Conflicting reports on readiness for voter registration in Jonglei state
November 14, 2010 (BOR) – Preparations for voter registration South Sudan’s self determination referendum are complete according to Jonglei state high committee. Registration for the referendum is due to begin Monday 15 November.
“People have already started transporting registration kits from counties headquarters [voter] registration centers,” said John Boloc, a member of the State High Committee (SHC).
On Saturday November 13, a voter registration awareness rally was conducted in Bor town, the capital of Jonglei state. Similar addresses were expected to have been conducted at county headquarters according to SHC.
The event was attended by politicians including the Deputy Governor Hussein Mar Nyuot, was organized rally by civil society organizations, as well as the ‘Referendum Task Force’.
Vehicles and motorcycles meant to assist in movement of referendum materials and personnel from counties headquarters to registration centers are assembled at SHC office in Bor displaying that the process is on course, according to officials.
“The state of Jonglei is ready,” said Mr. Boloc on Friday in interview with UN sponsored Miraya FM.
But with only hours remaining until voter registration is due to commence registration staffs have told Sudan Tribune that they are not ready.
In Bor county, an official said that some registration material had not been delivered due to flooding and poor roads.
“We are not ready to start registration on Monday,” said a registration officer who prefers anonymity.
“We don’t have money for feeding leave alone the whole contract which we [staffs] have which is not yet signed,” the officer added.
The officer nevertheless expressed commitment to the process.
“This is a national duty but realities ought to be said,” the officer noted.
Jonglei SHC for the referendum has expressed concern over the mobility of referendum material given floods that had further weakened the state seasonal roads.
Reuben Garang Yuol, the chairperson of Jonglei SHC told a press briefing a few weeks ago that vehicles meant to transport referendum staffs to voter registration will not be traveling due to floods and the damaged caused to the states mainly dirt roads.
Southern Sudanese are due to vote in a referendum on 9 January, 2011 in accordance with a 2005 peace deal that ended two decades of north-south civil war where over two million lives were lost.
With two months left until the plebiscite, numerous issues including border demarcation, citizenship and national debts are yet to be resolved by peace partners; the former rebel, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement that govern the south as part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party.
(ST)