Jonglei State Assembly imposes financial contribution for referendum

August 17, 2010 (BOR) – Jonglei State Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed a bill that requires all employed citizens to pay money to support a successful conduct of the upcoming referendum on 9th January 2011.

Called ‘Citizen Referendum Contributions Bill’, the document demands that executives pay 1,000 Sudanese pounds (SDG) per month for five months. Members of the state assembly, directors and other civil servants will pay 500, 250 and 10 SDG per month for five months depending on their respective level of grades. Unclassified staffs and unemployed citizens of Jonglei state will pay 5 SDG once. The organized forces, according to the bill – now law- will contribute varying amounts of money once depending on one’s rank.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday in Bor, the Chairperson for Finance and Economic Planning, Deng Chuol Bei, said the bill’s success will rely on public contributions.

“This referendum is accepted by majority [of people] in Southern Sudan,” Deng Chuol said. “Whether for unity or separation, people are happy indeed that this referendum cannot fail,” he responded when asked if public opinion was taken into account during the assembly’s deliberations on the bill.

The 2011 referendum in Southern Sudan on unity or separation of Sudan is in accordance with the 2005 peace accord that ended a two decades of civil war where more than 2 million people were killed. Analysts say southerners are likely to opt for independence given long period of wars and marginalization which have brought bitterness in the country.

(ST)