Carter Center deploys foreign observers for south Sudan referendum
September 28, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The US-based Carter Centre has deployed foreign observers to monitor the referendum process in southern and northern Sudan where southerners are expected to cast their vote.
Despite the tension between the two peace partners over its organization and the delay in the implementation of referendum process, the two parties say they are committed to run it on time without delay.
“The Carter Center deployed 16 long-term observers from 12 nations this week to assess the referendum process in Southern Sudan and in the areas in the North where voting will occur,” the Center said in a statement put out today.
“Four two-person observer teams have been deployed in Southern Sudan, three teams in Northern Sudan, and one team in Abyei.”
The monitors will observe all stages of the process, including the voter registration, campaign period, polling, tabulation, and the resolution of disputes.
Only three months remain before the referendum and preparations are behind schedules, voter registration will only start next month. While Abyei referendum commission is not yet formed.
The Center however hailed the “encouraging progress” made recently including the appointments of the members of the state high committees in all 10 Southern states, the appointment of the secretary-general of the SSRC, and the commencement of printing of the voter registration materials.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon appointed the former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapato to lead a panel that will monitor the South Sudan and Abyei referendum that is due early next year.
The request for the monitoring commission was made by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan people Liberation Movement (SPLM) this year.
Khartoum warned that any restriction in the political freedom or the conditions of its organization may lead to contest the outcome of the process.
(ST)
Dinka Boy
Carter Center deploys foreign observers for south Sudan referendum
What tension did Carter center talk about. According to the report he said there would be also some southern who vote while they are in the Northern part of sudan. I think Mr. had take it wrong. There would be an southern who would vote while he or she resided in sudan. The people who are expected to vote are southern who should be in the southern sudan. I thought that kind of trick had been done with. If SPLM/S allowed that than let prepared for another war in the country.Thank