South Sudan civil society organizations expressed concern over the re-opening of the bidding process to print ballot papers for the referendum vote.
Yesterday, the chairperson of the Southern Sudan Referendum Bureau, Chan Reec Madut, announced that the opening of the tender for ballot printing was cancelled and bidding re-opened to allow new applicants to participate in the process.Lokulenge Lokule Lole, Secretary General for the coalition of southern Sudan civil society organizations for the referendum, told the press this morning that his group was worried about this sudden change, Bakhita Radio reported.
Mr. Lole reiterated that national companies should not print ballot papers since it produced a negative effect on the previous elections.
Mr. Lole strongly warned the government of southern Sudan, the UN, international organizations and the signatories to the CPA to seriously watch the NCP’s move to jeopardize the referendum process by delaying ballots printing.
He suggested that the ballots should be printed by a neutral reputable company outside Sudan.
The tender for ballot printing should have been closed last Friday and awarded on Sunday with the full participation of the international foundation for electoral system, the UN, and international observers.