(National day of prayer for self-determination, courtesy Pete Muller © 2010)

I always return to Pete Muller’s photography website and his blog when I need to get close to Southern Sudan from my desk in Montréal. He is on the ground and when I look at his photos I can feel the Sudanese sun on my back and smell the dust in the air. He allows me to return from my arm chair and reminds me why I want to go back for real.

It has already been 17 months since my 7-week visit and details are blurring. I now edit the third video from the Video Portrait Series, which brings me back, but give little feedback to the time that has past since the moment of their recording. What is going on in Southern Sudan as it approaches its most important decision. Will it be better prepared that it was for its April 2010 elections?

Waiting in line at a polling station during 2010 national elections, courtesy Pete Muller © 2010)

I began following Pete’s blog during Sudan’s national elections last April, which are considered by most to have been manipulated, and undemocratic. The people he captured through his lens seemed familiar and close. I recognized (and still do) people I met during my visit in nearly each of his photographs. I appointed him as my surrogate presence, someone who would capture the people and their current affairs in a way that I was unable.

I would like to return for the 2011 referendum but the tenuous dates are rapidly approaching and uncertainty prevails. If I go, I will have to meet with Pete in Juba to get myself back on the ground. If I don’t go, I will continue to follow the stories he tells of the Southern Sudanese to keep me up-to-date with the moments that are marking their history with so much potential. Keep up the great work!

12th day of detention without charge and Norwegian People’s Aid meeting tomorrow in Juba to assert more pressure on authorities.

(Journalist Bonifacio Taban in Juba, courtesy SudanVotes)

On this 12th day of detention of Bonifacio Taban without charge,  Norwegian People’s Aid will meet tomorrow In Juba to assert more pressure on the authorities for his release.

The family of the Bentiu FM journalist Bornifacio Taban Kuich who was imprisoned for investigating the deaths of four Angelina Teny supporters in Bentiu, capital of Unity state say they are increasingly worried about his state of health while he continues to be held for almost two weeks now in Bentiu State prison.

Bonifacio has been a veracious, independent reporter, colleague and friend to me for many years and his detention breaks all internationally recognised laws for the treatment of journalists.

On a telephone interview from Bentiu, his brother Stephen Gatwich Kuichalso said the authorities in the prison only allow them to do sign language to him through a window and don’t allow them to talk to him directly.

“We are not allowed to talk to him, I only spoke to him once through the widow.  We are worried about his health in the prison, we are calling for the authorities and the international community to help him out of this unjust situation” he said.

Stephen Gatwich also said that the security officials in the prison had promised the United Nation Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) to release the journalist but when UNMIS left the prison after negotiations, they refused to release him alleging that he didn’t have the proper documents to show that he works as an official journalist, though he has been working for Bentiu FM as chief reporter for many years.   He was accused of conducting “foreign espionage”.

“they were cooperative but when they (UNMIS) left, they refuse to release him demanding his documents, they refused Bentiu FM documents, saying that he is spying on the activities of the authorities in the state but I do not really think this is the reason because most people here in Bentieu knows him because he is a radio presenter and those who have access to internet also read his articles on Sudanvotes website”

The association of media development in South Sudan (AMDISS). the journalists Union in Southern Sudan (JUSS) based in Juba as well as Amnesty International and Reporters without Borders have been informed about the detention but are slow in taking effective action to achieve the release of my colleague and friend Bonifacio.

Some of the journalists in Juba accused the leaders of these unions for not being committed to their responsibility in advocating press freedom in South Sudan leaving journalists at the mercy of the security personnel most of whom were former rebels who don’t recognise the role of the media in a new peaceful Sudan.

The next meeting organised is with Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) a non government organization (NGO) and some South Sudanese journalists tomorrow, Friday 7th in Juba, to discuss the issue of press freedoms and the specific case of Bonifacio Taban.    I will report back on the outcome of this meeting.

Updated Thursday 6th May 13.00 GMT. Sudanvotes and Amnesty International spoke with Stephen Gatwich Taban, who confirmed that Bonifacio Taban had been released from Bentiu State Prison.  He is now recovering and wishes to thank everyone involved in his release for their untiring efforts and support.   Tomorrow, he must return to the State Prison to collect his radio recorder and camera.

Sudanese journalists call for the immediate release of Bonifacio Taban from Bentiu State Prison

(Bonifacio Taban Kuich, courtesy SudanVotes)

Journalists in South Sudan have been having sleepless nights since Friday night after the media was filled with perturbing reports that a member of their fraternity had been arbitrarily arrested, flogged and detained incommunicado by security agents in Unity State capital of Bentiu simply because he was executing his lawful duty of collecting information to feed his audience. The victim is no other than Bonifacio Taban Kuich a seasoned writer and broadcaster for Bentiu FM and sudanvotes.com, a news website that has played its noble duty in informing the public in Sudan and around the world on election developments in the country as well as other issues in our society.

