TEXT-Sudan’s Salva Kiir pledges commitment to peace accord

JUBA, Aug 6, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — The new Sudanese first vice-president, Salva Kiir Mayardit, has pledged to remain committed to the pursuit of a comprehensive peace in the country. Speaking in English at the burial of late First Vice-President John Garang, ‘ Kiir called on all Sudanese to unite and remain focused on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Accord.

The new SPLM leader Salva Kiir addresses mourners during the funeral service for late rebel leader and first vice president John Garang in Juba, southern Sudan August 6, 2005.. (Reuters).

He went on to call for an end to the conflict in Darfur and pledged to rout Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army rebels from southern Sudan.

The following is an excerpt from Salva Kiir’s speech broadcast live by Sudan TV on 6 August:

Your excellencies, honourable guests, dear compatriots, ladies and gentlemen. This is a very sad day for south Sudan, indeed for the whole of Sudan, for Africa and for the world. John Garang De Mabior was not only the first vice-president of the Sudan and chairman of the SPLM (Sudan People’s Liberation Movement). He was also a world breed of political thinker and freedom fighter.

He was a trailblazer who led a serious life of physical exhaustion and exposure to danger for the sake of our people and for African unity and development.

All the early survival of the founding leadership of the SPLM, no body is more pained and chagrined by the loss of De Mabior than myself. [Words indistinct] A loss to his immediate family and henchmen. Of those who worked close to him or under him [words indistinct] and witnessed by the millions who came out to receive him in Khartoum at the end of July.

Nevertheless, John Garang was not only a political leader but also a man dedicated to his government [words indistinct]. My sister Rebecca [widow of the Garang] [words indistinct] you will never ever be alone. Not only my family and all the families of the SPLM shall be with you. I shall be remiss if I don’t extend my condolences also to the families of my comrades who perished with our leader in that fateful accident as well as to the families of the Ugandan crew.

Hon guests and dear compatriots, as the man who accompanied the late Dr John Garang in his arduous journey and faithfully worked under his command, and also as the man who destiny will for to carry the mantle of power after him, I wish to assure all the sentry that John Garang’s will and vision shall not perish after his departure.

I am sure as day follows night that the torch he has kindled shall never be extinguished, not under my command. [Passage omitted-words indistinct]. I have neither taken over the helm of leadership to redirect the SPLM away from the path raised by our leader and my dear brother and friend John Garang De Mabior nor to redefine its objectives, for redefining the objectives of the SPLM shall be tantamount to fighting them. And if there are still any doubting Thomases, let them hear from me now as I say loud and clear that the SPLM is a vehicle with no reverse gears.

Our first commitment dear compatriots therefore is for the unity of Sudan. Our new basis to be achieved voluntarily through the exercise of the right to self-determination. In this respect, I faithfully commit myself to the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, CPA, both in letter and in spirit. That we do in sincere partnership with the National Congress, a partnership that does not exclude cooperation with other political forces especially those of the NDA. This shall be the only way to achieve the national consensus which Dr Garang so much yearned for.

In the same vein, I shall hold tenaciously to the process of cooperation and good working relationship with president Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir and Vice-President Taha which was initiated by my parting brother John in the very short spell he had in the presidential offices. Smooth relationship within the institution of the presidency shall be key to the successful implementation of the CPA.

Dear compatriots, peace shall not be complete without the extinction of the fires of war in Darfur and eastern Sudan and the realization of the just and fair resolution to the conflicts in both areas.

To that end, I wish to reiterate Dr Garang’s commitment that the SPLM shall continue to use its good offices as well as its power for moral persuasion to expedite the resolution of those conflicts. As my late brother used to say, you cannot have peace in south Sudan, the Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile when war rages in the east and west of Sudan. That is hardly comprehensive peace.

In the same vein, the government of southern Sudan cannot and will not tolerate the presence of the Lords Resistance Army. [Passage omitted]

Dear compatriots, democratic transformation is a cardinal element in comprehensive peace and once again, I reiterate my commitment to the implementation of all clauses in the CPA and the interim constitution that are meant to achieve a democratic transformation in our country.

Further more, my commitment to the socio-economic development of Sudan is no less than that to democratic transformation.

What Dr John Garang has called a paradigm shift in Sudanese economy emanating from the CPA shall be followed and enhanced so that no person shall die of hunger, no child be denied education and no sick person in Sudan shall be deprived of medical care.

Our struggle was above all a struggle to improve the lot of the masses and under my weight, the hopes of the masses shall never be abandoned. And if there is one sentence that I wish to add here is that I shall be implacably tough against corruption and mismanagement or abuse of public assets.

Our people have not suffered for so long in order for a few to illicitly enrich themselves and also, impunity to corruption stains democracy.

Dear compatriots, the tragedy of our leader has strengthened our resolve to remain united as a movement and people. This is the best way the SPLM can honour its fallen hero.

The announcement of the loss of Dr John Garang was followed by unfortunate violent events in Khartoum and other towns. These event do confirm that the country has individuals who still use religion and ethnicity to advocate hate and violence against their own fellow countrymen and women. Such individuals must not be allowed however powerful, to undermine peace and tranquility in our country.

May I therefore while appealing for calm extend my condolences to all those who lost their arms in those riots and my sorrow for those who lost property.

I promise you dear fellow citizens that we have launched full investigation into the circumstances that led to this catastrophe. We shall leave no stone unturned in our determined search for truth and facts surrounding this tragic incident. I therefore appeal to the entire Sudanese nation to have courage in coping with this tragedy.

My grieved fellow citizens, let us turn this invaluable loss to strength and unity; unity of purpose in all what we do in the quest for a new Sudan of democracy, good governance, liberty, freedom, sustained peace and economic development.

Dr Garang had identified earlier that the next phase in our liberation struggle is war against poverty and signs of marginalization in the whole country.

This new voice calls for inclusiveness as a rallying point for our country. I therefore appeal [Passage omitted] within southern Sudan to join me in revitalizing our social capital and restoring peace, stability and prosperity to our beloved land.

To the entire Sudanese nation, let us join hands in making the unity of Sudan attractive through speedy implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. To the friends of the Sudan in general and southern Sudan in particular, let us pay tribute to our fallen leader through full commitment and timely disbursement of pledges you had made at the Oslo donor’s conference of April 2005.

The SPLM shall continue to build itself as a national party which encompasses the whole Sudan from Nimule to Halfa and from Junaynah to Port Sudan and Hamushukreb.

All our beloved leader used to say, accordingly I invite Sudanese all over the country especially women and youth to join the movement in droves.

Dear compatriots, let me before closing express my gratitude to leaders from Africa and the world who took the trouble to share with us our agony right to Juba to bid farewell to our fellow hero. You dear friends are really friends indeed. May I urge you to continue supporting the Sudanese people in consolidating peace and laying the foundation of sustainable development. Many of you were personal friends of the late Dr John Garang and your presence among us this day not only gives us solace, it also gives us courage to continue with his vision and mission.

Your excellencies, honourable guests, dear compatriots, though it is difficult for me to believe that we have lost our leader, in reality, John Garang is now gone. Let there be no uncertainty for uncertainly inflates speculation. The vision of Garang shall never abate and the SPLM struggle which he initiated in 1983 shall continue till our goals are attained. May God Almighty rest his soul in eternal peace and give us strength, wisdom and tolerance in following the footsteps of our fallen hero in the service of our great people. Thank you very much.

Material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service.