February 26, 2010

Elections Quiz - Take the test today!!


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Can you get inside the head of the Beja Congress? Think you know their responses to 30 key issues in Sudan? What do you want to see happen?

Go ahead. Try the quiz. See which party your answers best match. And you can click through on the results page to discover what each party thinks for each question - compare your answers!!
Very nicely done.

Mind you I've come across some people [at skyscraper city, where I found this link] who have laughed at the policy answers, since they believe the parties would give any answer, and if elected, would do what they want...

http://www.electionnaire.com/index2.php
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February 23, 2010

Election violence - Beja Congress supporters attacked

Al-Sahafa reports that bloody clashes erupted yesterday between a group loyal to Presidential Assistant Musa Mohamed Ahmed and militias loyal to the NCP leader Suleiman Ali Beetai of Hamishureib [Hamishkoreb] Religious Schools. Seven of the Beja Congress’ supporters were wounded, one seriously.

Beja Congress Party spokesperson Salah Barkuein said a delegation from the party visited “Talkuk” area for elections campaigning but they were ambushed by the Beitai’s militias commanded by his son Mahmoud Beitai, SAF captain.

COMMENT: What we have here is a failure to understand the democratic process. This process is supposed to work because everyone has an opportunity for free speech, to say what they want. Decisions about what people say are made at the ballot box. The Beja Congress team was there to do some elections campaigning. Good for them. However, a military man loyal to the political party that is also the current governmental party has decided that alternative voices calling for alternative policies are unwelcome, and further, that these unwelcome voices need to be silenced through physical intimidation.

This brings shame upon the NCP, and might actually increase the desire to hear the Beja Congress policies, if they are so threatening to the current regime.

Telkuk is in Red Sea State, about 60 km southeast of Tokar, and about 20 km from the Eritrean border.

Source UNMIS media report, Feb 23, 2010

UPDATE [from Feb 24 UNMIS media report] It turns out that four of the Beja Congress fellows who were attacked were candidates!!

"Kassala says security measures to prevent poll-related incidents
The Kassala State High Elections Committee has downplayed a recent attack by NCPsupporters on four Beja Congress candidates in the state, reports Akhir Lahza. The headof theState Security Committee, Mohamed Abdelmoneim, described the incident as “normal”. He said his committee took measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents."

UPDATE : March21. Beja Congress releases Press Release railing against election vilolence.
The Beja Congress calls upon all national parties, and all the forces of democracy and civil society organizations to join together and unite ... to topple ... darkness and tyranny and arrogance ..., and [to develop] the construction of united democratic Sudan enjoy the freedom and human dignity, prosperity and stability ...
Source http://sudannewseast-begaor.blogspot.com/2010/03/blog-post_21.html

February 20, 2010

Flights launched between Port Sudan and Asmara, Eritrea

 Last Thursday (Feb. 18, 2010) the Red Sea state governor, Dr. Mohammed Tahir Ella, and the Sudan Airways general manager inaugurated a new flight connecting Port Sudan with Asmara.
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February 19, 2010

Kassala State is the poorest in Sudan, says UN

18 February 2010 - (Kassala) - The United Nations Refugee Agency, the UNHCR, says Kassala state is one the poorest states in Sudan because it has been neglected by both the government and the international community.
In an interview with SRS in Kassala town on Wednesday, the Head of UNHCR’s Kassala office, Dr. Mohamed Dualeh explains why he thinks Kassala is the poorest state in Sudan.
[Dr. Mohamed Dualeh]: “Kassala state is one of the poorest in Sudan. It is poorer than some parts of Darfur and a lot of the south. But, if you look at all the indicators, it is a neglected part of the country. Neglected by the international community, neglected by the UN, neglected by UN agencies, there was little aid coming in as a peace dividend after the signing of the Eastern Peace Agreement. Therefore, I think there is no justification now not to provide the assistance the east needs. We are waiting to see it happen. Not just words, but action. Action from the UN, action from the donors, and action from the government.”
Dr. Dualeh describes the indicators that he says suggest that Kassala the poorest state in Sudan.
[Dr. Mohamed Dualeh]: “Maternal mortality is very high, child mortality is very high and illiteracy is also very high. I think 57% of people who live in Kassala state do not read and write. Unemployment is very high but at the same time, this is a border state. In the last few years the rains were very erratic, there were less rains. Therefore, there is a drought looming. If there is a failure in terms of agricultural production as well as unemployment, with all other indicators, I think we may run into emergencies in the long term unless we can prevent it now.”
Comparing life in Kassala state with life in the refugee camps, Dr. Dualeh claims that refugees in camps in Eastern Sudan receive better services than the host communities.
[Dr. Mohamed Dualeh]: “Refugees receive better services than the neighboring Sudanese villages. They receive better water systems, they receive better education, they receive better health care than the neighboring villages and I think if we want to do justice, we should be doing justice for those Sudanese living in the surrounding villages. I wish you had gone to Umgargora Refugee camp and the next village, Karkora they are identical villages. Umugargora receives everything, the other one does not receive anything. Therefore, if you want to do justice, I think we should be doing justice for the local population in the area.”
Dr. Mohamed Dualeh was talking to SRS in Kassala.
Sourced from http://www.sudanradio.org/kassala-state-poorest-sudan-unhcr
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February 11, 2010

Fish canning plant to be built on Red Sea Coast

Sudan Vision reports on Thursday Feb 11, that The Federal Ministry of Industry has announced launching of first project for fish-canning project in the region of the Red Sea. It is to be operational next May at estimated cost of $4.3million as a pilot project.

Engineer Ali Ahmed Osman, State Minister for Industry, said in a statement to Sudan Vision that the project would kick off as a result of efforts and coordination with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), affirming that the project will be extended to various regions in Sudan. Halfa Al Jedidda comes second priority, then the experience will be transferred to south Sudan as the region abounds in fish resource.
 
The state minister added that the project aims to meet the home need for fish before export, affirming that fisheries in Sudan have not seen development over the past years due to civil wars in the country.  

http://bit.ly/dct1eJ 

While we generally think of Beja as camel herders, or as labourers or marketers in urban areas or along highways, there are many Beja who fish -- sometimes using nets in shallow water, sometimes from small wooden boats.

Beja fisherman returning with nets
http://www.pbase.com/travelling_terry/image/71271280
from a longer page with more pics
http://www.pbase.com/travelling_terry/the_red_sea_sudan
this pic

February 1, 2010

Beja Congress to contest elections

The Beja Congress in Kassala state has confirmed its participation in the upcoming elections at all levels. During press conference, the party’s candidate running for the state’s governorship, Salah Barakuin, said the upcoming stage needs participation of all for free and fair elections.

http://mirayafm.org/index.php/sudan/1802--beja-congress-confirms-participation-in-coming-elections