In January 2005, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Sudanese Government under the leadership of the National Congress Party (NCP) signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). This internationally negotiated and witnessed commitment brought to an end more than 20 years of protracted civil war in the country and granted the southern part of the country autonomy for six years. Under the terms of the CPA, a referendum on the south’s political future is scheduled to be held in 9-15 January 2011. In the seven-day referendum, Southern Sudan is to decide whether it wants to remain in unity with Khartoum or become independent. The people in South Sudan, the Southern Sudanese in the north and the South Sudanese in diaspora communities are expected to participate.
The Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC), which is independent from the governments of both Sudan and Southern Sudan is the body in charge of organizing the referendum. It has asked the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to conduct Out-of-Country-Registration and Voting (OCRV) to enable Southern Sudanese people who live outside Sudan to register and vote in the Referendum. OCRV centres are being established in the eight countries with the largest numbers of Southern Sudanese living outside Sudan. These are: Australia, Canada, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA).
The SSRC has set 15 November 2010 as the beginning of voter registration for the upcoming Southern Sudan referendum, amid international concerns about the amount of time left to organise the vote. The registration will be carried out for three weeks until 1 December. The real challenge is to facilitate an honest and credible referendum process. There are widespread concerns that if the vote does not go ahead on schedule, southern leaders might declare independence unilaterally, potentially triggering a new civil war.
With an estimated 25,000 South Sudanese people living in Australia, their votes could have a significant impact on the overall referendum result. The Humanitarian Crisis Hub in cooperation with the Sudanese Lost Boys Association of Australia is working to ensure that each and every member of the South Sudanese community in Australia is given the opportunity to register and vote. With polling stations located only in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra, the Humanitarian Crisis Hub and the Sudanese Lost Boys Association of Australia are working together to:
- Obtain discounted or free transport for people wishing to register and vote
- Hold community information and education sessions about the voting process
- Ensure that special consideration is given to those with people with disabilities, families with young children (especially single parents), low income people, students and the elderly
- To organise and provide community spaces as meeting and gathering points.
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