Sudan Referendum Panel/UN

Independent Films, Web Series, Politics

An international task force charged by the United Nations with monitoring the upcoming referenda in Sudan has met with South Sudan government officials. Discussions took place to guage progress being made to register voters and to weigh the challenges ahead for the vote slated for January 9th.

This is the third visit of the election team and the emphasis was on engaging all parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, underscoring the goal of conducting a credible referendum. Leaders of the task force stressed the critical importance of a credible result.

The UN panel met with the Southern Sudan Referendum Bureau (SSRB) to discuss technical, logistical and financial issues related to the voting process and also visited Data Centers where they were briefed. An estimated three million seven hundred voters have been registered.

Transcripts / Production notes / Scripts

The United Nations Secretary-General’s Panel led by former President of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa tasked with monitoring the upcoming referenda on self determination in Sudan, arrived in Juba on Monday (20 Dec).

He held meetings with South Sudan Government officials, the Referendum Bureau and UN and Civil Society Organizations to discuss the progress pertaining to the referenda after the registration process and challenges ahead as the vote slated for 9 January 2011 approaches.

The third visit of the Panel comes 20 days before voting is due to start. The aim of the visit was to engage more with parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) with regard to the referenda and to support them in conducting a credible referendum.

Benjamin Mkapa, former President of Tanzania, and chairman of the Panel said that the referendum process can pass off peacefully, in an orderly manner and with a credible result.

SOUNDBITE (English) Benjamin Mkapa former President of Tanzania:
“As I see it at this stage is to make sure that the voters understand the obligation, the registered voters understand the obligation to come back to the polling centers on the 9th of January and during the next six days and vote.”

The UN Panel also met with the Southern Sudan Referendum Bureau (SSRB) and discussed various technical, logistical and financial issues that need to be addressed during the voting process. The Panel also visited the Data Center at the referendum Bureau and were briefed on the process.

SOUNDBITE (English) Benjamin Mkapa former President of Tanzania,
“We feel quite confident this can happen and we are satisfied that the principal parties to the CPA are keen that this should come to pass uneventfully in the sense that non- violently and peacefully.”

He also called on the two signatories of CPA not to use verbal attacks on each other.

SOUNDBITE (English) Benjamin Mkapa former President of Tanzania:

“I ask leaders, stakeholders particularly the parties to the CPA to watch their tongue, to be more exhortational, exhorting the population to be calm and to participate effectively.”

The registration process was launched on 15 November for a two week period but was extended by one week, ending on 8 December with an estimated three million seven hundred voters registered. Voting is expected to start on 9 January 2010.

Tags

• Sudan Referendum Joba

Directors:

• Tom Osborne, UNTV

Producers:

• Muhamed Sacirbey