SSDF says Gen Philip Bepan Machar defected from SPLA

December 4, 2006 — South Sudan United Democratic Alliance (SSUDA) the political wing of the South Sudan Defense Force (SSDF), warmly welcomes and congratulates General Philip Machar, commissioned and un-commissioned officers and the enlisted men/women for quitting the SPLM to rejoin their compatriots and colleagues in the SSDF. The decision by the General to quit the SPLM/A could not have come at any better time. It is a logical and nationalistic decision. The quitting of the General and his force of more than 5000 man strong is big blow to the overall Slava Kiir leadership and is indicative that SPLM/A has degenerated to the stage of a tribal property rather than a national movement. It is also riddle with corruption of the worst kind in the world and lacks of uniform code of conduct, discipline and Organizational Management and Development (OMD) of any sort in the world.

Most importantly, the lack of assignment clearly indicated that the theory of “confirmed” and “unconfirmed” SPLM/A is arrogant, real, tantamount to positive discrimination, benign neglect and has to be dealt with according before it is too late. It further shows that SPLM/A leadership is a curse for South Sudanese.

The return of General Mahacr and his force is a big boost in the Western Upper Nile. By all accounts now the Western front is stronger and General Machar will take no mess from anyone on the other side of the fence because they know well General Machar’s superior strategic planning and capabilities and what he can do when its comes to military engagements and operations. SSUDA appeals and urge all the officers and men/women and call on the civil population on the Western front to welcome home General Philip Machar. SSUDA applauds the return of the General and his force of more than 5000 fighters.

SSUDA/SSDF appeals on officers in the SPLM/A who are in similar situation like General Machar to make the right choice for peace and unity for our people in South Sudan to quit and join the SSDF. This is the best medicine that the Kiir’s weak and tribal leadership can smell. There are many ways to force Mr. Kiir and his cronies in Juba to opt for a meaningful South-South Dialogue under the good offices of IGAD, the international sponsors and the United Nations. Refusal of South-South Dialogue by the SPLM/A with SSUDA/SSDF, other political forces and the civil society could jeopardize the CPA.

SSUDA appeals and urges all South Sudanese to unite for dialogue that would lead to equitable power and wealth sharing, inclusion, development and to stamp out corruption in the South. We have a big responsibility for this generation and the next and as such, we all have a moral responsibility and obligation that together we should lay down the foundation of democracy and social justice otherwise history will not absolve us. In addition, the next generation will blame us in our graves for the mistakes and the legacy we have failed to correct. SSUDA is for change- a positive democratic change- for the good of the South and its people.

Illegal occupation in the name of the liberation, internal colonialism, and the concepts that some say “they are born to rule and not to be ruled” has no place in South Sudan. SSUDA/SSDF will make sure that democracy, the rule of law, constitutionalism, tolerance and inclusion of South Sudanese in the system does prevail beyond the tribal lines and its degenerative chauvinistic and psychotic intentions. SSUDA political philosophy as a democratic party is that it is self-evident that all human beings are created equal.

SSUDA warns those who forget history are bound to repeat it. Let us not repeat history.

SSUDA strongly warn those that are beating the drums of war that SSDF should go northward are ignorant of the facts. We could have a messy situation in the South because no members of the SSUDA/SSDF will move to the North against their free will and consent from the land of their ancestors. The SPLA should not dream of creating a situation similar to South Vietnam and the Vietcong who were Southerners and forced to the North by the then Dim regime in the then Republic of South Vietnam. Does the SPLA really want a repeat of Vietnam in South Sudan?

Signed: Dr. David de Chand, Chairman, SSUDA

E-mail: [email protected]