Referendum body holds maiden meeting, fails to fix voter registration date
September 15, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) on Wednesday finally held its first meeting and thrashed out issues related to the formats of voter registration forms, however, it failed to specify a date for the actual start of the laborious process of voter-registration.
Sudan’s official news agency, SUNA, reported that the SSRC Wednesday held its first meeting in Khartoum and agreed on the format of voter registration forms and to print them abroad.
The commission’s operation is behind schedule due to squabbling between the National Congress Party in the north and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in the south over the appointment of a secretary-general to the commission. But last month, the SPLM agreed to concede the post and the commission unanimously voted to nominate Ambassador Mohamed Osman Al-Nigoumi.
Also, president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir officially approved the appointment of Al-Nijoumi, who is a career diplomat who held several posts in the finance and diplomacy dockets.
He previously served as Sudan’s ambassador to Kuwait and the US as well as third secretary in the Sudanese embassy in Pakistan. He also worked with the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries from 1980 until 2008. The secretary-general is the top executive position in the commission and controls all the finances.
Following SSRC’s meeting, the newly appointed secretary general stated that the referendum commission had deliberated, and agreed on, all details of registration forms and decided to print them abroad.
However, Al-Nijoumi said that no decision had yet been made as to the country in which the forms would be printed or a specific date for the beginning of the registration process.
He further pointed out that the printing process would be supervised by the United Nations in collaboration with the government of Sudan and the Government of Southern Sudan.
According to Al-Nijoumi, the registration forms would be finalized in four weeks time, a forecast which raises doubts on whether the commission will be able to start voter registration in October as it previously predicted.
(ST)
Ajiech M. Chol
Referendum body holds maiden meeting, fails to fix voter registration date
The country must be chosen by the SPLM, but not the so called NCP due to the fact that they might dupicate voting slip in order to spoil referendum.
Malou Manyiel
Referendum body holds maiden meeting, fails to fix voter registration date
If printing of registration forms is given 4 weeks, when will registration start? October should have not been mentioned as registration month if the date fixed is respected. Nothing should go beyond this month (October) if at all.
What a game by NCP!!
M.Cool.J
Referendum body holds maiden meeting, fails to fix voter registration date
Dear readers,
Something is going on somewhere.Kiswahili says mtoto ya nyoka ni nyoka.
okucu pa lotinokwan
Referendum body holds maiden meeting, fails to fix voter registration date
Dear,Southerners.
It is very clear now,the NIF/NCP party are buying time,but our referendum will take place as agreed in the CPA document no worry at all.The Arabs tactics is not any new thing to us,but i want to asure the NIF/NCP in Khartoum that the country is already divided whether they like it or not.
Incase the registration started in late Oct,let us turn up in graet number for registration as well during the voting time to prove to the whole world that we are for separation.
SECOND IN COMMAND FOR FORCE NORTH-SOUTH BORDER DEMACATION
OKUCU PA LOTINOKWAN
Nhial Reath Thoan
Referendum body holds maiden meeting, fails to fix voter registration date
These Referendum voters Registration forms have to be printed abroad cause ,it seem like people in Africa specially (AU)is not following what the truth is . AU These days has been allying with the most African Dictator and defending them not to be taken before justice.
Therefore, Iam Afraid if we are to print these papers in Africa our Northern Sudan Dictators brother with their enough money stolen from our oil ; may have reach where we agree on and bribe them and will be defend by Africa Union Tomorrow.
It would be much better if we could print these papers in Europe even if they `d be expensive.