NBGS: General Dau supports calls for cancellation of elections

April 19, 2010 (JUBA) — General Dau Aturjong Nyuol, an independent candidate contesting gubernatorial post in the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State (NBGS), has backed up voices calling absolute cancellation of the just concluded poll in the area.

Dau said there were no elections conducted in the area. The elections we had in Aweil were not elections. There was no conducive atmosphere for electorates to exercise their right to vote, he said adding voting process was scary.

“I was denied representation at most polling stations. My agents were expelled and most of them were either beaten to escape the poll or arrested if insisted in most cases in all the counties,” he said.

The general who flew to Juba on Saturday following calls by authorities in the regional capital said he is in Juba because he was asked to leave the area to avoid building up of tension during votes sorting and counting operations.

“I was asked to leave because they feel my presence in the area during voting counting and announcement would encourage tension and possible clash in the event results are made public either in my favor or their favor,” he said. Tempers are not the same. I can control mind but someone else may not.

“This is why I accepted because I do not need death in these elections in my name,” he stressed.

Asked why he supported voices calling for cancellation of elections since reports of preliminary results from other polling centers, particularly in his home county of Aweil north and neighboring county of west, indicates that he is a head his rival, he said preferring cancellation because events on the ground were not favoring conduct of the elections.

“I prefer cancellations because electorates feel they were not allowed to exercise their constitutional right to vote for candidates of their choice. They feel they were forced to vote against their will and it is against individual rights enshrined in constitution.

It also acted contrary to our promises during electoral campaigns. The freedom and right to elect and be elected we used to tell them at rallies were replaced with intimidations and arrest.

Agents representing political parties were either forced out of the polling stations or arrested. Polling officers also experienced intimidations, physical abuse and arrest, Dau said. “This necessitates call for cancellation,” he adds.

Last week on Thursday 15, Ex-finance and economic planning minister, in the regional government of Southern Sudan, Mr. Kuol Athian Mawien, who contest parliamentary seat for Juba based parliament independently, was the first to call for cancellation of elections describing environment as unfavorable.

He said his 34 agents including seven women faced numbers of challenges including expulsion from the polling stations and in most cases, most of them were arrested.

Similarly, Dr. Akoon Akech whose seat was taken by Kom Kom Geng being an SPLM official nominee in constituency number 3, at Abiem East in Aweil East County also seconded call for cancellation of elections saying what happened in his constituency was votes robbing.

“I was not even allowed single representative at any polling station. All my agents in the day of the poll were denied entry to the polling stations,” Akoon said

(ST)