Notes from a Sudanese elections observer

From Asha Elkarib, a Sudanese social justice activist and member of Tamam - a network for Sudanese civil society groups and NGOs. Through her involvement in Tamam, she acted as an election monitor in the recent Sudanese general elections:

In some rural areas entire villages were sworn on the Qu'ran to vote
for the NCP. I happened to be there just after that. Many - such as
schoolteachers, university lecturers and civil servants - were
threatened with the loss of their jobs. Tactics such as intimidation
through the use of religion and direct corruption (giving money to
poor constituencies in exchange for votes) were also implemented.

In addition there was full-scale monopolisation of the media and use
of state resources - cars, money for campaigning purposes. The media
is 100 per cent controlled and the national electoral commission
itself is not neutral. We are 100 per cent sure that these elections
were not free or fair. Most polling stations were in schools. We have
evidence of back doors being controlled to let the same people in to
revote for the NCP. The ink used in voting was found to be removable -
it washes away with water and soap and NCP supporters were hence able
to re-vote, as the voting system does not require people's names or
IDs to be noted down on the ballot.