Voter registration gets underway W. Equatoria despite security concerns

November 15, 2010 (YAMBIO) – Despite prevailing insecurity in the southwest of southern Sudan and the displacement of over 120,000 people villagers, registration has for South’s Sudan referendum on independence has begun in Western Equatoria on Monday.

Western Equatoria has suffered at the hands of the Lord’s Resistance Army, a rebel group who have terrorized communities in South Sudan, DR Congo and the Central African Republic since being forced out of Uganda.

The voter-registration process in the state capital Yambio is the first step of the statewide registration program, which will last until December 1.

Enthusiastic voters queued up to take part in the vote as crucial part of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party. The 22-year civil war directly or indirectly claimed the lives of two million people.

The governor of Western Equatoria Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro said that, “the spirits of the 2 million martyrs who perished during the struggle of the Sudan are watching [us] to verify either Southerners are going to make a mistake in voting time during the forthcoming self determination exercise.”

Western Equatoria State Referendum Task force together with the Inter Church Committee on Sunday November 14th organized an Ecumenical prayer for the launching of the voters registration at Gbudue Stadium in Yambio.

Bakosoro told the crowd that, “the revolutionary ideal of the SPLM were expressed in the great ideal that all men are equal that allowed southerners to think, write, what we think even without sudden knock on the door.”

“This coming January in this historic referendum, southerners are called to reaffirm their values and commitments to hold them against the hard reality of the past marginalization, therefore we must live legacy of the great heroes and martyrs and the promise of our future generation,” Bakosoro reiterated.

The governor called upon all the citizens of Western Equatoria to turn up for registration. He said that those who register “Must Vote, and Vote for Separation.” The 2009 legislation passed to set up the referendum states that a 60% turn out is needed for the result to be valid.

He also urged all MPs and ministers at their different capacities of Government to spearhead efforts to inform communities of the symbols of the referendum, specifically the separation symbol.

Bakosoro revealed that he is optimistic that across the state, “all people will rise up on the 9th of Jan 2011 when Southerners will vote for separation and say a big bye-bye for unity.”

The SPLM State Chairperson who is also the south Sudan Minister of Housing and Physical Planning, Jemma Nunu Kumba visiting Western Equatoria state (WES) said that “their coming together as the sons and daughters of WES is to educate masses on the benefit and the importance of the referendum.”

She stressed that, “it is time to leave a legacy to the generations to come and to wage honor to the heroes and heroines in the upcoming self determination exercise.”

Kumba urged all the political parties in the state, chiefs to work together for the success of the referendum which should be conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.

She warned against underground campaigns since the “constitution is clear; everybody is free to stand in front and talk about the benefits of the two options, unity or secession.”

Alison Monaani Magaya, a former senior member Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party who recently joined the SPLM, acknowledged the readiness of the people of Western Equatoria State to vote for the independence of southern Sudan during a tour of the three Counties of the state.

He assured the crowd that his return to the SPLM, with 60 other former NCP members, was with an indication that there is nothing for southern Sudanese in north Sudan.

(ST)