On Friday April 23rd, Bonifacio Taban Kuich was arrested in Bentiu while covering the post election skirmishes that were triggered by the election results announcement that put the care taker governor Taban Deng Gai in the lead against his challenger, Angelina Teny who had earlier been reported to have beaten Taban Deng Gai with a margin of a whopping 24.000 votes. It became public that the violence had left three people dead and five others hospitalized after sustaining injuries when soldiers opened fire without considering the precious lives of the victims and the suffering the bereaved families would undergo.

(Bonifacio Taban Kuich at work (centre), courtesy SudanVotes)

A trained journalist Bonifacio Taban Kuich, observing the rules of media law to report accurately, balanced and fairly decided to hit the road to Bentiu hospital to see the injured victims only to be received with the wrath of security agents called soldiers. Under international law, even in areas of combat a journalist is always considered as neutral and deserves protection unless he engages in acts that waiver his immunity like carrying firearms.  Bonifacio Taban Kuich was only armed with his note book, a pen and possibly a camera which could not even pose a threat to a mere housefly. Then under what circumstances or reasons did these soldiers decide to attack our beloved Bonifacio Taban Kuich if really they were not trying to conceal their inhuman acts against the people who had been killed and those that lay in hospital?

One may ask whose soldiers are these?

It was clear that the same soldiers were the ones who were reportedly harassing supporters and independent candidates in the race for governorship where the care taker governor now the elect, Taban Deng Gai  thought and still thinks  they were to be used as private manpower that he could use to his own ends to cling to power.

After the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 all former fighters of the SPLA/M were integrated as organised forces and became a conventional army to protect lives of people and their property.  It is sad to note that the same army after five years have become owned and personalised by politicians like their domestic servants taking orders of beating, killing harassing and intimidating.The same soldiers that should have offered protection to Bonifacio Taban Kuich not only as a journalist but as a law abiding citizen are the same people that beat, arrested and took him where they felt he would not expose their dirty deeds against the citizens they are supposed to protect.

Your Excellency, 1st Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, I personally know that you are the commander in chief of the SPLA and President of the Government of Southern Sudan. It is your duty to oversee the behavior of your soldiers because we can not consider them to be ours after what they have done to our own Bonifacio Taban Kuich. We need a disciplined, organized and professional army that is for all citizens not the power hungry politicians. Your Excellency we demand that our Bonifacio Taban Kuich is released in one piece from wherever he may be hidden by these soldiers who don’t appreciate the contribution of journalists and the media in the development of this country that was left in shambles after 21 years of fighting. Your soldiers can beat, harass Bonifacio but they will never, ever beat his profession out of him or his other colleagues. I am not praising the journalists because of being one of them but it is common sense that there is no society without the media to provide people with information from near and far. We are and shall remain the eyes and ears of society, the voice of the voiceless, the watchdogs of what government is doing under the tables at the expense of the tax payer and a law abiding citizen who does not have any country to call motherland but Sudan. Do good, we shall report it and expect the equivalent when you do bad.

Imagine if you had no journalist, where would you be getting this same article you are reading now, or your favorite news paper for which you always spend cash in order to know what is happening starting from your home town, other parts of the country and beyond. Why do you ask a strange neighbor with whom you are sharing a seat in public transport to lend you  his/her copy of the newspaper or why do you shout at your children or even shut up your colleagues when a news broadcast is going on radio or television? It is the journalist who brings you all this information and since you do not know the challenges he/she goes through to give you the news in the comfort of your home or your office computer connected to the internet please accord him the tiny respect you can offer him instead of that heavy beating that you would even not wish for yourself. A journalist is a professional like teachers, medical doctors, accountants and who beats these people when they are practicing their professions? Who beats the soldiers when they are performing their lawful duty may be apart from their bosses who discipline them for misconduct in accordance with military standing orders? Is beating and harassing the journalists the best reward that they deserve from greedy and power hungry politicians. In Newspapers, magazines or television it is common sight to see leaders or politicians posing for the best photoshots when they are launching government programmes, addressing rallies and even when they are talking nonsense as some of them normally do. Why don’t they also order their soldiers to beat and harass us the journalists when were are covering these functions?

Dear Journalists in South Sudan and beyond, on Monday May 3rd 2010 is World Press Freedom Day!

Today, it is Bonifacio and we don’t know who will be the next target of security agents but it certainly any of us in the profession unless if you are telling me that you are quiting journalism right now. Since the world press freedom day will be our day, let us through the different media networks join hands and tell our leaders/politicians that we have a contribution to make towards the development they boast about in their speeches and we have never been enemies of our country but it is instead the people supposed to represent us at different levels of government using those meant to protect us to frustrate us through harassment, intimidation and arrests. Once again, we want our Bonifacio released and if he committed an offence let him be brought before a competent court to face justice and we are ready to bail him out or stand surety for him at all costs.

