Kiir asks governor to distance himself from N. Bahr el Ghazal assembly affairs

By Ngor Arol Garang

September 28, 2009 (ABYEI) — The President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, has asked Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Governor, Major General Paul Malong Awan Anei to keep away from assembly affairs till officially invited to intervene.

This comes after the governor seemed to interfere with assembly affairs when he issued an order asking speaker to go on force leave till further notice and hand over all office belongings and facilities to his deputy.

Speaking from Juba, an official from the office of President of Southern Sudan government who declined to be named said President Kiir has on Friday 25 talked to Governor Malong in Aweil over the issue.

“President Kiir strongly advised Governor Malong to keep away from Assembly affairs saying unless officially invited to intervene without allegiance,” he said

The official further added that this telephone conversation between President Kiir Mayardit and governor Malong created current political understanding between speaker and Governor.

“I am told that Governor Malong immediately after receipt of presidential advice called for a meeting in which he officially asked state lawmakers to go and settle their differences with speaker in house saying it is an assembly issue,” he adds.

“Go, go, go to your house for complete settlement and do not come to me again,” governor is reported to have said this in the meeting he called with the SPLM members in the Assembly.

This meeting was also attended by speaker Hon. Angelo Marach Thiik who appreciated the way his issue with members is being addressed.

Reached to comment on these new developments the speaker said “This is how the system of good governance works globally.”

“Allegations of such magnitude involving public figure such as me are usually given high attention and time so they are honestly and properly examined, “he said.

Asked whether he has attended today’s session at the assembly, he said did not attend having not received any official advice to resume.

“I could have attended but thought it would be wise if officially advised to resume, he said adding that law makers have violently forced deputy speaker to open and chair today’s session. ”

They also had wanted to forcefully elect new speaker.

This is unconstitutional and act that violates rules, business and conducts that governs assembly, he said adding they (MPS) should know it better than an ordinary citizens being members of the assembly.

“In the state constitution under article 59, an accused is allowed to defend himself/herself against allegations/charges in the proven competent, independent and none allegiance court of law prior to taking any act such as election of new leaders in the house,” he commented saying these rules have not been followed.

“Our people are only interested in power without taking into consideration lawful procedures they themselves formulated,” he said.

The Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Assembly earlier this month passed a no confidence motion against its Speaker Mr. Thiik on eleven counts related to mismanagement of the state parliament budget, lack of consultation with the leadership of the ruling party and working with an international NGO, CSI, in a clear violation to the state constitution.

However the CSI denied the accusations and said Hon. Had worked for the international NGO before his appointment as speaker.

(ST)