Lam Akol says two SLPM-DC members killed in Unity State
April 13, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Lam Akol, a candidate for the presidency of south Sudan government and leader of SPLM Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) said on Tuesday that two voters had been killed after the southern army opened fire at a polling station in Unity State.
“I was informed by telephone that at 11 am (0800 GMT), the southern army went to a polling station in Riak in (the southern) Unity State and opened fire, killing two voters and wounding one candidate,” said Lam Akol, who is challenging southern leader Salva Kiir in elections for the head of the semi-autonomous government of south Sudan.
The report could not immediately be confirmed by independent sources.
Akol called on the National Election Commission to exercise its powers and to adopt serious measures to prevent the SPLA from intervening in the polling centers in southern Sudan.
The chairman of the SPLM-DC further said foreign observers are completely absent from most of polling stations in southern Sudan adding they are only present in the cities.
Akol, a former foreign minister, broke away from the SPLM in June last year.
The southern Sudan ruling party, SPLM, is accused by opposition parties and the National Congress Party (NCP) of intimidating and arresting their membership as well as hindering their political activities.
Today a NCP delegation composed of presidential adviser Salah Abdallah Gosh and Agnes Lukudu, head of NCP southern Sudan sector was received by the SPLM chairman Salva Kiir in Juba. The two officials complained from the SPLA intervention and intimidation in the electoral process against the NCP candidate in southern Sudan.
Salva Kiir directed to release immediately a number of NCP members and promised to free the others soon besides addressing the other issues facing the electoral process, reported the official SUNA.
In a separate development, there are many reports in Lakes state that SPLA soldiers have detained cars belonging to SPLM-DC and NCP. But the SPLA spokesman responded that there are checkpoints because of disarmament exercises in the state and the soldiers do not stop cars involved in the elections like those carrying ballot boxes.
(ST)