THE ELECTORAL VIOLENCE …. PRECAUTIONARY PROCEDURES
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The Arab League assures the success of the Sudanese 2010 elections
• An interview by Mohamed Alfatih Khartoum 17/4/SUNA/ President of the Arab League office in Khartoum, and head of the Arab League observation mission for the 2010 Sudanese elections, Ambassador Salah Halima said the Arab League could assure from its 50 delegates reports from all the states of the Sudan , specially in Darfur and South Sudan that the elections process was completed easily and successfully. He said in an interview with Sudan News agency that the Sudanese elections is considered as a model for transparency and honesty despite its complications compared with other elections where the Arab League had participated by missions , and that the Sudanese elections are considered unprecedented where a great effort is exerted and it included 8 elections cards in the north of Sudan and 12 cards in the south and 16,5 voters had registered for voting with an active presence of international observers whose numbers had exceeded 800 observers in addition to 20000 local observers. Ambassador Salah Halima also hailed the role of the national elections commission in regard to its efforts and he said the commission has recognized the mistakes and reformed and corrected them and this is a stance to be thanked for. He added that the extending the elections period and re-voting in some constituencies is a good stance and must be appreciated and showed that the commission is not biased and work with great transparency. He explained that according to the reports of the Arab League observers it is clear that the participation in voting was very high. In regard to Darfur he revealed that there are differences in the participation rate between the cities and camps , saying that he visited Abushoak camp in Alfashir and talked to observers and voters and he believe that the participation rate in this camp was less than the other camps where it reached 50% compared with the participation in Darfur cities which reached 65% in the average. |
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Posted: 18/02/2010 - 08:15
• Feb 18 ( SUNA ) - In accordance with the terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that necessitates democratic transformation the country will witness next April national elections to pave the way for peace, development and stability
The elections is a vital process accompanied with many challenges, which require complete solidarity and sincere efforts to realize the common goal
One of the challenges that face the electoral operation is the electoral violence. Professor Hassan Al-Saoree of Al- Neelain University said that election violence is an international phenomenon a matter that prompted the UN and many democratic states to focus on this issue, analyze it and try to find solution for it. He said the reason behind this problem is that the nature of the electoral operations may contract with the nature of the multi -cultural societies and surfacing of the hidden social conflicts between the different groups. He said that it may also occur as a reaction to bad management and supervision of the electoral administration or high ambition as in the case where some politicians try to utilize ethnicity or tribal affiliation during the electoral campaigns and the ethnic feeling becomes political affiliation that change the political conflict which should be solved through democracy into a tribal one
Prof Al-Saoree pointed to the role of the nature of the electoral systems, such as the conditions of nomination and the sort of the majority, in accelerating the electoral violence and the rules of the electoral process. He indicated deliberate violence by some political groups in the society as one of the factors that lead to electoral violence
"The success of the electoral process in Sudan and overcoming of impediments is the target of all partners in the electoral operation" said Pro. Al-Saoree asserting that the success of the elections depend on the conviction of all political groups in the democratic process addition to practical application of this conviction during the electoral process as well as the complementary role of media, civil society organizations and the political forces to form a public opinion against all kinds and attempts of electoral violence. He added that such public opinion will be a strong deterrent against any one who tries to use force instead of resorting to the polls
Member of the Election Security Committee Major General Ahamed Imam Al-Tuhame asserted that the precautionary measures against the electoral violence include the official efforts to face these activities indicating that the security forces are aware with the big elections challenge and what measures they should take to counter the expected inside and outside risks through plans and programs that will be carried out in cooperation and coordination between the various security sectors. He added that security awareness should be raised among the citizens through media, the civil society organizations and the parties. People should be enlighted with the risks that face the country and the required cooperation with the security and justice authorities to abort any threat to the safety of the country
Deputy Chairman of the National Elections Commission Prof. Abd-Alla Ahmad Abd-Alla underscored that facing the electoral violence and maintaining safety of the election process could be realized through working as partners responsible for organizing transparent and fair elections. He said the citizens should be prepared to accept the final results of the elections whether it is victory or defeat adding that the participation of an international, regional and a national observation that pay attention to the international and national principles in implementing its work is a guarantee for successful elections. He asserted that the culture of tolerance that has characterized the Sudanese people in the last elections will lead to a peaceful democratic transformation |