South Sudan decision day
January 8, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – Southern Sudanese have flocked to the polling stations across the country to cast their votes in an emotional exercise on the future of the semi-autonomous region that is widely expected to lead to the creation of the world’s newest state.
But the death of SPLM’s chairman and founder John Garang in a helicopter crash was considered by many a major setback to unity efforts. He has been a proponent of ‘New Sudan’ which calls for a united country that recognizes citizenship as a basis of rights rather than religion or ethnicity.
His successors Salva Kiir has appeared less than enthusiastic about embracing this vision and has spent of his time in the South rather in Khartoum where he holds the position of the country’s First Vice president.
The SPLM has been accusing the NCP of dominating the decision making process despite the power sharing formula of the CPA. Both parties were constantly wrangling over issues ranging from oil revenue to referendum.
Observers say that this has accelerated the walk towards separation as Southerners have grown more skeptical and mistrustful of the North.
The Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir met with former U.S. president Jimmy Carter on Saturday and was quoted as saying that he hopes that the vote will express the will of the people in a “fair and true manner”.
Carter on his end said that Bashir promised him to respect the referendum outcome and that he was looking forward to working with Southern leaders to overcome any obstacles that might come up.
The NCP’s deputy chairman in Khartoum said that they will accept the results if the vote is “transparent and free” adding that while they will be sad if the South secedes but that “it is not all evil” and that North and South could both benefit of peace is sustained.
HEAVY TURNOUT FOR VOTING
Thousands of excited Southerners were seen at voting stations standing in line with many saying that they are willing to wait as long as it takes to cast their votes.
South Sudan leader Kiir, who casted his vote this morning at Garang’s mausoleum, described this day as a “historic moment”.
The U.S. special envoy Scott Gration and Senator John Kerry as well as Hollywood star George Clooney watched Kiir cast the ballot.
“I would like to call on all south Sudanese people to be patient in case anyone does not have time to cast his or her vote today,” Kiir said.
The referendum will be valid only if more than 60% of registered voters show up and a 50%+1 will make either choices of unity or secession the official result.
The chairman of the South Sudan referendum commission (SSRC) Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil said in a press conference that results will be announced in early February.
He said that 3,930,916 Southerners have registered for voting today and that 3,000 stations were erected in Sudan and around the world with 9,000 polling staff.
Khalil noted that only 64 challenges to voter registration were made which according to him confirms that the process went smoothly despite the challenges and delays relating to enactment of the referendum law and establishment of the SSRC.
OBAMA PROMISES INCENTIVES FOR SUDAN
Today U.S President Barack Obama has once again promised Sudan a removal from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism as well as lifting of US economic sanctions if it ensured a peaceful conduct of south Sudan referendum and respected its outcome.
“Today, I am repeating my offer to Sudan’s leaders — if you fulfill your obligations and choose peace, there is a path to normal relations with the United States, including the lifting of economic sanctions and beginning the process, in accordance with United States law, of removing Sudan from the list of states that sponsor terrorism,” he wrote.
“In contrast, those who flout their international obligations will face more pressure and isolation,” he added.
Obama said that the fact that the referendum appears to be happening on time is a coronation of commitments by Sudan leaders as well as US diplomatic efforts exerted during the high-level meeting on Sudan held in September on the margins of the US General Assembly.
He further urged all sides to refrain from actions aimed at influencing the vote as well as inflammatory remarks and attempts to intimidate voters.
“As the ballots are counted, all sides must resist prejudging the outcome. For the results to be credible, the commission that is overseeing the referendum must be free from pressure and interference. In the days ahead, leaders from north and south will need to work together to prevent violence and ensure that isolated incidents do not spiral into wider instability,” Obama commentary reads.
“As the referendum proceeds, voters must be allowed access to polling stations; they must be able to cast their ballots free from intimidation and coercion. All sides should refrain from inflammatory rhetoric or provocative actions that could raise tensions or prevent voters from expressing their will”
Obama declared that the United States will support efforts to ensure that if south chose to secede that the two states will be successful and coexist. He also said that US is ready to be a partner in helping south Sudan rebuilds itself.
