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GoSS denies expelling Census observers |
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Sunday, 27 April 2008 |
The Government of South Sudan denied expelling a number of Census observers and resending them to Khartoum.
The Chairman of the Southern Sudan Center for Census, Statistics and Evaluation Commission, Isaiah Chol Aruai told Miraya FM that the group which was expelled claimed to be a part of the census teams.He added that one 110 observers have reached Juba despite approving originally on 25 observers.Mr.Chol added that the approved observers by the two commissions are still in the south and that they are carrying out their tasks normally.For his part, the head of the Central Statistics Bureau, Dr. Yassin Al-Haji Abidin said that he did not receive a formal notification from the Government of the South over expelling the observers.He also questioned in a phone interview with Miraya FM taking such a step by the Government of South Sudan.
In a related development, Dr. Yassin confirmed the cessation of census operations in Abyei due to objections from SPLA members in the area.
Mr.Yassin told Miraya FM that the Abyei Administration has breached a previous agreement which states carrying out census in the area by joint teams.
He also pointed out that the issue will be raised to the Presidency of the Republic to be discussed In Juba, many residents are complaining that the census exercise is going on too slow and that they have not been counted so far. Speaking to Miraya FM Field Operation Manager in the Department of Census and Survey in Central Equatoria State Mr. Robert Malesh admitted that there has been a certain delay due to problems related to the transportation of enumerators, and the focus in counting returnees who have arrived recently from Luponi camp in Uganda. However, Mr. Malesh assured that there is no doubt that all citizens would be counted.
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