South Sudan Political Parties’ Council launches referenda action plan
By Julius N. Uma
November 06, 2010 (JUBA) – The recently formed Southern Sudan Political Parties’ Council (PPC) and other leading civil society organizations have officially launched the PPC’s action plan to promote the code of conduct for the referendum on south Sudan independence and the popular consultations in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile.
South Sudan is 66 days away from holding a referendum vote in January 2011 on whether it wants to remain united with the Muslim-dominated north or secedes to form its own independent nation. All prognoses indicate that south Sudan secession is a fait accompli.
According to a press release issued on Saturday, the action plan includes the expansion of the PPC and its alternative coordinating bodies, which are tasked with promoting the code across all 10 states in South Sudan.
The PPC’s acting chairperson, Fibel Ufondi, told journalists on Saturday that the referendum code, which was adopted during a recent conference of Southern Sudan political parties in Juba, would guide the action plans aimed at ensuring a peaceful and credible conduct of the planned ballot.
Ufondi acknowledged the continuous commitment of AU panel to promoting free, fair, timely and credible conduct of the referenda, urging the government and civil society organizations to cooperate with the panel.
According to the PPC, the launch of the action plan will coincide with the official commencement on Sunday of South Sudan’s extensive media campaign for the referenda, which aims to include various media houses in the region.
“Our other objective was to use this occasion [action plan launch] to contribute to the government’s efforts in marking the start of the media campaign with momentum,” the PPC’s press release issued during Saturday’s briefing reads.
Aminata Mansaray, a senior officer at the AU liaison office in Juba, said it was important for the outcome of the referenda to reflect the wishes and decisions of the southern population.
She affirmed that the AU would remain committed to its rightful mandate in ensuring that the ongoing negotiations on Abyei as well as other referenda-related consultations progress smoothly ahead of the two plebiscites.
For his part, Justice Chan Reec Madut, the Chairperson of Southern Sudan Referendum Bureau (SSRB), said that the action plan adopted by the PPC was a timely initiative that would boost efforts to prepare people for the referendum.
Madut stressed that the code of conduct is essential to the voters’ education exercise, which he described as the milestone for the achievement of a free, fair and credible referendum.
(ST)