South Sudan referendum commission receives most of the voting material
October 24, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The South Sudan referendum commission (SSRC) announced today that it has received 90% of the voting material required to conduct the self-determination vote early next year.
Ibrahim speaking to SUNA said that the quantity they have in their possession now should be enough to cover southern voters living in Sudan’s 15 northern states. Millions more will soon arrive in the southern capital Juba, he added.
The SSRC official suggested that more may be needed during the late stages of the referendum process which is slated to start on January 9.
“This is a giant step forward … When the materials are around everyone feels confident that these things are going ahead,” commission deputy chairman Chan Reek Madut told Reuters from Juba.
The commission has already started training referendum registration staff, and organizers still hope to start voting on Jan. 9, he added. “That is our hope and it is our aim,” he said.
Under an earlier timetable set out in legislation governing the plebiscite, the whole registration exercise should have been completed three months before the vote.
The change would require a legislative change to become legal, experts say.
Sudanese officials suggested in recent weeks that a postponement of the referendum may be necessary pending resolution of outstanding issues such as border demarcation, citizenship, national debt, wealth sharing and water agreements.
The Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) in control of the South has rejected any idea of a delay.
The National Congress Party (NCP) has already announced publicly that a simultaneous referendum in the oil-rich region of Abyei cannot be held as scheduled because of disagreements over who can vote. U.S. brokered talks in Ethiopia on the issue have failed to break the deadlock.
Both sides are scheduled to meet again in Addis Ababa on Abyei next Wednesday under the auspices of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) headed by former South African Thabo Mbeki.
Sudan government ‘committed to January referendum’
Meanwhile the U.S. Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, disclosed today that he has received a written confirmation from Sudanese officials that they are committed to hold the referendum on time.
“Just today, the government of Sudan handed me a resolution vowing in concrete language to abide by the outcome of the referendum, whatever it is, and pledging its cooperation with its neighbors to the south on a wide range of economic, political and security issues,” Kerry told reporters as he left the country.
If the government kept its word, the US would be able to forge a “new relationship” with Sudan, Kerry added.
“That will have a profound effect on the ways in which the Obama administration and the Congress of the United States can then respond, in terms of our economic relationship and other relationships,” he told reporters.
“Our goal is to see a peaceful Sudan, one with which we can have a normal relationship and, indeed, a long-term, growing relationship.”
The Sudanese Foreign Minister, Ali Karti during his meeting with Kerry on Sunday expressed his hope that the visiting lawmaker will be aware about the reality of the situation in Sudan, especially with regard to the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the developments in Darfur.
Kerry said that he held successful and constructive talks with the Sudanese officials on the CPA implementation namely the referendum in South Sudan and Abyei. He stressed that the whole world is observing the developments in Sudan and is looking forward to help it solve its issues.
(ST)
Gatwech
South Sudan referendum commission receives most of the voting material
Good that the South Sudan Referendum Commission has received 90% of the voting materials. Let them make sure that they are delivered to the centers on time. Also the registration materials should have all been delivered to the centers as the registration will soon begin next week.
Khartoum must allow for timely, free, fair and transparent conduct of the referenda in South Sudan and Abyei.
Don’t cause a political crisis please which may result to military crisis before referendum. All parties should stick to peaceful full implementation of the referendum process.
Akuma
South Sudan referendum commission receives most of the voting material
Well, Referendum will soon be held on timely scheduled because there will be no delay as Khartoum government expected. Registration must begin on time and the diaspora need to be transported back to Sudan in order to cast their vote on that referendum.
Dr. Akuma
USA
Bol Bol
South Sudan referendum commission receives most of the voting material
The SPLM leadership must station Southern Sudanese representatives in 15 Northern states to ensure that those who are going to vote are true South Sudanese or else. Failing to do will allow NCP secretly encouges North Sudanese to pretend like Southerners and then vote for unity.
Sudan virus
South Sudan referendum commission receives most of the voting material
I expected voting materials of southerns in the south to arrive first.
Why rush with those of the southerns in the north?
Sudan virus
South Sudan referendum commission receives most of the voting material
According to the latest smart census conducted recently ,there are only Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) southerns living in the north.
Gbatanyaki Justin
South Sudan referendum commission receives most of the voting material
It is a good news that the referendum commission has received most of the voting materials.However,I urge my fellow Southern Sudanese to be vigilant.Remember during the post elections in April, almost 90% of data entry was being controlled by the Jalaba (Notorious Arabs in the North).
Therefore,we also need to have IT expertise in South so that we can be able to know more about the system (Computers) or whatsoever devices that are going to be used during this historical and critical time of referendum.
Thank you