SPLM Sec. General vows no stoppage of nationwide demonstrations
December 7, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The SPLM Secretary General, Pa’gan Amum, who was arrested with his Deputy for Northern Sector, Yasir Arman, this morning in Khartoum vowed no stoppage of nationwide demonstrations till controversial laws are repealed.
The real alternative is to allow democratic principles to address national matters, he commented. The thinking that arresting people is the alternative will greatly contribute to worsening the situation in the country, he added.
Amum was speaking after his arrest and release alongside Arman and hundreds of supporters. The two were engaged in a fight with riot police as they led 500 members of the SPLM and other opposition protesters. Police with batons beat protesters gathered outside the parliament. As Arman was being driven away, SPLM members were chanting “freedom”.
Hundreds more banner-waving supporters gathered in the area and other parts of Khartoum’s Omdurman suburb after the arrests and were dispersed by police using tear gas throughout the morning.
Commenting on the arrests, member of the SPLM National Liberation Council Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth said, “If I could just ask the NCP this: when [President] Bashir was indicted, he was holding demonstrations countrywide, rallying, all the leaders went demonstrating – and the police did not arrest even a single person. But why are they arresting us now? We are just expressing our views peacefully, demonstrating in the parliament, asking and urging in the parliament to pass those laws.”
News of the arrests sparked anger in the South prompting protesters to set fire to facilities belonging to the ruling National Congress Party in Wau, the capital of Western Bahr el Ghazal state and Tur-Alei County in Warrap State.
Gatkuoth, who serves as the Government of Southern Sudan Head of Mission to the United States, contended that “This behaviour by the National Congress has to be challenged and it has to be stopped, because it is actually terroristic acts against the Sudanese people and this Taliban-like system of responding to peaceful demonstrations by force is not going to help the Sudan. It is going to just encourage the disintegration of Sudan.
“Sudanese people need to really rescue Sudan by really coming up and standing for their rights and demonstrating peacefully until their rights are achieved. And this is sending a very clear signal that the election in 2010 is not going to be free and fair. Because they will use the law that they are going to pass now, because of their mechanical majority in the parliament, and they will give themselves the rights to arrest anybody who is going to challenge them.”
Following the series of reports of mounting tensions after the arrests, SPLM Chairman General Salva Kiir contacted President Bashir, who positively responded with a promise to release all detainees.
The SPLM chairman then issued a statement calling for calm and restraint. Asked to explain the difference in tone between the statements of Amum and Kiir, Gatkuoth said that “The chairman of the SPLM is calling for calm and restraint while urging the people of Sudan to express their constitutional rights peacefully. He is not contradicting what Pa’gan said.”
The briefing in Khartoum after the release was attended by Dr. Hassan El Turabi of the Popular Congress Party, Mubarak El Fadil El Mahdi of Umma Reform party, and Ali Mahmoud Hassan in his role as the DUP deputy chairman, Makki of JEM, amongst others. SPLM and opposition leaders are expected to gather Tuesday in a meeting chaired by Sadiq al-Mahdi. Then SPLM will encourage demonstrations to continue on Wednesday.
(ST)
Reporting by Ngor Arol Garang in Khartoum; additional reporting from Washington, D.C.
Gatwech
SPLM Sec. General vows no stoppage of nationwide demonstrations
Kiir calls for calm and Pagan calls for more demonstrations. Look at the contradictions. This Pagan is against Kiir, period. He is now the reason behind the choas which does not benefit the SPLM.
Northern opposition parties fooled the SPLM to join their demonstrations. They were simply looking for a way that would turn into a crisis with the NCP and kill the CPA. They don’t want the last part of the CPA on referendum. They want to create a crisis using the SPLM. They got reckless communist politicians like Pagan Amum and Yasser Arman to do their job.
Look at the humiliation they got as a result. They were driven by police to a police station in a pick up truck like street criminals. SPLM is gaining through peaceful implementation of the CPA and this should not be interrupted. It should not abandon its partner, the NCP, who had the guts to sign peace with the SPLM and has implemented most parts of it.
Sadiq Al-Mahdi had never signed any agreement with the South and he hates self-determination that leads to independence. Our leaders should wisely watch out. Pagan Amum should be disciplined to stop his reckless behaviour. If there is going to be another war over referendum (God forbids), let it be managed and handled with care and wisdom by real politicians. The world will blame the SPLM for abandoning negotiations and joining opposition in such demonstrations. SPLM should stop recklessness while unprepared for war!!!
Kur
SPLM Sec. General vows no stoppage of nationwide demonstrations
There should not be any let up until these criminals are sent to prison. They are not supposed to be in the offices of the Sudanese authority because they are thieves and killers.
Kur
Time1
SPLM Sec. General vows no stoppage of nationwide demonstrations
Gatwech
If you believe in yourself and is a proud NCP member, why are you hiding behind south sudanese name to make comments on the website? because you believe that south sudanese are real freedom fighter and have a strong foundation on liberty and justice, that is why you Arabs and other NCP supporters use south sudanese name to make comments on the websites, why do you not feel proud of yourself and not be ashame and use your name to make the comments, this alone shows that you have no foundation on freedom and no support fromt he people, even if we talk about war, you cannot defeat SPLA in the battle field, even if you dream but it is not possible sir, you have seen it during the war times, ask the NIF peoples defence force and SAF, they already know what happened during the wars, so continue to use the south sudanese name as an inspiration for your NCP, as your to coward to be proud of an Arab name that you claim you are an Arab.
Demonstrations should not stop, lets wait and see if they will kill someone then Omer Bashir will have to stay in hiding for the rest of his life.
santos
SPLM Sec. General vows no stoppage of nationwide demonstrations
you are the real figure mr Amum,this CPA is going to be dilapidated by the NCP and now blame on its partners side.
the world looks upon them and this will increase the pressure from the ICC I think,
remember soon they will be inthe worse situation than you are.
Controller
SPLM Sec. General vows no stoppage of nationwide demonstrations
Dear Readers
I think it is unconstitutional for Pagan Amum alone,to return Southern Sudan and North into war with no reason.
The John Garang mentality that still existing in Papan Amum his mind, is not a solution to solve the problems between South Sudan and North Sudan.
Therefore, our differences with National Congress Party will be solved through peaceful process.
Then, Mr. Pagan Amum is not a (SPLA) commander in- chief, who can make decision. He is just a local Secretary General, but he is running his mouth like (SPLA) Commander- in-chief.
If there are some issues, The President or Vice President of Southern Sudan could be the only people who can deal with it.
For example, the President of South Sudan urges people to stop demonstration while Pagan Amum urging people to continuous protesting for nothing.
Thank God Dr. Riek is the only one who do the right things for the people of Southern Sudan.
My friends, without Dr. Riek Machar,LT. Paulino Matip Nhial and Equatorians officials, CPA would n’t be still existing today.
Thank you all
I am controller with the Propert