SPLM Refutes Claims That They Influence Registration In Northern Sudan

22 November 2010 – (Khartoum) – Meanwhile, the SPLM says that statements by senior NCP members that the SPLM is influencing southerners from registering are baseless.

The deputy speaker of the National Assembly Honorable Atem Garang addressed a press conference in Khartoum after an SPLM delegation visit to the registration centers.

[Atem Garang]: “We consider these statements as “irresponsible”, unfounded and full of lies and is meant to disorient the Sudanese people. We consider that as NCP’s attempt to prepare the minds and feelings of northern Sudanese to reject the result of the referendum if it is not in their interest, that is to say if the result is secession, they will reject it. But it is the opposite of what is happening here in the north the SPLM neither forces anyone to register nor forces them not to register, no. Any southern Sudanese has the right to register and has the right not to register. If they think that the expected result of the referendum to be left for others, this is their view and nobody should force them.”

Meanwhile, the leader of the SPLM Caucus in the national assembly, Honorable Thomas Wani Kundu accused the NCP of planning to rig the referendum.

[Thomas Wani Kundu]: “We want to send out a message to the outside world that the NCP is planning to rig the referendum and a clear proof is the presence of tents in front of registration centers number 1,207 1,208 and 1,209 at El-Hajj Yousif and these tents belong to the popular committees and we met them and we also found there NCP officials present some of them are former parliamentarians of the previous assembly and they are the ones doing this work. And we would like to assure you that if any rigging takes place, it is the NCP that is now planning to rig the referendum by forcing Southern Sudanese in the north to register.”

Since the registration exercise began on Monday 15th November, Khartoum has witnessed a poor turnout of eligible southerners.