Sudanese rights group slams voters’ intimidation ahead of referendum

The Sudan Human Rights Organization condemns the distasteful announcement by the Minister of Information and Culture that the Sudanese Southerners who live in the North will not enjoy citizenship rights in the North if they vote for separation of the South. The threatening language of this statement is a regrettable expansion of the wrongful hostilities the government and the ruling party have been pursuing along the remaining days of the referendum date. The Minister’s threat is meant to intimidate the Southerner citizens to vote against their will.

Mindful of the elections fraud in April 2010, SHRO-Cairo urges the authorities to honor the national need to secure fair and transparent referendum without intimidation to the southerner electorate. The Organization reminds the Government of Sudan with the obligations to promote peace and sisterly relations with South Sudan by provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The South Sudan Government and the Government of Sudan are required to work together, as well collaborate with all other parties and civil society groups in the country to make of the optional unity a viable choice in accordance with the Naivasha Protocol, the founding source of agreement between the CPA partners.

SHRO-Cairo asks the Minister of Information and Culture to resign his position immediately as a necessary step to end media announcements that jeopardize the required climates to enable the South to exercise a true referendum, as well as preparing the Nation to a smooth democratic transition.