Referendum pressure groups organize themselves at home and abroad

By Ngor Arol Garang

August 6, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Voices and drums reaching out with messages enlightening rural population to register at earliest possible time for the upcoming referendum have increased sharply across the region.

Robert Majok Kuol, one of the youth activists with South Sudan Youth Forum for Referendum on Friday told Sudan Tribune from Juba that they have conducted several referendum awareness campaigns in the area but intends to launch a massive campaign in rural areas as well.

“We have conducted several of them in the past but in urban areas. Our people in the rural areas were not reached and they really need proper education,” he said, pointing out lack of civic education in the rural areas.

“They need our present with them and because it has been our plan to reach them, we will on Tuesday launch a massive campaign outside Aweil town. We are moving into villages. We will be there for them until referendum is conducted,” he explained.

Kuol said the upcoming massive campaign will also witness participation of other active community-based groups like churches, traditional leaders, teachers, business people and local authorities. “We have agreed to hold series of meetings first with our partners. So, the South Sudan Women’s Empowerment Network has shown interest in becoming our partner,” he said.

In her part, Lillian Riziq from South Sudan Women Empowerment Network (SWEN) Ssaid they had a program to hold dialogue with other activists involved in referendum awareness campaign.

“We have done it in the past on our own and as a continuation of its Referendum Awareness Campaign, SSWEN in partnership with South Sudan Youth Forum for Referendum, Northern Bhar El Gazal chapter and various women’s groups will host a Referendum Dialogue aimed at increasing awareness campaign about the Referendum Act and to enhance collaboration among various Community Based Organizations (CBO) focused on the Referendum,” Riziq said.

Meanwhile, SPLM USA Secretariat on Friday released a statement giving out details of formation of South Sudan Referendum Taskforce in the United States of America, under Ladu Jada Gubek. The 85 members Task Force under the theme, “Be Ready to Choose Wisely” divides America into regions of assignments for campaigns.

While it has two committees for finance and media center, it announced upcoming events to focus on provision of awareness campaigns on voting education, locations and registration among South Sudanese communities in the state. Choosing Steven Paterno as the Referendum Taskforce outlet information officer and Therich Diing Therich in the national media center, the release explained that its aims is to mobilize, coordinate, educate, and enlighten Southern Sudanese communities across the United States of America toward upcoming referendum on self-determination for the people of Southern Sudan.

The referendum on self-determination will provide an opportunity to eligible voters from Southern Sudan and in eight other countries across the globe to decide their fate, whether to remain part of the united Sudan or vote to become an independent state.

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