Voter registration in Lakes State kicked off this morning with a peaceful but rather slow start, with referendum centres registering a rather low turn up.
However, those who turned up for registration on the first days of the 17-day exercise have expressed optimism and some announced the choice they made.Josephine Awal Abraham, a 18 year-old pupil at Comboni Primary School in Rumbek, told Good News Radio that the aim of registering was to achieve freedom, saying she will vote for separation.
She urged those who have not yet registered to do so in order to take part in the referendum scheduled of January 9, 2011.
Joseph Meen Bol added that resources in southern Sudan will be fairly distributed with Southerners enjoying their land after the referendum.
He expressed confidence that the Referendum will bring good news to Southern Sudanese.
He also said that the referendum was for the future of the young generation, encouraging people to register.
Fr. John Mathiang, a diocesan priest for Rumbek Diocese, said the referendum will give identity to Southern Sudanese, determine their future and give them a chance to determine their lives bringing about transformation.
He described the exercise as a national duty.
Lakes State has up to 214 Registration Centres.