Civil society organizations urge civilians to register for referendum

By Manyang Mayom

November 21, 2010 (JUBA) – A Sudanese civil society organization, based in Khartoum, has urged Southern Sudanese organizations to double their efforts to make sure rural communities are aware of January’s self determination referendum.

On Saturday, Ahmed Girshsb the executive director of the Institute for Development of Civil society said that “the Civil Societies need to have a positive role in informing the Sudanese people about the referendum process consisting of registration and voting, including the identification of what can trigger violence and ways to prevent referendum violence”.

Speaking during a workshop in Rumbek on how to prevent referendum violence, he said the South Sudan referendum is must be a free and fair democratic process without discrimination or injustice.

Girshsb, whose institute is also conducting awareness workshops in Khartoum, added that civil society in Sudan has to advocate for a “smooth and peaceful referendum whatever the result”.

“It is important for civil society to have active role to raise awareness for people to know were they stand, and that we wanted peaceful referendum – it’s important for the people of Southern Sudan to understand the rule of the law in referendum that we need smooth peaceful referendum”.

Meanwhile, Charles Waliaula who works with Women for Women International said the workshop had taught him the means of identifying triggers of violence in the referendum process, mechanisms of dealing with violence, deeper understanding of the concept of citizenship including democratic principles and values and conflict resolution skills.

Waliaula urged Southern Sudanese to take an active role in the referendum process by turning up to register for vote – that is likely to see the south secede from the north .

Voter registration runs from November 15 to December 1. The poll itself is due to begin on January 9 2011.

However, Waliaula cautioned Southern Sudanese against registering but not voting as a 60% turn out of registered voters in needed under referendum legislation for the vote to be valid.

“If you know that you’re not going to be available to vote, please do not register because you are going to compromise the process,” he said.

The process of voter registration is going on peacefully in Lakes state, although so far election officials say that more men have turned up to register

(ST)