South Sudan referendum commission snubs Khartoum, hires US firm to supply voting materials
By Julius N. Uma
October 5, 2010 (JUBA) – A U.S.-based independent firm has been contracted to procure all voting materials required for South Sudan’s forthcoming
referendum, according to a senior official here.
Justice Chan Reec Madut, the Chairperson of South Sudan Referendum Bureau (SSRB) told journalists in Juba that the Referendum Commission has already contracted International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
IFES is described as an independent non-governmental organization based in Washington D.C, providing assistance and support for elections in new and emerging democracies.
Founded in 1987, IFES currently has programs in more than 25 countries throughout Asia, Africa, Europe and Americas, with activities centered on elections, civil society, rule of law, good governance and applied research.
The referendum, scheduled for early next year is a key part of Sudan’s 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA); the accord that ended over two-decades of civil war between north and south, where an estimated 2.5 million people were killed and about 4 million displaced.
Madut said that the commission approved a budget of about $370 million to help in preparations for the referendum, which remains behind schedule.
A detailed time-table for the various processes leading to the referendum has also been released. The accreditation of observers’, advocates and the media is scheduled for October 17, while November 1st is the dateset for publication of referendum center lists.
The long-awaited voters’ registration exercise, initially planned for October is now scheduled for November 14 and will end on December 04. Diaspora registration, Justice Chan Reec clarified, will be coordinated by civil society entities.
The final referendum registers, the SSRB Chairperson said, are expected to be completed and displayed on December 31, contrary to the Referendum Act 2009 provisions.
According to the Act, final registers should be displayed at least 90 days prior to the actual date for the conduct of the referendum.
However, when asked why the released time-table was contrary to the Referendum Act, Justice Chan Reec said, “Laws are made to save the interests of the people, but can be modified to suit any given socio-political situation. In any case, this is not the first time we have gone behind schedule in such national preparations”.
He further echoed South Sudan President, Salva Kiir’s call for the timely conduct of the referendum, rubbishing speculations for possible postponement of the exercise as baseless and unfounded.
Last week, referendum state high committees, reportedly received a massive boost, courtesy of money funds from the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) coffers.
Comprising of 5 members from each state, the committee will be tasked with forming county sub-committees as well as polling center agents, who will oversee the entire referendum exercise.
Envoys from the 15 nations on the UN Security Council headed for Sudan to give the international message that a secession vote in South Sudan must take place on January 9 as scheduled. Fears have been expressed that a delay could spark a new civil war in Africa’s biggest nation.
UN ambassadors or top representatives from Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States are on the mission to follow up on a call made by US President Barack Obama and other world leaders at a recent UN summit.
“With less than 100 days until the vote, our visit comes at a crucial time for Sudan,” said US ambassador Susan Rice, who highlighted the new fears about events in Darfur, in western Sudan.
“We will push for peaceful, on-time referenda that reflect the will of the people of South Sudan and Abyei, and we will visit Darfur to assess the humanitarian situation and the plight of civilians in the wake of a disturbing uptick in violence,” she said
(ST)
Anyang
South Sudan referendum commission snubs Khartoum, hires US firm to supply voting materials
Justic, mean free,fair and transparency in term of the referenda Hon. justic chan Reec, and our new nation would to be born critically need justic at this moment rather any rhetorical talk.
thathwau or Ajongdhak
South Sudan referendum commission snubs Khartoum, hires US firm to supply voting materials
Well done to GoSS for hiring US firm to supply us voting materials.
this job indicate to the people of South Sudan that, our leaders are not sleeping and it can show to others envies leaders like Isaias Afwerki and Meles Zenawi Asres that SPLA/M doesn’t lost his vision as Isaias Afwerki stated last year.
Every time when GoSS take good step about the future of Southern Sudanese, it’s rise the enthusiasm of Southern sudanese who are in and out of the country.
We the people of South Sudan who immigrated to others countries, we deeply support separation, we are eagerly to see South Sudan got her independent totally.
the time when I was inside South Sudan, I didn’t had knowledge about the important of your country, but when I came to outside I really understand how nice it is to have your own country.
thanks ….
Augustino Mayom Makuok , Israel, Jerusalem….
Akolde Nhiak Jinub
South Sudan referendum commission snubs Khartoum, hires US firm to supply voting materials
What a great turn and a point of success for OUR South Sudan Referendum Bearau for contracting a firm to print voting materials for the process.
Khartoum has been dragging feet on and making a lot of unnecessary delays and lazyly processes, questions and of no need for God and nothing sake.
It’s time that Khartoum should think twice in dealing with us (in South Sudan). South Sudanese have one problem; of over-trusting northern Sudanese and especially Khartoum successive regimes since 1819, when Arabs first entered Sudan, the land of black people.
What a shame to Mohammed Ibrahim Khalil and his entourage of this development today!!!?? That South Sudan has taken up her right to do her things without Khartoum hands and this may go down even on 9th January 2011 date of voting and that independence without Khartoum’s blessings can proceed if there will be a sign of sabotage, which is already noticed and South will be recognised worldwide.
Let fools now see for themselves.
hard liner
South Sudan referendum commission snubs Khartoum, hires US firm to supply voting materials
Well done Justice chan, you have done the right thing, its really important to note that trusting the arabs is like giving the ”fox the role of a caretaker of your chicken” can we trust them now? during the war as a young soldier ” Jesh amer” many ceasefire acords were signed but still the arabs violated these accords by bombarding our bases in south sudan and if Dr. garang could be alive he knows how many i as a person have not kept records of those violations. Not only those mistrusts they have caused but many more violations not only ceasefire but also other important agreements, most important of all is the implementation of the CPA which is not fully done. Guys do we really need to trust them???????????????? if anyone does not know history pleasee ask the elders like wani igga, gore, kiir mayardit, benjamin marial, and all those who had been with us in the bush during the 21 years of civil war.
Guys do not panic, if the arabs want to fight us the blacks it will be red v/s black, you know the SPLA bush war was not well achieved because sum of us blacks were with the arabs but now most of those who were supporting the arabs have already known what type of people they are and they are not in support of them anymore, Wadhalfa is the border if they want problems and we shall see who are the real sudanese. thanks for reading……. junub sudan oyeeeeeeee south sudan oyeeeeeeee new sudan oyeeeeeeeee SPLA oyeeeeeeeee.
Butrus Ajak.
South Sudan referendum commission snubs Khartoum, hires US firm to supply voting materials
Susan Rice is the lady who is well aware of our people suffering. She owes acknowledgement from South Sudanese. Her message below makes her stands tall in the USA Government.
I am totally thrown off by Obama soft and slow diplomacy towards Sudan successive terrorist government. My support to Obama has just faded off.
“We will push for peaceful, on-time referenda that reflect the will of the people of South Sudan and Abyei, and we will visit Darfur to assess the humanitarian situation and the plight of civilians in the wake of a disturbing uptick in violence,” she said.
Long live, Susan Rice!!!!
Butrus.
Haak
South Sudan referendum commission snubs Khartoum, hires US firm to supply voting materials
congratulation dear southern…………………..we all youths in diaspora are very happy to hear that the referandum issues are out, we were wondering of when the GOss would give the detailed for creditability of our independent, now my only message is to argue you guys who are elite to go deep into our villages to inform and sensitized the ppo down there to turn out all of them,
i would not mind, to asked the GOSS to tell us planning/provision lay down for the ppo who are in diaspora countries purposely for academic issue for example we have over 3000 ppo in uganda and over 2500 in kenya? we are told to register here yet during referendum we would be here, so is there any provision for us?
please i would beg answer from all
send answer to [email protected]
thanks