UN happy for peaceful voter registration in southern Sudan

November 22, 2010 (BOR) – The Special Representative for the United Nations Secretary (SRSG) to Sudan, Haille Menkerios, says he has “very high regard” for the people of southern Sudan to peacefully resolve differences and conduct a smooth self determination referendum.

Menkerios, who is touring south Sudan to see how voter registration is progressing, visited Jonglei state capital Bor early on Friday and proceed to Pibor.

The Special Representative said that he hoped the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) would be able to make peace with rebels in the area.

“I have a very high regard for the people of this [Jonglei] province who played a critical role in assisting reconciliation within the SPLA in trying to get those who where rebelling against the government to peacefully resolved their differences and come in support of the referendum,” said Menkerios to reporters at Bor airstrip while heading to Pibor with Jonglei state governor Kuol Manyang.

Pibor county is where failed electoral candidate David Yauyau, launched an armed rebellion against the southern Sudan government after April’s elections. His forces have attacked and killed several SPLA soldiers.

After visiting the area, Menkerios told Miraya FM, sponsored by the United Nations Mission in Sudan that the situation is calm.

The UN Representative to Sudan also said he saw good stability in Western Equatoria state despite presence of Uganda’s fugitive rebels, the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) that has been terrorizing the population there.

The UN is helping to deliver some registration materials by helicopter in Jonglei state due to flooding and a poor road networks.

“The referendum is a priority … and we are doing everything we will be able to” to assist in transportation of materials, Menkerios said in Bor.

Voter-registration for the politically tense vote on south Sudan’s full independence from the north started on November 15 amid reports of high-turnout in the south and low a turnout in the north.

The registration is due to end on December 1, a few weeks before the start of the vote on 9 January 2011.

(ST)