South Sudan warns against protest in Juba over poll results

By Ngor Arol Garang

April 27, 2010 (WUNROK) – The southern Sudan authorities have Tuesday warned against any violence protest connected to the recently announced poll results urging that it does little to settle disputes over discrepancies.

Following announcement of executive and parliamentary results in southern states on Monday 26, by the National Elections Commission, some political contenders lost elections against their expectations hence prompted tense situation in most areas including regional capital.

In Juba, the Independent candidate for Central Equatoria Governor Lado Gore denounced the election rigging and his supporters had been expected to reject the electoral results particularly he had decried the circumstances of vote counting .

Dr. Sebit Nickson Lukure, in Juba, told Sudan Tribune that yesterday’s result has resulted to placement of curfew from early as 9 o’clock in the evening because situation is tense, real tense. Police in riot gear and some soldiers in armored vehicles are in control, especially of the area surrounding the house of the independent candidate for Central Equatoria State, Lado Gore.

“I tried to visit but the area has been cordoned off,” he said; adding “A military officer in uniform plainly told me that the area was off limits because some people had gathered and began to throw stones”.

He continued to say that Juba is actually in mourning, the moment the announcements were made, shop-keepers rushed to close, people began running home, and there were no usual yells of ululation in celebration. If elected governor Clement Wani Konga has never read the public mood, this is a chance for him and his backers, he said.

Additionally, another results angered intellectual who requested anonymity eloquently adds that, just as the ball was in their court to announce the election results, fraudulent or otherwise, the ball is in their court to let us also know if Lado Gore is under house arrest because his house was immediately after announcement of the results declared no visiting area.

“People are not allowed particularly intellectuals of my likes regardless of relationship. Relatives are even the worst. We are denied access to his house by security forces deployed outside his residence,” he said.

Reconciling results announced in Central Equatoria with Unity and Northern Bahr el Ghazal, another intellectual who did not want to be named too, urged affected citizens to forget it saying there are a lot of elections to come in the future. This is over, he said.

Calling on the citizens of the most affected states, he advised that people should embark on initiative that would enhance mutual trust and seek common ground while shelving difference caused by elections results.

“We should all come together in seeking cooperation and adhere to principle of mutual respects, treating each other as equal brothers and sisters.”

General Achuil Tito Madut, Inspector General of southern Sudan police service, at the ministry of internal affairs, confirmed placement of curfew saying it is for safety of all residents of Juba. ”

Yes, there is a curfew from 10 o’clock in the evening to six o’clock in morning, he said. This curfew is applicable to all in all areas in Juba. It is not targeting specific groups. It is for all residents of Juba town,” Achuil told Sudan Tribune.

Acknowledging the right of the citizens to demonstrate as means to express their dissatisfaction, he said all should be peaceful and with knowledge of security forces.
“Nobody should go to the street without the knowledge of security apparatus so that clashes with other security organs and citizens are avoided,” Achuil said.

Similarly, Gier Chuang Aluong, minister of internal affairs in the regional government, of southern Sudan, in a statement aired by South Sudan TV, announced placement of curfew and warned against violence connected to elections. If you feel cheated, seek other avenues not violence, said the powerful minister who appeared prepared to launch crack down on violators.

(ST)