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Former Envoy Seeks Outside Pressure over Sudan Delaying Tactics

   Peter Clottey 01 December 2010
   Southern  Sudanese hold pro-independence banners as they march through
   the streets of the southern capital Juba, 09 Oct 2010

   Southern  Sudanese hold pro-independence banners as they march through
   the streets of the southern capital Juba, 09 Oct 2010

   A  former  envoy  of  the  government of south Sudan has called on the
   international  community  to  put  pressure  on  President Omar Hassan
   al-Bashirâs  government  to  stop  âmanipulatingâ  the chairman of the
   referendum commission, Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil.

   Ambassador  John  Andruga Duku told VOA recent developments, including
   the  controversy surrounding the printing of the ballot papers for the
   9^th  January referendum, show that the ruling National Congress Party
   wants to delay, as well as derail, the âself determination vote.â

   Dukuâs  comments  came  after  the  referendum commission announced it
   would  reopen bidding on the printing of ballot papers for the January
   vote on southern independence.

   Ambassador Duku said President Bashirâs NCP is determined to undermine
   the  credibility  of  the  January  vote  by insisting that a printing
   company  from  the  north  be  used  to  print  ballot  papers for the
   referendum.

   âThe  National  Congress Party is using all kinds of delay tactics for
   this (referendum). So, we are appealing to the international community
   to  put  pressure on Khartoum, especially the National Congress Party,
   as well as Professor Ibrahim Khalil,â said Duku.

   âIbrahim  Khalil  should  not  allow  himself (to be) pressured by the
   National  Congress  Party because there is no justification whatsoever
   to  reopen  the  bidding because the National Congress Party wants its
   company to print these ballot papers again.â

   âThe credibility of the referendum is so critical that we do not trust
   any  company,  whether  from  the south or from the north, because any
   company  from  south  Sudan  given  that  contract to print the ballot
   paper,  the  political  parties  in  the north, including the National
   Congress Party, will question the credibility of that company.â

   In  the  April  general  elections,  the  use of the national currency
   printing  company caused a great deal of controversy. The requirements
   for  bidding  were changed to make it easier for Sudanese companies to
   bid for the contract.

   The  requests  for  bids  required  companies  to  have  $1 million in
   reserves and an international reputation for producing ballots.

   Justice  Chan  Reec,  chairman of the southern referendum bureau, said
   the  bidding  on the contract was extended to 5^th December, but added
   that   delays   in  printing  should  not  lead  to  a  delay  in  the
   much-anticipated referendum.

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