“If the south chooses independence, the international community, including the United States, will have an interest in ensuring that the two nations that emerge succeed as stable and economically viable neighbors, because their fortunes are linked. Southern Sudan, in particular, will need partners in the long-term task of fulfilling the political and economic aspirations of its people.”
(ST)
Titbaai
South Sudan decision day
Thank God that we reached this historic day 9th/1/2011.
taban atae
South Sudan decision day
Our hero Late Dr. Garang was not calling for unity as a such a fragile one, HE WAS CALLING FOR A UNITY THAT makes head equal.Unfortunetly he was not understood.
We ar going to be an independent nation,but if we are still entagling ourself to triblism,alcoholism and corruption we will go no where.Separation doesn’t mean cutting thing into two pieces, it means work, education, health building infrastructure .I advice all the youth to work hard and seprate themselves from depending on others to provide them with life needs . do it yourself and you will succeed. Long live South Sudan.
Deng E. Manyuon
South Sudan decision day
What a mixed feeling? What an emotional moment? What a historic event? What a dream comes true? What a special day for me? What…..what…??
A few hours I spent in the line at polling station, I could not feel at all. I Woke up early this morning as new person. I immediately rushed to my polling station in order to cast my valuable vote, thinking to be the first one to vote for secession of the current country. Unbelievably and surprisingly, there were 47 people qeued a head of me singing, dancing and rejoicing. What a great joy? What a celebration? I went down in tears!! It reminded me the days whenever our gallant SPLA forces capture a Southern Sudanese town. The first thing was to raise up the SPLA/M flag. The second thing was to honour the fallen heroes. The third thing was the civilians joining in celebration with the SPLA fighters.The fourth thing was to wait for radio SPLA/M for military music and victory annoucement. I have to admit here that I could not compose myself.
Today is the first step to a walk to freedom journey. I honour and salute our father of nation late Dr John Garang de Mabior for his living legacy. I honour our fallen heroes, the SPLA fighters who paid ultimate prices for the sake of freedom, justice, equality and democracy. I honour the 3 millions people of Southern Sudan who lost their lives during the noble struggle.
I will go home and sleep tonight comfortably. What a special night. It is gonna be a quite night for me!! I can see the light at the end of tunnel.
Yes for secession, no for forced and faked unity
Deng
Maguangdit
South Sudan decision day
Dear SPLM and all Southern Sudanese worldwide,
Just a piece of advice: ensure that votes are highly protected after being cast and counted! The enemies may try everything in his power including tampering with the cast valid votes. They may burn them, steal them, or do whatever will frustrate our will.
If we can not defeat our enemy by bullets, we must defeat them by ballots albeit bulllets can remain on the table as a last resort!
Peter Elia Kuzee
South Sudan decision day
GOD IS GREAT,
president we saw you voting, and most of us have done it today.Last night i could’t sleep becouse the time was runing out of NCP.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH. NEW SUDAN OYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
bright
South Sudan decision day
A hisotry is made but forming a new country is not an end. Southern leaders should continue to make history and lead their new country wisely. Prove to the world that you are capable of managing your own affairs. There are and will always be spoilers like few racist ppl who post comments on this site but the leaders should have the gut to ignore them and do things that is useful for the majority. That is what true leaders do after all.
future president(troublemaker)
South Sudan decision day
the struggle of zakawa people in darfur forced NCP to sign a peace deal with south sudan.
and in result of their struggle, the referendum is achieved safely. if there were no fighting in darfur there were no peace deal with sudan. so our independence is the result of zaghawa struggle.
zakawa God bless and help you to overthrown NCP. so that we will thing about reunification Sudan.
fur sure we will support you…………..
J G kuol
South Sudan decision day
God Almighty ,in humble and adoration we thank Thee for
the privilege of Thy grace.It’s a day of thankfulness,a day
gladness, faithfulness, joy and thanksgiving from our hearts. If you watched the opening of the polling centre in Juba today you would hear the popular song even kids know it by heart. > Nehna jaa shukru Rabuna ,Halleluyah
Nehna jaa shukru Rabuna
This song filled the air in those wonderful moments.
Nehna jaa shukru Rabuna>english trans(We’ve come to thank
him,The Lord).That’s right Almighty God, God of Israel will
never fail