SPLM candidates take campaign slogans to Bor villages

By Philip Thon Aleu

March 9, 2010 (BOR) – Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) candidates for various legislative assemblies are campaigning in Bor County’s scattered villages since settlement, for scared population, has shifted to the bank of River Nile.

“Freedom, peace and prosperity” is the national SPLM’s slogan for this year’s campaigns which the party nominees here rarely exceed when campaigning. For the nine (9) geographical constituencies in Bor County, contenders don’t read personal manifesto which the SPLM says is a “working” strategy though voters need clearer plans for each lawmaker.

All MPs contesting as SPLM flag bearers started a team campaigns on March 4 in Kolnyang in the south before moving northwards to Anyidi, Makuach, Baiday (today Tuesday) and Jale later this week.

The official of the southern Sudan ruling party seem confident and claim that all the SPLM candidates will be elected in April polls.

“We are confident that SPLM shall win all of the [parliamentary] seats in Bor County,” Philip Jok Maper, the party’s County secretary told the Sudan Tribune on Monday.

Mr. Maper also expresses uneasiness over some chiefs’ assertion that independent and SPLM candidates cannot be distinguished. This, he says “need extra energy to confirm confidence before April” in reference to campaigns in constituencies where SPLM faces steep competition from former colleagues who turned independent candidates.

Mr. Maper also dismisses believes that the future leaders are not focusing on development approaches when elected to parliaments.

A SPLM voter told the Sudan Tribune in Makuach Payam headquarters on Monday that the “implementation of CPA and referendum in the south is a national agenda. We need our MPs to explain their plans when elected.”

When asked to commend, Mr. Maper responded that “SPLM [campaigns] strategy is working well [in Bor County] because people need freedom and peace before anything,” he said. But he acknowledges that “the campaigns are tense in some constituencies and there seems to be a little problem.”

There are nine (9) geographical constituencies in Bor County including one for national parliament in Khartoum, 3 for Juba and 5 for State assemblies alongside party list and women representation. Maker Thiong Maal (SPLM) is vying for federal parliament with Achiek Peec (NCP).

The current south Sudan minister for legal affairs and constitutional development, Michael Makuei Lueth (SPLM), faces SPLM-turned independent candidates Elijah Alier Ayom for Bor central (Makuach/Bor town) to Juba parliamentary seat. Malek Alier is the SPLM nominee for Kolnyang/Anyidi to Juba Assembly is contesting with Chol Garang Nyok of the United Democratic Front (UDF). Dengtiel Ayuen (SPLM, Jalle/Baidit) is challenged by Mabior Leek Deng from USAP to Juba parliamentary seat.

At State level, SPLM nominated Maker Chol Adol (Makuach/Anyidi), Philip Thon Nyok (Bor town), Ezra Mayom Ngong (Kolnyang), Deng Kut (Jalle/Baidit) and Alier Michael Malet Apat (Baidit). Alier Michael is unopposed, thus, declared elected by National Election Commission. There are also contenders for women and party list in Bor County.

SPLM VICTORY OVERSHADOWED

Of the four Payam SPLM visit so far, a large number of supporters attend the rallies. However, local chiefs, the only villagers permitted to deliver speeches or ask questions during the campaigns, say they cannot distinguish SPLM flag bearers from independent for two reasons: both are son of Bor and both contributed gently during the war of liberation.

The 3 independent candidates in Bor County contesting against SPLM nominees for state parliamentary seats are Chol Gai Arou (Makuach/Anyidi), Kuol Bol Ayom (Jalle/Baidit) and Buol Lual (Jalle/Baidit). Analysts say there are signals that overshadow the SPLM’s outright victory “because voters will be shared [with independent candidates].”

Elections campaigns were launched in Bor town, the capital of Jonglei state, by all political parties and independents candidates over ten days ago. However, media coverage is difficult given poor road networks and lack of funding to afford expensive flights to 11 Counties of Jonglei State.

April polls are the first inclusive elections in the south since independence in 1956 and part of the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) signed between the NCP and the former southern rebel; the SPLM in 2005.

(ST)