Lakes state governor appeals for free and fair referendum
By Manyang Mayom
November 4, 2010 (RUMBEK) – The Governor of Lakes state Chol Tong Mayay returned to Rumbek on Thursday appealing for the south’s self determination referendum to be free and fair.
Mayay said that the key issues discussed at the governor’s forum were decentralization of government, the upcoming referendum and security.
The governor’s presentation to the forum outlined the cultures, history and current situation in Lakes state and put forward proposals for funding new security, agricultural and development projects.
Speaking to press at Rumbek airport, Governor Mayay called upon all political parties operating in Lakes state to embrace the referendum as their first priority ahead of the vote on January 9, 2011.
He called upon public and politicians to campaign peacefully for both separation and unity.
“If you are separatist, you are free and if you are for unity, you are free to talk, the ground is open for you free – I need all political parties to double their effort in making people aware of forthcoming referendum”, the governor said.
The southern referendum on independence was the centerpiece of a 2005 peace deal between former southern rebels the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and the National Congress Party who have ruled Sudan since 1989.
South Sudan, which has been at war with Khartoum based governments for most of the country’s independence – over access to resources, under development, political marginalization and religious freedom among other issues – is widely expected to vote to secede from the north in the vote that begins on January 9, 2011.
Sudan Tribune estimates around a thousand of people turned in Rumbek on Thursday to welcome back governor Mayay. Roads from the airport down to Freedom Square were occupied by the members of the public as well as students, trade unionists, motorcyclists and organized forces.
Governor Mayay was due to address the crowd but did not due to technical problem with the microphone.
Those that had come to here the governor speak were highly critical of the Ministry of Information and Communication for not ensuring the system worked.
(ST)
Shadrack Nuer Machut
Lakes state governor appeals for free and fair referendum
Welcome back Your Excellency, Chol Tong Mayay,
We are very happy to have autonomous governor in Lakes. I am pleased to hear from you that you are planning to fund security and agriculture in Lakes. Hello Sir, to achieve it needs peope who are patriotic and well educated to help you in the implementation otherwise saying is easier than done.
Besides, may you continue to aware opposition parties to dwell on referendum only without inclusive internal politics and SPLM members should also maintain cooperation with other parties.
I would like you (the authorities) to speak one word during the campaign of referendum as free campaign for Independence is concerned but don’t mix it with pronouncing Unity here in the South. Who will be coountable for bad action if someone comes to tell me vote for unity?
It’s very clear in the North that anybody found saying ‘Separation’ is sentenced to death. Why not here to retaliate? Many students are killed illegally, some castrated and many more others are denied medical trreatment officially.
Marial Mangar Akol
Lakes state governor appeals for free and fair referendum
Eng. You are most welcome to your home, we were been waiting.
thanks for coming back and for attending 8th Southern Sudan governors forum & Southern Sudan dialogue conference. your people are up straight facing referendum with two eyes.
Your Excellency, we Welcome you this morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome like of today.”because “We must welcome the man of future, remembering that soon it will be the past; and we must respect the past, remembering that it was once all that was humanly possible”.
Now as such from your word, we may allow free campaign for any options but we were not suppose to do that because optional campaign is not allowed in Khartoum of which two people were castrated then what of us here? your people are ready for freedom (separation) of Southern Sudan to be independent state.
thanks you once again/ thanks you once more
Separation Oyee! Lakes state Oyee! Engineer Oyee!
Marial Mangar Akol