South Sudan: Up to 100,000 people in Lakes state risk infection from HIV/AIDS

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, December 2, 2009 by Mageng Wade:

(Rumbek) – The governor of Lakes state, speaking on World AIDS Day, says that up to 100,000 people in the state risk infection from the disease.

SRS correspondent, Mageng Wade, attended the World AIDS day event in Rumbek on Wednesday. He sent this report.

[Mageng Wade]: “The governor of Lakes state, Awet Akot, addressed Tuesday's gathering at Freedom Square saying that if a hundred thousand people in the state are infected with HIV/AIDS before the referendum, it will be a great loss to the state. Akot said that if AIDS spreads to the cattle camps and villages, it will be dangerous to the community, adding that people need to fight this expensive war regardless of who they are. He added that HIV/AIDS does not care whether you are a minister, governor, doctor or even a teacher; it kills everyone regardless of who you are. Statistics from the states shows that cases of HIV/AIDS are alarming and if people don’t exercise caution, then a quarter of the people might not vote during the elections and the referendum.”

That was SRS correspondent, Mageng Wade, reporting from Rumbek, Lakes state.

South Sudan: NCP has accused SPLM of arresting NCP leaders in Central Equatoria, Warrap and Lakes states

Untitled report by Sudan Radio Service, November 23, 2009:

(Khartoum) - The secretary-general of the National Congress Party for Greater Bahr el-Ghazal, Mathew Mayor, has accused the SPLM of arresting NCP leaders in Central Equatoria, Warrap and Lakes states.

[Mathew Mayor]: “The SPLM is arresting our members there. The arrests were carried out in a racial manner. The head of the southern sector, Mrs. Agnes Lokudu, presented a strong protest to the southern Sudan government, urging them to review the situation as soon as possible.”

Mayor urged politicians not to do things that would disrupt the voter registration process because it would affect the implementation of the CPA.

[Mathew Mayor]: “The parties which are not ready [for the elections] think that other parties which are ready want to disrupt the conduct of the elections. We think they are targeting the referendum in southern Sudan because Article 22 of the CPA says that only an elected government can organize the referendum and if elections were not carried out, it means there will be no elected government, hence no referendum will be held as scheduled. This will really affect the south in general.”

Mathew Mayor was speaking to Sudan Radio Service in Khartoum on Sunday.