centers did not open until midday. These kinds of confusion left many voters wondering what to do, many elderly women and men were left disappointed.

In Yambio, Nzara, and Maridi there are reports of rigging spearheaded by the state security agents and security organs. Zereda Morihengayou, 19, said Mrs Ann Joyce Richard Noti, special campaigner manager for SPLM Gubernatorial contender Jemma Nunu Kumba was seen deploying an SPLA force at Comboni Secondary School polling center. The center is serving as an hub for all registered voters in Masia estates.

“I saw her, she threatened the party agents to leave the polling center, or else she will order SPLA to shoot,” said the source. After another local observer shouted “shoot who?” she escaped into her car. She was together with the Police Commissioner and with her husband Michael who comes from Bahr El Ghazal region. Eyewitnesses saw them with four vehicles loaded with armed police and SPLA forces – ballot papers and stamps were carried out by the group.

The Police Commissioner known in Yambio as “shooter of students” and Ann Joyce are both supporters of WES’s incumbent governor. Ann Joyce is the daughter of Hon Richard Noti Runge, WES’s outgoing speaker. Joyce is viewed by some in Yambio as being involved with security forces. She works in private business with the incumbent governor and the two lived together in Nairobi before the signing of the CPA.

In another development, party agents for gubernatorial independent candidates were forced to leave Ikpiro polling center west of Yambio town. The National Election Commission allows party agents to spend the night at the polling center, if they sense environment of rigging, so that way they serve as watchdogs too.

Hipaingba Gracia, a local observer, told Sudan Tribune that “some polling officers in Nzara and Yambio Counties were advising the illiterate voters to tick only the SPLM star symbol, or they decided to tick for blind voters.”

Sources from Maridi County said a polling center close to an army barracks at Hai Gabat in Maridi town has been hijacked by security forces, apparently harassing and bullying supporters of Mr. Adel Sandrai who is aspiring for GOSS Assembly from Maridi Constituency as an independent.

Corporal Athor Jenje, leading military police in Maridi, is said to be involved in exerting force on voters. However, Maridi County’s Executive Director Clement Baime intervened, removing the unpopular officer in Maridi out from polling center coded as 15, polling center No. 9.

“If so many people feel disfranchised, it could lead to violence and tension which is bubbling already in Western Equatoria,” said a voter.

Several months ago the 2010 CPA anniversary celebration was blighted by violence as security forces cracked down on angry students. The security forces — who shot at students in January – have not received sensitivity training in dealing with the public.

Campaigning from January to early April largely went smoothly except for some intimidations and nasty politicking.

Sudan Tribune’s efforts to reach the W. Equatoria NEC High Committee were unsuccessful. Neither Mr. Sulubia Lawrence, Head of the NEC High Committee, nor the High Committee’s Secretary General Simon Ngbiidigi answered their phone.

(ST)