Dear UNDP Election Officials in Sudan:
Subject: SPLM Europe asks UNDP Sudan to Assist with ID Controversy.
We are still waiting for your reply on our formal complaint of unfair practices in the Sudan electoral process.
We are relieved that the NEC finally added some 3 Sub-Saharan African countries to its Arab-dominated list of registration centres outside the Sudan. We need more centres though in Western Europe
However, the NEC is strongly ignoring the ID barrier it has established, while only those with Sudanese passports can register.
This requirement negates a bit the new centre openings because most SPLM-oriented persons who are overseas arrived as refugees in Europe, Asia, Canada or USA and will have no Sudanese passport, it would be or have been illegal to have a passport from Sudan with that status. The data of the UN can confirm this fact.
Please assist us in getting national IDs accepted (such as SPLM IDs which are numbered and their key data confidentially stored in Juba); military or police ID; driver's license; or even accept the use of foreign passports that list The Sudan as the place of birth.
The legal requirement should be second priority to the need of an open, highly flexible registration process that allow all participants from all parties and beliefs to participate, particularly when government forces during the war targeted public institutions on purpose, destroying most public records, education, birth and marriage records in the South.
The use of only Sudanese passports is a unfair tactic to favor our Northern comrades in registration, just as having no Sub-Saharan registration centres was biased, and worked to the NCP's advantage.
Note: Able Alier made a telling statement this morning at the Malakal airport before leaving for Khartoum. A reporter asked why are you being so selective and limited in the NEC selection of registration locations. NEC Chairman Abel Alier said:
"The Presidency is the highest authority which decides on issues pertaining to country affairs such as voter registration".
Now, question to UNDP's experts in the field of Electoral process and Election Law - Should the leader of the incumbent party, who is the nation's president -- and his select party cadre in the executive decide what countries to have as registration/voting centres, or
Should not an Independent Election Commission decide?
Sincerely,
Regina Gai
Chair, SPLM Norway
Member of the SPLM 7 of Europe