Sudan’s referendum commission moves up the voters’ registration date
September 28, 2010 (KHARTOUM) –The head of Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) today announced a new delay in the voters registration process that cast more doubts on whether the long awaited exercise can take place on time as promised.
SSRC’s chairman Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil told Reuters on Tuesday that delaying the registration three extra weeks to allow staff to deliver forms to 3,600 registration centres. The registration forms are not due back from South African printers until late October.
“We are now expecting the forms to arrive in the registration centres by November 15. By then the staff will be trained,” said Khalil before stressing that he still hoped to make the January 9 deadline.
The registration was originally set to take place in mid-October.
The plebiscite on south Sudan’s independence is the terminus of a peace deal which in 2005 ended decades of civil war between the Arab-dominated government in the north and the African tribal south.
Many analysts believe that southerners, who say that they suffered several forms of persecution by successive governments in the north, will certainly vote in favor of their independent state.
The announcement came as the commission cleared one hurdle in the preparations by approving a $370 million budget for the referendum.
Khalil said Sudan’s finance ministry had confirmed it would pay its share — international donors will foot half the cost and Sudan’s government, together with the semi-autonomous government in the south, the other half, he said.
Sudan’s 2nd VP Ali Osman Taha and the president of the semi-autonomous south, Salva Kiir, vowed last week to work for peace as U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders pressured them to hold a planned referendum on southern independence, scheduled for Jan. 9, peacefully and on time.
This week the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) threatened not to recognize the referendum unless the Sudan Liberation Movement (SPLM) redeploys its troops to the 1956 borders, excluding the Southern army from the plebiscite operations to avoid appearance of interference in its conduct and allowing campaigning for unity in the South.
The international community is worried that both sides may resort to war should there be a delay in referendum which some observers described as a strong possibility given the tight timeframe.
(ST)
Gatwech
Sudan’s referendum commission moves up the voters’ registration date
Dear readers,
It is becoming clearer and clearer to every one in Sudan including the international community that the NCP’s led South Sudan Referendum Commission is being used by the NCP’s leadership to delay the conduct of the referendum so that the 9th January dateline is missed on technical grounds when it is actually being plotted on political grounds by Bashir’s NCP.
What the NCP thugs should understand is that the referendum will take place on 9th January with or without a registration. We can also register while voting at the same time.
Since it is a tactical and deliberate way by NCP to delay the conduct of the referendum or make it fail the required standard, the South will not accept the deferral of 9th January.
Any failure to conduct the referendum we will declare unilateral independence and we remind the world to accept that decision since it is the NCP that pushes us to that decision by working hard to fail the referendum.
UDI is the solution on 9th January and let us see how Bashir will fight all those fronts in the South, West, East, Nuba Mountains, Abyei, Blue Nile of Agaar and of course the ICC and internal enemies who may overthrow him right inside the palace.
Anyang
Sudan’s referendum commission moves up the voters’ registration date
Folks, It’s obvious that,NCP and its well known idiots are playing with fire at this critical time as delaying tactics drag on,so here then, we have no choice rather than to employs(UDI) as per they will of Southern Sudanese’s citizen to legally aquires their right like it or not.
Apalangorok
Sudan’s referendum commission moves up the voters’ registration date
Dear Gatwich
Let me tell you my brother, using tactic to delay referedum was not for today, it is clear since the signature of CPA in 2005. What we need to do is to calm down wait and see. If nothing move UDI by our SSLA is an opt, and gaurded by SPLA.
To me everything favour us weather war, rigging,or delay it, this give us only one UDI.
Agutayook
Freedum Fighet
Critic_Ngueny
Sudan’s referendum commission moves up the voters’ registration date
Dear Southerners,
What goes around comes around.I would like to inform everybody in Junnup Sudan to be ready incase of any delay from NCP or Non christain party.Otherwise we shall tune to the language that they understand better and that’s arm struggle
Critic_Ngueny from Bor town
Laat Ayie Jal
Sudan’s referendum commission moves up the voters’ registration date
Fellow Southern Sudanese Citizens, I see it coming!! the war is on its way. I can’t believe the registration is pushed ahead to the last week of November; when will the commission train the staff, distribute forms into 300 plus centers than actual registration begins; results and announcement of Independence on the 9th. The NCP must know that the war this time is going to be in Khartoum, I guess they don’t know the burden of war.
What the NCP minister said last week was just a joke and a remark less thought-off: “saying that Southerners will lose their citizenship in the north shall it opt for independence” I don’t think so, sir; By birth we’re Sudanese, it is a God given gift and no man shall change that fact….grow up and think big!
Spla Commando
Sudan’s referendum commission moves up the voters’ registration date
Dear Southerners,
I think delaying voter registeration to a later date then long awaited mid-October,2010 is crystal clear that NCP led government is on the forefront to sabotage 2011 Referendum. we should all be prepared to make Referendum happens by all means.
old days of blackmailing the South are gone. We will defend the Independence of the ” Republic of Southern Sudan” at all cause.
Spla Commando
Thonweng
Sudan’s referendum commission moves up the voters’ registration date
iam not happy to what had been done by the commission , why to delay everything without action in the country .do you want to bring confusion like 1972 agreement which was resulted to splm movement.
iam thongweng in lakes state
Mr Point
The case for UNITY
I have never seen so much UNITY as in these responses to this story.
The NCP always working hard to bring all south Sudanese together. Delaying the referendum when there was over six years to prepare is stupid politics.
mayombo
Sudan’s referendum commission moves up the voters’ registration date
Delaying registration is not solution we still have plann” B”it shuold not move us