International community must put pressure on the SPLM party to embrace dialogue
Dec, 20, 2005 — The South Sudan Democratic Forum is once again appealing to international community, particularly the IGAD countries, to turn attention to the political and military situation in South Sudan. As an organization which mediated the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the member countries of IGAD have a leverage to bring about an agreement between South Sudan armed groups.
The South Sudan Democratic Forum–which is a political wing of South Sudan Defense Force (SSDF)–is one of the political parties that formed the Government of National Unity (GONU) and the Government of South Sudan (GOSS) as stipulated in the CPA. As the member of the GOSS, the Democratic Forum has taken unequivocal position to facilitate dialogue between SSDF and the SPLA, the military wing of SPLM party.
During his visit to Washington, DC in his capacity as the President of South Sudan government, Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir made a pledge to U.S. government to resume dialogue with SSDF. Indeed, he contacted SSDF military leadership on Nov, 22nd to prepare for dialogue. Committees were set up by the SPLA and SSDF to formulate modalities for the continuation of the dialogue. The delegations of both parties met on the 23rd to discuss the venue the dialogue would take place.
However, both parties disagreed on the venue of the dialogue. The SSDF’s position is that the dialogue should take place in Nairobi where it started in June. The SPLA delegation insisted that the dialogue must take place in Khartoum since all the parties are in Sudan. However, the SSDF delegation objected by pointing out that Khartoum is not a neutral ground where the South Sudan Armed Groups could freely discuss the affairs of the South without intrusion from outsiders who are not sympathetic to the dialogue. Both parties departed without reaching an agreement on the venue.
On Dec, 15, 2005, both parties met again to discuss the issue. To demonstrate good faith, the SSDF’s delegation offered another venue to SPLA. The SSDF proposed to SPLA that the dialogue should take place in Juba, the South Sudan capital. However, the SPLA rejected Juba arguing that the dialogue would disrupt the government of the South from smooth functioning. The SSDF’s delegation requested the SPLA side to propose another venue other than Khartoum where the dialogue should take place. Unfortunately, the SPLA refused to offer another location by arguing that Vice-president Kiir has a lot of work to do in Khartoum and has no time to go to another venue far away from the capital. Both parties were in a deadlock that no solution was found. The issue of the location is now left to Salva Kiir and Paulino Matip to discuss face to face in an unspecified date.
On the other hand, there were disagreements on who should become mediators between the two parties when irreconcilable differences arise. The SPLA’s delegation refused in principle the involvement of Moi’s African Institute (MAIN) and South African Institute for peace-building, saying that South Sudanese could resolve their differences without outside assistance. The SSDF is in a position that mediators are profoundly needed since there are fundamental differences that cannot be resolved by the two parties without guidance of external advisors.
It is to be recalled that the first dialogue which took place between the SPLA and SSDF was convened in Nairobi in June under the auspices of President Moi’s Foundation. Former SPLM/A chairman, CDR John Garang, did not object MAIN to host the dialogue. He instead encouraged the involvement of outsiders to persuade Southerners to reconcile.
The Democratic Forum is deeply concerned with the position taken by SPLA under Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir on South-South dialogue. Salva Kiir accepts the dialogue in theory but works against it in practice. The SPLA’s position militates against the spirit of the CPA which demands all the differences between the armed groups to be resolved for its smooth implementation. The SPLM party should be regarded as a twin brother of the National Congress Party which–like SPLA’s behavior on South-South dialogue–accepts the implementation of the CPA in words but not in deeds.
The South Sudan Democratic Forum therefore appeals to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George Bush to exert meaningful pressure on the SPLM party to accept South-South dialogue in good faith. As the head of State of United Kingdom, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II should use her good office to send a clear message to Salva Kiir to embrace South-South dialogue without preconditions.
The Democratic Forum also appeals to head of Holy See, Pope Benedict XVI to rebuke SPLM party to refrain from joining forces of evil that are toiling against the peace in Sudan. The Catholics in Sudan want to celebrate Christmas with the hope that SSDF and SPLA will commence the dialogue before the first anniversary of the CPA. The Vatican should send an envoy to Juba with spiritual message of peace and reconciliation among Southerners as the only way to exorcise evil spirits out of SPLM’s tribalists who are against South-South dialogue.
– G. Buay Reath,
Chairman of South Sudan Democratic Forum-Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
– Tel (613)260-9307
– Email :[email protected]