Bonifacio wherever you may be, we think about you and miss you.

Be strong since your were fighting for your own people who are victims of acts of their own politicians called representatives who have decided to betray them like the biblical Judas Iscariot.

We also demand that those responsible should answer why they treated him inhumanely because no journalist has ever been an enemy to his own country in order to deserve what Bonifacio Taban Kuich is going through.

We need our Bonifacio and his family needs him too.

Updated Thursday 6th May 13.00 GMT. Sudanvotes and Amnesty International spoke with Stephen Gatwich Taban, who confirmed that Bonifacio Taban had been released from Bentiu State Prison.  He is now recovering and wishes to thank everyone involved in his release for their untiring efforts and support.   Tomorrow, he must return to the State Prison to collect his radio recorder and camera.

Observers remained in their polling stations throughout the day and reported through their respective county and state coordinators to data collection and analysis centers for SuNDE in Juba and SuGDE in Khartoum, where the reports were verified for quality and analyzed impartially according to standards for non-partisan election observation. SuGDE and SuNDE shared their observations and findings and developed this fact-based statement, released simultaneously at press conferences in Khartoum and Juba, respectively.

Below are the report’s executive summary and a selection from the 15 graphs included in the Statement. the report is divided into two parts, one by the SUGDE of activities in the north and the other by SuNDE of activities in the south. This report and others are available in our reference library.

(Source: Election Statement by The Sudanese Group for Democracy and Elections (SuGDE) and the Sudanese Network for Democratic Elections (SuNDE) by National Democratic Institute for International Affairs - April 24, 2010)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• The April 2010 elections were a requirement for moving forward with implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). However, the elections did not fulfill the Interim Constitution’s and CPA’s aspirations for democratic transition and did not adequately meet the requirements of the National Elections Commission rules and regulations. Sudanese citizens demonstrated their desire for democracy without a doubt through their registering, voting and participating in lively political debate in these elections. Extraordinary efforts are required to achieve democratic governance, and SuNDE and SuGDE will seek to contribute constructively to securing peace and democratic progress. The hopes of citizens should not be allowed to slip away.
• SuNDE and SuGDE observed that the National Elections Commission (NEC) failed to adequately plan and prepare for the elections. The polling stations observed often lacked essential election materials to open on time or ran out of essential materials during the polling process. The inefficiency of the NEC to develop or publicize the polling station list and final voters’ lists in a timely manner also caused substantial confusion and potentially the disenfranchisement of a significant number of voters.

(Source: Election Statement by The Sudanese Group for Democracy and Elections (SuGDE) and the Sudanese Network for Democratic Elections (SuNDE) by National Democratic Institute for International Affairs - April 24, 2010)

• SuGDE and SuNDE observed that while the administration of the elections was deficient throughout Sudan, in Southern Sudan the administration of the elections was observed to be more problematic.
• SuGDE and SuNDE observed several positive aspects to the elections. Voters turned out in large numbers and conducted themselves in a largely peaceful manner. Polling officials showed a strong commitment to fulfilling their responsibilities, particularly given the difficult circumstances. Thousands of citizens volunteered with civic organizations to observe the election and stayed through all 7 days of the polling and the counting process.
• SuNDE and SuGDE recognize that this was the first election in Sudan since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and understand that the complexity of the electoral process and difficult logistical environment of Sudan made running this election challenging.

(Source: Election Statement by The Sudanese Group for Democracy and Elections (SuGDE) and the Sudanese Network for Democratic Elections (SuNDE) by National Democratic Institute for International Affairs - April 24, 2010)

• However, SuGDE and SuNDE recorded significant flaws in the election process at the polling stations observed
• SuNDE recognized that in South Sudan the political parties actively participated in the election however, SuNDE observers noted a need for parties, candidates, and their supporters or agents to better understand their roles in the electoral process, particularly regarding interfering with the polling process
• SuGDE notes that in the North of Sudan leading political parties boycotted the elections which deprived citizens of choice and made the elections confusing and less competitive.
• SuNDE was concerned by the troubling number of incidents of intimidation and harassment reported by its observers in South Sudan, particularly by party and candidate agents and supporters, and unknown and unauthorized security personnel.

(Source: Election Statement by The Sudanese Group for Democracy and Elections (SuGDE) and the Sudanese Network for Democratic Elections (SuNDE) by National Democratic Institute for International Affairs - April 24, 2010)

• SuGDE was concerned by incidents of violence, intimidation and harassment in Southern Kordofan, Western Darfur, Northern Darfur and Sinnar
• SuGDE and SuNDE are deeply concerned that the electoral process did not meet citizen’s expectations and failed to fully embrace democratic principles at the polling stations observed
• SuNDE and SuGDE urge all election stakeholders to learn from these elections and apply those lessons to improve the transparency and credibility of future elections, including the 2011 Referendum.

