SPLM proposes replacing defected members in Jonglei
December 6, 2014 (BOR) – Jonglei’s state liberation council has proposed identifying and replacing defected and deceased members of the Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).
The meeting as attended by seven national members from the national legislative assembly and executive who are also members of national liberation council, defence minister Kuol Manyang Juuk, former minister of humanitarian affairs Kok Ruai, Jonglei governor Jody Jonglei, minister for information and broadcasting Michael Makuei Lueth and Deng Dau among others.
Although the state liberation council officially has 51 members, only 20 were present at the meeting, with many of those absent suspected of joining the rebellion.
Thirty-four other members from different counties in the state also attended the meeting.
Ruai explained how members would be recruited, either to join the party as new members or to fill the vacancies left behind.
“To be an SPLM member is your own decision, and for you to be registered, you must clear all the doubts people have about you. When you come to SPLM, there are certain things we require from you,” he said.
The council proposed beginning annual registration of new and old members on 15 January, with identification of the defected members and their replacement to be done both at the state and county levels at the same time.
“The identification and termination of the defected members and the deceased should be done and their vacancies be replaced according to the SPLM constitution,” said Tut Kuony, who served as the minister of education in Jonglei.
The state liberation council questioned the participation of the SPLM as a party in the new Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), although no consensus has yet been reached.
The David Yau Yau-led South Sudan Democratic Movement/Army (SSDM/A) fought for Pibor to be recognised as an independent state of Pibor for nearly four years before a peace accord was signed with the South Sudanese government in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, in May, leading to the creation of GPAA.
Despite the signing of the peace deal, the status of the SSDM and the participation of the SPLM in the GPAA remains unclear.
“We need to seek clear understanding from the presidency about the status of the SSDM in Pibor. It is a party? Can SPLM activities be allowed there? All these would be made clear by the presidency,” said Kuony.
However Jonglei governor John Kong Nyuon said the liberation council should set aside the issue of Pibor administration and SPLM participation there.
“Even if you ask the presidency or the SPLM chairperson in Jonglei, you will not get clear answers due to complexity of this agreement. We don’t need to question what the president has done,” said Nyuon.
“[The] GPAA was created to bring peace and give positions to those wanted to. Let us put aside this issue. Let us wait and see what will happen ahead of us,” he added.
Juuk, who has chaired the state SPLM party since his appointment more than five years ago, maintained that the SPLM in would not be affected by the geographical division.
“Even if [the] GPAA is a separate administration, the SPLM is still there,” he said.
The meeting that is expected to finish on Sunday when it is expected to draw some conclusions from the matters touched on during the first day.
(ST)