Letter to NEC 2 : Irregularities on the first day of polling.

(12/04/2010, SPLM-DC) Chairman, The National Elections Commission.

Dear Sir,
Subject: Irregularities on the first day of polling.

The Elections Operations Room of my party is following closely the conduct of the polling all over the South. On the first day of voting yesterday, it was gratifying to note that, overall, there was a high turn out. Voters were queuing in front of the polling centres early in the morning. Unhappily, many of the centres opened late and some did not open till after 2:00 pm. Voters were faced with another problem, that is, that the voter register was messed up and voters moved from one centre to another looking for their names to no avail for some of them till the voting closed. If no solution is found today, the same story may repeat itself and another day wasted.

The Elections Operations Room also recorded serious irregularities that took place yesterday which we are bringing to your kind attention to be addressed urgently if the elections are to be judged as free and fair. The list of these irregularities is attached. Some of them are committed by the SPLM and SPLA soldiers. However, the elections returning officers are also implicated in the rigging. This is a very serious matter.

Up to the time of writing, the National Elections Commission has not taken action on our letter dated the 4th instant on the obstructions to our campaign in the four States of Bahr El Ghazal which should have been answered before the commencement of polling. Our experience with the Commission is leading us to the conclusion that when it comes to dealing with the Government of Southern Sudan, it is not forceful within its powers in making GOSS respect the Constitution and the Elections Act.

We still hope that even at this eleventh hour the Commission will take action to stop the SPLM from using the SPLA to intimidate voters and steal the elections, as well as disciplining its own officials in the South who are active in rigging the elections in favour of the SPLM. Failing that, we would like to make it clear that we shall not be party to a flawed elections process.

Thank you.

Dr Lam Akol Ajawin,
Chairman of the SPLM and
Candidate for President of the
Government of Southern Sudan.