Salva Kiir urges South Sudan army to remain committed to its mission

March 19, 2007 (JUBA) — The first vice-president of the republic and president of the Government of Sudan (GoSS) and commander-in-chief of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), Gen Salva Kiir Mayardit, has urged the SPLA to remember their mission. He made the remark during the closing ceremony of the four-day Second Command and Staff Conference held over the weekend in Juba.

The Khartoum Monitor reported that Salav Kiir said “Besides defence of the people of southern Sudan and the marginalized Sudanese community, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) has transformed you into recognized regular army,” He also said the SPLA must be kept to focus on the mission and remain alert.

The GoSS president stressed the importance of self-discipline and respect for guests and foreigners in our country. “Any army without discipline can cause havoc in our markets,” he said. He ordered that SPLA soldiers should be removed from the streets.

Many Sudanese are foreigners complained from the disrespect of the population, the misuse of power by the SPLA.

Gen Kiir also ordered all illegal roadblocks to be cleared so that the culprits can be identified. “People who are doing this here, they must be stopped.” he said.

Earlier, the GoSS Vice-President Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon said the SPLA is the army of the oppressed people and that since oppression is always the most difficult to overcome, the SPLA must be on full alert.

“We would have no excuse to tell the Sudanese people if the year ends, we fail to organize the SPLA because the security budget has been increased to over 40 per cent,” Machar explained.

Riek Machar also stressed the importance of reorganizing and reforming the security sector. “It is easy to establish a SPLA bank provided that the necessary infrastructure is available,” he sad.

The SPLA chief of Staff, Oyai Deng Ajak, stressed the necessity of discipline, respect and cooperation. He urged the army to respect the chain of discipline and unity of command in order not to fail the marginalized people of the Sudan and the people of southern Sudan.

OBJECTIVES OF THE CONFERENCE

In a press conference shortly after the closing ceremony, SPLA spokesman, Maj-Gen Kuol Deim Kuol, enumerated the objectives of the four-day conference.

The objectives included review and consultation on the progress of the SPLA and implementation of the CPA Security Agreements Protocol, but also share experiences and lessons learnt and to work out strategic plans for reorganization and transformation of the SPLA into a conventional, professional and modern army.

The conference came out with a number of resolutions and recommendations. The SPLA official said the SPLA general recently established an HIV/AIDS office and has pursued exposure visits for officials.

(KHartou Monitor/ST)