Sudan SPLM slam Bashir decision to probe Amum; Kiir ‘disappointed’
July 11, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – A former Southern rebel group criticized a decision by the Sudanese president to suspend one of its key officials from his post in the cabinet and launch an investigation on statements he made.
Amum, who is also the Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, was quoted as saying that Sudan is a “failed and corrupt state”. The SPLM official made the remarks during a forum on press and political freedom in Sudan organized by the pro-SPLM Freedom Bells, Agras al-Huriya last month.
Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) said in a statement that the decision by President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir was “either politically motivated or a bureaucratic floundering”.
The First Vice President and SPLM chairman Salva Kiir was quoted by the daily Al-Rayaam as saying that he was “disappointed” at the way Al-Bashir took the decision saying he only found out through the newspapers.
“As a First Vice President I should have been notified before the decision was made” he said.
The SPLM listed procedural five flaws with Al-Bashir decision including the fact that Amum was not informed of the probe until after the decision was leaked to the press.
The statement also said that the commission is comprised of National Congress Party (NCP) only and does not include any SPLM official.
“How can the judge also be the defendant?” the SPLM asked.
The Arabic language Akhbar Al-Youm disclosed that al-Bashir issued a decision lifting the constitutional immunity of Pagan Amum. He also ordered the formation of a commission of inquiry with Amum on his political statements.
Pagan will remain suspended from his ministerial duties till the end of the probe, the daily said.
Last month, officials from the NCP lashed out at Amum and called on him to resign.
Sudan presidential adviser Nafi Ali Nafi called on the Amum to step down. “Pagan must be in peace with himself by resigning and it will be welcomed by the SPLM even before the NCP” Nafi said.
“The problem of Pagan and the triangle of secularism within the SPM is that they feel disappointed and miserable because the NCP is able to overcome their shrewdness and cunningness and even come out stronger” he added.
Mandour al-Mahdi the Secretary General of the NCP political bureau also described Amum’s statements as “irresponsible for an irresponsible minister who is trying to create a split between the SPLM and NCP”.
The SPLM leadership; following a meeting held in Khartoum and headed by the first Vice president, condemned the attacks against Pagan Amum and calls to relieve him after his statements.
The SPLM said that Amum had the right to express his views as any free citizen and that the matter should have been settled politically instead of resorting to a full blown investigation.
“If the NCP insists on going ahead this will have negative impact on the relations between the NCP and the SPLM at a time when two sides need to maintain good rotations” the statement read.
Relations between the two peace partners have been shaky since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 that ended two decades of war.
Amum was appointed last December in the government of national unity in the critical post of minister for cabinet affairs despite earlier indications that former foreign minister Lam Akol would assume the position.
(ST)