Journalist Bonifacio Taban arrested on Saturday and still imprisoned in Bentiu State Prison.

(SudanVotes and Bentiu FM Journalist Mr Bonifacio Taban Kuich, courtesy SudanVotes)

Updated Thursday 6th May 13.00 GMT. Sudanvotes and Amnesty International spoke with Stephen Gatwich Taban, who confirmed that Bonifacio Taban had been released from Bentiu State Prison.  He is now recovering and wishes to thank everyone involved in his release for their untiring efforts and support.   Tomorrow, he must return to the State Prison to collect his radio recorder and camera.

Updated Monday 3 May.  10.00 GMT. Stephen Gatwich Taban has been in touch over the weekend, telling sudanvotes that Bonifacio Taban was beaten and tortured on Saturday.   This is yet to be verified, but creates great concern with all his colleagues at Bentiu FM and sudanvotes.com

Updated Friday 30 April 12.00 GMT UNMIS made direct appeals yesterday to release Bonifacio Taban to no avail.  Reasons given are due to his lack of accreditation, but Taban has been accredited with Bentiu FM as their main presenter for many years.

Updated Thursday 29th 10.00 GMT

We have received unconfirmed reports that Bonifacio Taban has been released   Bentiu FM and sudanvotes are looking to confirm this information.

Updated Tuesday 27th. 10.00 GMT

Bonifacio Taban’s brother confirmed Tuesday that Bonifacio is still being held in Bentiu State Prison, without charge and with no knowledge of when he will be released.  Bentiu FM and UNMIS are continuing to press for his immediate release on the ground and Amnesty International and Reporters without Borders have been contacted about Bonifacio’s situation.

Updated Monday 26th. 11.00 GMT

Sudanvotes correspondent Morris Lodiong has this morning spoken to Bonfacio Taban in Bentiu State Prison, under Police custody.  He is in good health and confirmed that he has not yet been charged with any crime.  He believes he is being held because of an article he wrote about the re-election of Governor Taban Deng Gai and the security forces want to prevent him from any further investigation.  Bentiu FM and UNMIS are pressing for his release on the ground.

Background

On Friday 23rd April around 20.30 Bentiu FM and sudanvotes correspondent Bonifacio Taban was arrested in Bentiu, Unity State while covering the general strike called across Bentiu town, at the announcement by the State High Election Committee and the National Election Commission (NEC) that the SPLM incumbent Governor Taban Deng Gai had won the elections for governor against independent candidate Angelina Jany.

Following the general strike and demonstration that was called in protest at the results, three people were shot dead by soldiers and four seriously wounded. Bonifacio Taban was covering the story from Bentiu Hospital where the dead and injured were taken, when he was arrested and beaten by security and had his equipment confiscated. He was later released around 22.00 Friday evening, without the return of his equipment.

On Saturday 24th April Bentiu Hospital confirmed that one of the injured men had died over night, taking the death toll to four, with three still seriously injured in hospital. That morning, Bonifacio Taban’s brother, said that Bonifacio Taban had been re-arrested and taken to an unknown location. His family are still not aware of the reason for his arrest or his exact whereabouts.

In accordance with international and Sudanese media election law, journalists cannot be targeted, harassed or arrested while reporting on elections.

Please write to sudanvotes below or contact Bentiu FM with any more information on the situation in Unity State or the whereabouts of Mr Bonifacio Taban Kuich.

Any further information received wil be updated over the coming hours.

Sudanese children in Juba promote voter registration by handing out posters (Peter Martel, IRIN)

Although the registration in the south began slowly, according to UNDP staff working with the National Election Commission (NEC), it quickly gained momentum in Southern Sudan. The SPLM-controlled region ended voter registration with a higher than average registration rate of around 86%. Today is the last day of the exhibition and objection process whereby a review of the registry is possible. The registration’s final result will be released by the NEC tomorrow.

This high rate of registration in the south may be due to a political pro-registration campaign from the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) which claims that data from the 2008 census underestimates the number of Southerners. The difference may also reflect a high number of people that returned to South since the census. What is interesting is the high turnout in northern states of Southern Sudan.

Mawien Kuc, National Election Commission Chairperson for Northern Bahr el Ghazal (a Southern Sudan state that borders northern Sudan) told the Sudan Tribune , “We will have over one million people registered and ready to take part in the next national election scheduled to take place in April 2010.” Mawien Kuc said, “I am telling you that we really committed our resources for proper mobilization of our people during registration.”

Sudan finances the majority of the registration process while 43% comes from donors.

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SOUTHERN SUDAN ELECTION PREPARATIONS (UNMIS)