WES governor hails Nzara county for supporting the SPLM party

May 12, 2011 (KAMPALA) – The governor of Western Equatoria state (WES) Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro has hailed the commitments of people of Nzara county for promoting the South Sudan dominant ruling party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) at the inaugural ceremony of the reopening of renovated SPLM county secretariat on 12 May in Nzara county.

The County authority of Nzara County in collaboration with the SPLM members of state parliament and the local population of the county raised funds to renovate the old SPLM county office.

Addressing the gathering at the SPLM office, the chairman of the committee, Benty Kpiosa said that “the initiative was spearheaded by the county commissioner of Nzara, Elia Richard Box.”

The SPLM county secretary, Peter Khamis, appreciated the state government for acknowledging the SPLM as the ruling and mother party.

“The peace and freedom we are embracing today is the fruit of the SPLM […] Reports indicate that over 95% of the populations of Nzara County are registered SPLM members,” he said.

Khamis explained that the “main challenges facing the secretariat is a lack of training to SPLM cadres to implement policy the of the SPLM.”

In addition, the SPLM state secretary, Manasseh Deboi Agoli, expressed his gratitude to Nzara county residents for “keeping the SPLM emblem shining in the county since 1983.”

Manasseh stressed that since the 1955 uprising in Nzara, which gave birth to the SPLM struggle in 1983, there is a need for SPLM maintain stronghold in WES.

He stated that he will work with the SPLM political affairs chairman to train the SPLM cadres in all the counties of the state in the policies of the party.

Manseh refuted allegations that the SPLM has intimidated other parties in the state.

“The SPLM is a party and the SPLA [Sudan People’s Liberation Army] is the military wing. It should be noted clearly that when one is apprehended for conducting illegal meetings, it is the role of the security organs not the SPLM” he said.

He condemned any sort of illegal meeting being held by other parties in different parts of the state without the knowledge of the local authority.

However, the SPLM secretary did not elaborate on what he referred to as “illegal meetings” since political meetings are allowable by the state interim constitution

Meanwhile the commissioner of Nzara county, Elia Richard Box, hailed the cooperation between the communities of the county and the county authority during his one year as county commissioner.

Box expressed his appreciation to the population of Nzara and members of the state parliament, and natives of Nzara county for their contribution for the renovation of the important office.

Governor Bakosoro, thanked the population of Nzara county for “still promoting the policies of the SPLM.”

“The reopening of the reshaped SPLM office indicates that the SPLM party shall never die in the state” said the governor.

Bakosoro added “most people in the Sudan still deny the efforts and achievements done by the SPLM party, but the truth remains that the SPLM has opened the eyes of every southern Sudanese in all aspects.”

“The secession of the south from the north started in Nzara during the Anyanya 1 uprising,” said Bakosoro

Anyanya I was the first civil war between north and South Sudan, which began in 1955. Anyanya II is the civil war which was ended by the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005.A stipulation of the CPA was the right of the South Sudanese to vote in a plebiscite. They voted overwhelmingly in favour of separation. The Republic of South Sudan will declare its independence on 9 July 2011. Anyanya in the Dinka word for snake venom.

Governor Bakosoro denounced any form of political segregation and division in the state saying that “it is not the vision of the SPLM.”

The governor encouraged the citizens to be vigilant in protecting the territory of the state.

(ST)