SUDAN / REFERENDUM PANEL

The UN Secretary-General's Panel led by former President of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa tasked with monitoring the upcoming referenda on self determination in Sudan, arrived in Juba on Monday and said that the registered voters understand the obligation to come back to the polling centers on 9 January and during the next six days to vote. UNMIS

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:32
• Production Date: 21 December 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION IN SUDAN - UNMIS
• Subject Topical: POLITICAL CONDITIONS; POLITICAL MOVEMENTS; INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; PEACE AND SECURITY; REFERENDUM
• Geographic Subject: SUDAN
• MAMS Id: U101221d

Description

STORY: SUDAN / REFERENDUM PANEL
TRT: 1:32
SOURCE: UNMIS
RESTIRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS

DATELINE: 20, 21 DECEMBER 2010, JUBA, SUDAN

20 DECEMBER 2010, JUBA, SUDAN

1. Wide shot, UN Secretary General’s Panel led by former President of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa arriving at Council of Ministers meeting
2. Med. shot, Government of South Sudan Ministers
3. Med. shot, former President of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa
4. Med. shot, TV camera

21 DECEMBER 2010, JUBA, SUDAN

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Benjamin Mkapa former President of Tanzania:
“At this stage is to make sure that the voters understand the obligation, the registered voters understand the obligation to come back to the polling centers on the 9th of January and during the next six days and vote.”

20 DECEMBER 2010, JUBA, SUDAN

6. Wide shot, panel members inspecting Data Center
7. Med shot, South Sudan Referendum Bureau staff entering data
8. Wide shot, panel inspecting
9. Med shot, South Sudan Referendum Bureau staff explaining

21 DECEMBER 2010, JUBA, SUDAN

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Benjamin Mkapa former President of Tanzania:
“We feel quite confident this can happen and we are satisfied that the principal parties to the CPA are keen that this should come to pass uneventfully in the sense that non- violently and peacefully.”

20 DECEMBER 2010, JUBA, SUDAN

11. Wide shot, panel members arriving at office of Vice President’s office
12. Med. Shot. panel members seated with Vice President Riek Machar

21 DECEMBER 2010, JUBA, SUDAN

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Benjamin Mkapa former President of Tanzania:
“I ask leaders, stakeholders particularly the parties to the CPA to watch their tongue, to be more exhortational, exhorting the population to be calm and to participate effectively.”

20 DECEMBER 2010, JUBA, SUDAN

14. Wide shot, Panel members leaving vice Presidents office.

Storyline

The United Nations Secretary-General’s Panel led by former President of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa tasked with monitoring the upcoming referenda on self determination in Sudan, arrived in Juba on Monday (20 Dec).

He held meetings with South Sudan Government officials, the Referendum Bureau and UN and Civil Society Organizations to discuss the progress pertaining to the referenda after the registration process and challenges ahead as the vote slated for 9 January 2011 approaches.

The third visit of the Panel comes 20 days before voting is due to start. The aim of the visit was to engage more with parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) with regard to the referenda and to support them in conducting a credible referendum.

Benjamin Mkapa, former President of Tanzania, and chairman of the Panel said that the referendum process can pass off peacefully, in an orderly manner and with a credible result.

SOUNDBITE (English) Benjamin Mkapa former President of Tanzania:
“As I see it at this stage is to make sure that the voters understand the obligation, the registered voters understand the obligation to come back to the polling centers on the 9th of January and during the next six days and vote.”

The UN Panel also met with the Southern Sudan Referendum Bureau (SSRB) and discussed various technical, logistical and financial issues that need to be addressed during the voting process. The Panel also visited the Data Center at the referendum Bureau and were briefed on the process.

SOUNDBITE (English) Benjamin Mkapa former President of Tanzania,
“We feel quite confident this can happen and we are satisfied that the principal parties to the CPA are keen that this should come to pass uneventfully in the sense that non- violently and peacefully.”

He also called on the two signatories of CPA not to use verbal attacks on each other.

SOUNDBITE (English) Benjamin Mkapa former President of Tanzania:

“I ask leaders, stakeholders particularly the parties to the CPA to watch their tongue, to be more exhortational, exhorting the population to be calm and to participate effectively.”

The registration process was launched on 15 November for a two week period but was extended by one week, ending on 8 December with an estimated three million seven hundred voters registered. Voting is expected to start on 9 January 2010.