A civil society group is calling on the south Sudan authorities to pay attention to the returnees and IDPS coming from North Sudan for the referendum registration.
Merekaje Lona, co-chair of the Civil Society Referendum Task Force, told the press today in Juba that there is a high influx of returnees coming to states bordering the North.Ms. Merekeje explained that the returnees need to be resettled and integrated in order to register and remain in their localities for the referendum vote.
Ms. Merekaje said the government should beef up security at the borders to protect IDPs coming south.
She added that concerns raised by the returnees indicate that security is poor.
Ms. Merekeje mentioned that every south Sudanese has a right to register or not to register.
She disapproved any forced registration of south Sudanese in the North.
Ms. Merekeje added that the poor turnout of south Sudanese registering in the north should not be used to intimidate people.
She called upon government officials to refrain from threatening and intimidating statements against south Sudanese living in the North.