Is SPLM just raising mere slogans?

By Watts Roba Gibia Nyirigwa*

Aug 15, 2006 — Since the day one of signing CPA, there has been filthy and stiff propaganda against SPLM from the enemies of the peace, which went as far as questioning the SPLM’s integrity and capacity in implementing and interpreting its vision into a reality. And when Garang died at the plane crash, the enemies of SPLM and peace danced in jubilance and believed that was the end of SPLM, but they were wrong, SPLM as an organization will not wither upon the demise of its leader, and SPLM leadership was smart in disproving its enemies. The SPLM has got its own doctrine, principles and vision which is the dynamic force of the movement, and not limited only in south Sudan, but it covers the entire marginalized people of Sudan. And the enemies of SPLM are now worried from the growing impact of this ex-rebel party which has started transforming and consolidating its self as one of the major players into the Sudanese political circle, with a clear agenda and vision to Sudan’s quandaries. As throughout the history of Sudan, there was or is no political party country-wide which was devoted faithfully in fostering peace, unity and equality among the Sudanese sons and daughters, but rather they were hypocrites and exploiting people’s faith for their own political empowerment, without a clear vision and approach to Sudan’s problems. Thus, Islamic religion has become the core of their policy and for the absolute humiliation and torment of the Sudanese people in the name of religion, despite the fact that Islamic religion is calling for the unity and equality among the mankind! Now, there is growing fear and worry from SPLM as a rivaling political party, due to the increasing supports to the SPLM from all parts of Sudan. As most of the Sudanese people believe that to make Sudan a home for every Sudanese with its multi-ethnic and cultural diversity, there should be absolute transformation of Sudanese people’s mentality to accept free democratic society with equal opportunities and respect of human dignity, far from radicalism, favoritism and fascism.

There is continuous waged abhorrence campaign against SPLM from the enemies of peace, as they went as far as describing SPLM’s slogans of democratic transformation, justice, multi-party, transparency and equality, just a merely slogans and do not represent the actual reality on the ground, but rather it has become a clear ethics of SPLM from constitution, speeches and lectures. And they went on to say that what is happening today in south Sudan is a clear example for the merely SPLM slogans and dishonest, as the south Sudan is being governed exclusively by one party without participation of all Southern Sudan political parties or powers! Here we have to question the merit and logic of this criticism, but one thing is certain, the magnitude of detestation and growing bad sentiments against SPLM. If SPLM were to raise just mere slogans, it would have not survived during the past two decades, and it will not have these tremendous supports from all walks of Sudanese life and world at large. SPLM as a movement, its agenda is about Sudan as a country and not just south Sudan. Thus, most northerners who joined SPLM believed in movement’s agenda and vision which is trying to build a political framework based on facts, realities and not ideology. And they believe that SPLM vision is the only recipe for the unity of the country or otherwise they are going to lose Sudan, and that there will be no peaceful solution to Sudan’s conflicts unless through democratic transformation and by creating New Sudan. Thus, implementation of SPLM agenda and vision on the ground will not happen overnight, but requires time to translate it into reality. And you can’t expect SPLM which has just emerged from guerrilla war to transform and structure and implement its political agenda overnight, and that was obvious as when the National Islamic Front came to power by coup, it took her couple of years to implement and change the entire system into her own ideology, and as of today Sudan is still being governed by only one party. The critics of SPLM went as far as claiming that Sudan People’s Liberation Army belongs entirely to the SPLM party which doesn’t represent all ethnical groups in south Sudan! This is absolutely a baseless and non-constructive criticism, and these are the very egoism people full of abhorrence, who are trying to plant seeds of division among the SPLM, and who are trying to slaughter CPA and confine SPLM to South Sudan only. But I would like to reiterate that, SPLM as a political party is representative of all ethnical groups in Southern Sudan, Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile. The Sudan People’s Liberation Army doesn’t comprise of only one tribe or ethnical group but inclusive of all communities. The Sudan People’s Liberation Army, Sudan Armed Forces and Joint Integrated Units constitute the National Armed Forces; they shall remain separate, regular, professional and non-partisan armed forces and shall be treated equally according to the agreement and constitution. Thus, Sudan People’s Liberation Army doesn’t belong to SPLM party, but government of South Sudan and it is a regular, professional, patriotic, productive, disciplined, non-partisan military force, and its duty is to defend constitution, protect people of south Sudan and the territorial integrity of Southern Sudan. Hence, there is no point to reduce or undermine the role of Sudan People’s Liberation Army and affiliate it to the political party as a faction army. The only political party which has got faction army and militia is NCP, and that are Janjaweed, popular defense forces and southern militias which are faction armies, and even the Sudan Armed Forces had been thoroughly scrutinized and all the opponents of NCP/NIF were eliminated or pensioned for the so called public interest, and the entire Sudan Armed Forces now belong to NCP. And according to the agreement, NCP backed southern militias should choose either to join SAF or SPLA, as these are the official recognized armies of Sudan and South Sudan as stipulated in the CPA. Thus, any armed groups operating independently in south, is considered unlawful and should be disarmed or dealt with accordingly.

The entire oil revenue in Sudan is being controlled exclusively by NCP without participation of any northern political parties. Thus, it is utterly absurd to say that the oil revenue share of south Sudan is being controlled solely by SPLM without participation of other southern political parties! As the oil revenue money of south Sudan will not go to the pockets or chests of southern Sudan political parties, but to the development of entire south Sudan, and is being controlled by the SPLM Led-GOSS and not SPLM as a party. And there is no sense to incite sedition among the south Sudanese political powers over the oil revenue and governing of South Sudan. And I believe South Sudanese political powers have had enough during the course of south-north conflict, and will not re-allow themselves to be aggravated, exploited and manipulated by the enemies of the south Sudan.

Here I would like to reiterate and stress that it is imperative for SPLM Led-GOSS to start implementing its ethics of democratic governance, justice, equality, respect of human rights, freedom of self-expression, transparency and accountability to display to the people that she is not just raising mere slogans, but worth of it. Thus, the GOSS has to make sure that there are at least no power abuses, corruption and nepotism happening on its watch. And there should be fair treatment of all south Sudanese nationals on equal basis, and fair trials for every individual. These are the basic fundamental governing merits which GOSS has to observe, as a positive step toward building a free and democratic society where everyone lives with dignity and respect. And as articulated by our late leader Garang “we cannot replace injustice with injustice or abuse of human rights with another system of abuse for human rights”. Thus, the government of south Sudan has to commence its governing with ideal human rights principles, but not with arbitrarily arrests or detention without lawful trials or justification. As these are not principles and merits of building New Sudan, but rather are the merits of old Sudan. Thus, to build New Sudan and to make South Sudan as a model of good governance and nucleus for the New Sudan, the SPLM Led-GOSS has to embark on or commence vigorously to implementing its strategies and programmes on genuine practicality based on justice, equality, transparency and accountability or otherwise the dream and vision of New Sudan will remain just a mere slogans and hypothetical.

* Watts Roba Gibia Nyirigwa is a Sudan Tribune columnist, he can be reached at [email protected]