SPLA tears SPLM-DC elections posters in Malakal and seizes its elections materials at Juba airport

(19/02/2010, SPLM-DC) Today at about 7:00 am in the morning an SPLA force in Malakal moved from the Southern Sector of the town and was tearing and removing all the posters of the elections campaign of the SPLM-DC. They were still tearing the posters at the time of writing this press statement. This was happening before the eyes of everybody in town.

At about 9:30 am at Juba Airport, the military intelligence of the SPLA at the HQ of General Salva Kiir Mayardit, candidate for the President of GoSS, seized a load of elections materials sent by the HQ of the SPLM-DC in Khartoum to its office in Juba. The person carrying the material, Mr Amjad Angelo, was detained and taken to an unknown destination; we are very concerned for his life.

Such misconduct is unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms possible.
The detained members of the SPLM-DC as well as the material seized must be released forthwith. Also, strict orders must be issued to the SPLA to keep away from politics.

We appeal to the National Election Commission, UNMIS and the international community to bring pressure to bear on the SPLM leadership to allow the general election to take place smoothly without hindrance.

Information Department
SPLM-DC Khartoum.