South Sudanese in the USA Demand for Referendum Transparency
South Sudanese Community Leaders in USA
Prof. Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil, Chairman SSRC
November 10, 2010
South Sudanese in the USA Demand for Referendum Transparency
Dear Prof. Khalil,
We, the South Sudanese Community leaders in the USA, with paramount anxiety deliberated over the impending and looming referendum process. There is a mounting concern and frustration of the people of Southern Sudan living in USA as January 9th, 2011 draws closer, over the murky and uncertainty of setting polling stations within our proximity, the management process, and lack of flow of information from the responsible referendum bodies. Therefore, as South Sudanese Community leaders, we are hereby expressing our position regarding the process. This petition is, therefore, filed to ensure free and fair voting, and strengthen the trust the citizens of Southern Sudan have in the referendum process, democracy and constitutional set up of the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC).
For decades, the Sudanese people have suffered under successive and oppressive regimes. Salvation came in the form of CPA, and since it’s signing, the enemies of peace are working tirelessly for its demise. No expertise is needed to see how CPA has been tampered with. Likewise, we are seeing the referendum is following suit by compromising its legitimacy. No independent agency other than IOM should be responsible for conducting, registering, manning and staffing the polling stations without the involvement of the community. This clearly demonstrates the vulnerability of the process to threats such as rigging.
We have identified several problems including, unauthorized privilege escalation, use of dubious characters, and a quite considerable outsider threats. This system is bound to suffer similar flaws to the April 2010 general elections. In the face of such an attempt, it leaves us no choice but to demand the following:
1. The need for a polling station in each of the 50 states of United States of America. Limiting them to two or three will deny many prospective voters the right to easy access to a polling station. The demographic nature of the Sudanese population in relation to state of residency and proximity to polling stations makes it very difficult if not impossible to travel.
2. In case the number above is not possible, establish 3 polling centers in each region for a total of 12 centers in the USA for easy reach and convenience. The following suggested cities based on proximity to South Sudanese population concentration:
East Coast—Boston, MA, New York, NY and Washington, DC
West Coast—Seattle, WA, San Diego, CA and Phoenix, AZ
Mid West—Minneapolis, MN, Omaha, NE and Chicago, IL
South—Dallas, TX, Nashville, TN and Jacksonville, FL
3. International Organization for Migration (IOM), being the contracted entity to carry out the referendum, should include sanctioned Sudanese community leaders in the USA as part of the team to identify, register and man the process and the polling centers before and during the voting exercise. We understand that IOM is hiring Sudanese and the process must be open and transparent rather than discrete. This may result in rigging and foul play.
4. The SSRC and IOM must establish clear means for disseminating information on a timely manner to the South Sudanese population. Thus far, there is little to no information about the conduct of the referendum reaching the general South Sudanese population in USA and Diaspora as a whole. This fact alone undermines the exercise, especially with no time remaining for the registrations and voting.
5. We feel disenfranchised and ignored by the developments surrounding the preparations paving the way for the historic January 9th, 2011 voting in USA. The obstacles stipulated above are real and genuine concerns. We urge your utmost concern to look and review the process without fear and favor.
In an event our demands are not met within the next 72 hours, we, the South Sudanese communities in USA will have no option, but to abstain from this referendum process and chose to forgo our rights to vote—the blame of which must be on the responsible bodies tasked with conducting the exercise.
Cc:
Justice Chan Rieth Madut, Chairman, SSRB
Andrew Cramer, Southern Sudan Referendum OCRV Country Coordinator, USA (IOM)
President Salva Kiir Mayardit, GOSS
Pagan Amum Okiech, SPLM Secretary General
Ambassador Akec Koch, Sudanese Embassy, USA
Ezekiel Lol Gatgouth, GOSS Mission, USA
Mangok Mangok Mayen, SPLM-USA Secretariat
White House
USA Congress
USA Special Envoy to Sudan
UN Headquarters
Undersigned:
Akok Akok, Bahr el-Ghazal Community, USA
Bol Majok, Twic Community, USA
Brown Both Bol, Nuer Community Development Service, USA
Daniel Lazaro, Kakwa Community, USA
Edward Zowe, Equatorian Community, USA
Emelio Mongu, Parara (Bari) Community, USA
Godfrey Ilibo, Otuho Community Association in Diaspora (OCAD), North America
Isaac Leju, Sudanese Community, Pittsburgh
John Ayor, Bor Community, USA
John Jock Tay, Pangak Community, USA
Michael Lupai, South Sudanese Community, DC Metro area
Mariano Mawein, Sudanese community, Maine
Marion Rikpa, Azande Community, Maine
Martin Aleu Akol, Sudanese Community, Syracuse, NY
Nyanthuok Moun, Jikany Community
Othwin Bangoshith, Shilluk Community
Regina Sebit, Sudanese Community, Houston, TX
Simon Deng Kech, Lou Nuer Community, USA
Marion Rikpa, Azande Community, Maine
Toni Makur, Yorol Community, USA
For more details, contact: [email protected]