Warrap says it cannot control celebrations for secession

By Ngor Arol Garang

January 23, 2011 (ABYEI) – Authorities from Warrap, one of the ten southern states and also a home state to South Sudan president, Salva Kiir Mayardit said Sunday they cannot control individuals celebrating local results announced in favor of secession.

Initial results according to referendum officials announced that a majority of voters across the region voted overwhelmingly for secession of the south from the north in preliminary results.

Warrap voted for secession by 99.96% with neighboring state of northern Bahr el Ghazal scored 99.93% of secession votesvotes for unity. Lakes and Western Bahr el Ghazal states also voted 99% for secession votes each leaving negligible percentage for unity as well as invalid and unmarked ballot papers.

Speaking in an interview with Sudan Tribune from Kuacjok, capital of the state, Yel Mayar, a deputy governor of state said no official celebration for secession votes has been organized by the authorities.

“No official ceremony has been organized by the state but we have heard and witnessed it in our constituencies celebrations organized by individuals after announced of local results at individual polling centers. There were individual celebrations which we could not control because their rights to celebrate outcome of their choice. It is not a crime since there is no law which prohibits peaceful celebrations,” explained Mayar.

Mayar was one of the first senior officials in the state to approve results describing them as “great and encouraging” an interview with Sudan Tribune on Friday.

This is a great and encouraging result,” said Mayar, who said he was among the first to vote. “This is what everybody who was eager to vote wants to hear. These results represent exactly the will of our people. It is now clear to the internationally community that this is what the south has been fighting for all these decades”.

“The south wants to be freer than 99.96 percent. They need to be hundred percent free,” he said. “The people of Warrap State have come out openly to tell the whole world what they want and I am sure that the rest of the south will now follow the same trend.”

In Twic County, Warrap State, Colonel Dominic Deng Kuoc Malek told Sudan Tribune last week they were increasing the number of security personnel in the area to look after people celebrating results with relatives and friends.

But, Salva Kiir Mayardit, a president of the semi autonomous regional government last week called on the citizens not to start celebrations for secession until final official results are announced in February. He also told citizens not to low Sudanese flag and other political symbols associated with the National Congress Party saying the region was still under united Sudan.

(ST)