Southern Sudan police promise security during the referendum

January 11, 2011 (BOR) – South Sudan’s referendum on independence is being held in a peaceful atmosphere according to Gordon Kur Micah deputy inspector general of police in the government of southern Sudan.

Speaking in Jonglei state Kur said that the southern government was pleased with the conduct of the vote over the first three days. Voting for the referendum ends on January 15, with the result expected mid February.

“So far, what we have seen is very promising [in term of voters safety….] and we are very happy with the way its going,” Kur Micah told reporters in Bor, while on a visit to assess the polling exercise.

The senior policeman added that “we have to keep the security in place until we reached the end [of referendum exercise].”

Southern Sudanese are voting on independence, as a result of 2005 peace accord that ended two decades of north-south civil war. Analysts and opinion polls indicate that southerners will vote for secession.

Polling began on Sunday January 9 with a high turnout but this decreased on Monday and Tuesday as many people already cast their votes.

Polling staffs in Bor on Tuesday said that only a small number of voters were still to vote as the majority voted on Sunday and Monday.

At Negel polling center, only 300 of 4,400 registered voters had not voted by mid-day on Tuesday, according to figures provided by polling staff. At other centers even fewer voters are yet to vote.

A quorum of over 60% of registered voters in needed for the vote to be valid under the referendum law passed by the National Assembly, the Sudanese parliament.

(ST)