Student leaders of Rumbek University Referendum Task Force are urging the Government of Southern Sudan and the United Nations to facilitate the return of Southerners living in the North before the Referendum.
The fate of the Southerners living in Northern Sudan has been a concern for many as the country draws closer to the historical event of the vote on self-determination for the South.Rumbek University Students’ Referendum Task Force Chairman, Thomas Mabor Majak, told Good News Radio that the Government of Southern Sudan, in collaboration with the UN, should bring home the Southerners living in the North.
Mr. Majak explained that in the event of disagreements between the North and South at the referendum, Southerners in the North would suffer the consequences.
Technical and Information Officer of the Students’ Referendum Task Force, James Madol, expressed optimism about the verdict of Southerners at the Referendum, saying the vote will be peaceful and will lead to the birth of new country.
Mr. Madol appealed to the youth to take an active part in the Referendum and vote wisely, explaining that they are tomorrow’s leaders.
There are at least 1.5 million Southerners living in Khartoum and other Northern towns of Sudan, although the 2008 Census put the figure just above 500 thousand.
Early this week, GoSS Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, James Kok Ruea, said his government earmarked 30 million Sudanese pounds to boost the return of internally displaced Southerners living in the north.