Unity state government attempt reconciliation with rival politicians before south Sudan referendum

By Bonifacio Taban Kuich

August 14, 2010 (BENTIU) – The Unity state government and opposition politicians begin reconciliation process ahead south’s vote on independence in five months time.

April’s gubernatorial elections saw the incumbent from southern Sudan’s ruling party the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Taban Deng Gai, beat rival candidate Angelina Teny, in an acrimonious and hard fought contest.

Teny, who is the wife of the southern Sudanese Vice President Riek Machar, stood as an independent candidate in the election.

In demonstrations following the announcement that Taban had won three people were reported to have been killed by security services and several others seriously wounded.

At the time, Teny claimed that her defeat may have been due to fraud.

The Minister of Information and Communications in Unity state, Gideon Gatpan Thoar, confirmed that a six-member delegation of Teny’s supporters had arrived in Bentiu for reconciliatory talks.

On Friday, Gatpan, told Bentiu FM Radio and said that the new state cabinet had begun the reconciliation began the reconciliation process August 10 when they received Teny’s supporters, who are led by the former Commissioner of Leer County, Dhiling Keah.

Gatpan said that all Unity state residents had the right to participate in the referendum and explained that the administration plans to dismiss any charges leveled against rival politicians.

The minister added that the state government was preparing for an intensive civic education campaign to inform to voters about the conduct of the referendum, particularly about the law that regulates the process of the plebiscite.

(ST)