Charges against generals in Bahr El Ghazal are baseless: SPLA spokesman

April 6, 2010 (YIROL WEST) — The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) official spokesman, Major General Kuol Deim Kuol, has strongly denied
accusations levelled against two senior officers in Northern Bahr El Ghazal state by a state citizen on Monday.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune by satellite phone, Maj-Gen Kuol Diem Kuol affirmed that SPLA’s role in this coming election is that SPLA members will cast their votes as normal citizens of the area and not as politicians. Police have full responsibility for security of the polling stations during voting days.

SPLA is not concerned with independent candidates or parties’ official nominees because SPLA is very neutral, he said.

Kuol was responding to allegations made by Nguech Jongkoor, a prominent politician from Aweil town whose remarks were published Monday in Sudan Tribune. The politician made specific allegations including that military personnel under direct instructions of SPLA Major General James Ajonga Mawut Unguech Ajonga and Lieutenant General Pieng Deng Kuol ordered the beating of the chiefs in Bar Mayen and Baau Payams for refusing to support candidates of their choice.

In response, the SPLA spokesman labelled Nguech Jongkoor “a permanent member of National Congress Party in the state” and clarified that the beating of the chiefs was an action undertaken by youth in the village and had nothing to do with the SPLA.

Gen. Diem said “Unguech when to Baau Payam and he was dismissed by youth in the village and he was told by youth that NCP which has its own army called SAF burnt our villages during the war. These allegations are baseness – this has happened and it has nothing completely to do with SPLA. It is youth in the village who do not want NCP due to their backstory of war at the past, so the youth did not welcome the member of NCP.”

Responding to the allegation that the generals forced residents to remove campaign posters for independent candidates, he explained how General Pieng and other SPLA senior officers were on tour of various states. “They were received by their community; those commanders including Peing Deng Kuol and Ajango never talked to any member about politics or ordering any beating; while they were in a village, the youth in the village attacked the supporters of somebody called Garang Jal Akuar, who is contesting as an independent candidate.”

“And the same time Jal Akuar is supporting Dau Aturjong. The youth in the village do not want Garang Jal, so the youth attacked his supporters who were managing his campaign and youth took away posters and burnt them with fire — this has nothing to do with SPLA, neither burning of posters nor ordering of beating people. This is the choice of the village youth which did that action,” he said.

Sudan Tribune also reported yesterday that Major General Akot Deng Akot, director of police in the state, said he had received no report of disagreements between the generals and local people.

(ST)

Reporting by Manyang Mayom