Interview: Only SPLM is capable of achieving unity of Sudan–Amum

By Ahmed Elzobier

April 28, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) vision of New Sudan is the only way to forward to maintain unity of the country and realize justice and development, said Pagn Amum.

The Secretary General of the SPLM told Sudan Tribune that the Movement is the key to the unity or separation of Sudan. The New Sudan vision “is the only political program that can create a country enabling all Sudanese to feel the sense of belonging, and to create space for all the Sudanese.” Amum said.

He also stressed that the SPLM the only political force that could achieve independence of southern Sudan, if southern Sudanese opt for separation.

In an interview conducted last week, the SPLM leader said the party is still has good relations with its former allies of the National democratic Alliance. He further affirmed the possibility of political coordination with the NDA forces.

Regarding the partnership with the National Congress Party (NCP), Amum showed optimism about the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). He said the SPLM is able to reach a solution with the NCP. He indicated that the SPLM wants to see implemented not only the CPA but also the Cairo deal with the northern opposition, Darfur agreement and eastern Sudan peace deal.

Asked about the Abyei issue, he said that the NCP is still rejecting implementation of Abyei Protocol, adding that the key of this impasse might come from US arbitration.

“The arbitrators would be the Americans because they are the ones who brought forward the proposal of the Abyei protocol that became the basis of the agreement.” he said.

The following is the full text of an interview with the Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, Pagan Amum in Khartoum:

The Secretary-General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Mr. Pagan Amum, is one of the most promising leading figures within their ranks and is well known for his straight-talking style. Many people regard him as the new visionary of the movement and one of the few who can clearly articulate a vision for a new Sudan. The Sudan Tribune interviewed Mr. Amum and asked him a variety of difficult questions in relation to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the Government of South Sudan, the general election, human rights, Darfur and the vision of the SPLM. He provided comprehensive answers to our questions and showed great personal concern with many of the issues. We would like to share this rare interview with the Sudan Tribune’s readers to let them have an idea of the current thinking of the SPLM leadership on a range of very important matters related to the future of Sudan.

COMPREHENSIVE PEACE AGREEMENT (CPA)

– Could you tell us about the outcome of the Joint Political Committee meeting which took place last Monday, 16 April, between SPLM and the National Congress Party (NCP)?

Pagan Amum: Yes, the meeting between the SPLM and the NCP is known as the partnership follow-up political committee. This committee, co-chaired by the Secretary General of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and the Deputy Chairman of the National Congress, was a follow-up to the meeting of the leadership in March. We discussed a number of issues and evaluated the implementation of the decisions that had been taken at the March meeting. In March, an executive committee was formed and headed by Dr Riak Machr and Mr. Ali Osman Mohamed Taha to look into relations between the Government of South Sudan, the Government of National Unity and the states. There are a number of issues related to the CPA, to the implementation of the security arrangements and Other Armed Groups (OAGs), and also revitalizing the role of the oil commission. We have also agreed on the agenda of our next meeting on 27 May for enlarging the political leadership council. We also had very strong discussions about our difficulties in implementing the CPA, especially regarding Abyei where the NCP holds a position which is not implementing Abyei’s protocol, for reasons of their own. Our position is clear – that Abyei’s protocol should be implemented.

– In May last year NCP/SPLM failed to agree on the Abyei issue according to Abyei Boundary Committee (ABC) recommendations. So you came up with four options:
– a) reach a political agreement.
– b) call on the ABC experts to defend their recommendations.
– c) refer the matter to the Constitutional Court.
– d) seek arbitration by a third party.
No time frame was specified. When do you think the two parties will address this rather serious issue?

Pagan Amum: We are still discussing the problem with the intention of reaching a political agreement. We have discussed this at the level of the two leadership meetings, also in the follow-up political committee, at the level of the national council of SPLM and NCP, as well as in the leadership committees, but we have failed to reach an agreement. The National Congress is still intransigent about not implementing the Abyei protocol, which is unfortunate and causing very serious problems. We continue to discuss the issue and we try to persuade them that the implementation of the Abyei protocol is in the interest of Sudan. The only option left is to go to arbitration in this case. The arbitrators would be the Americans because they are the ones who brought forward the proposal of the Abyei protocol that became the basis of the agreement.

– The EU, the UNDP and the GoSS have completed preparations for the establishment of a commercial committee composed of about 80 representatives from the Dinka and Misseiriya of Abyei. Is this part of the solution to the Abyei problem?

Pagan Amum: These are grassroots attempts but they are not related to the protocol.

– Could you tell us about progress on such crucial matters as the Other Armed Groups (OAGs) status, and the role of the Sudan Armed Force (SAF) in the oil areas, especially in the Unity State?

Pagan Amum: According to the CPA, the SPLM and NCP will disband all their allied OAGs by the end of 2006. Unfortunately the National Congress Party and Sudan Armed Force (SAF) have continued to finance and arm groups of tribal militia in Southern Sudan beyond 2006 up until now, with the clear aim of destabilizing the Government of Southern Sudan and the SPLM, and of causing instability in Southern Sudan. This is very unfortunate and this destabilization and war by proxy waged by the National Congress Party is not a way to make peace. We had discussions with them but they have been very slow to set dates and by 18 December 2006 they had already failed to meet the deadline. These armed groups were the cause of killings on the road between Juba and Torit, and Juba and Nimoli, and this lack of security led to the loss of hundreds of lives, including in Malakal town last November. They promised to stop and till now they have done nothing.
Today in Khartoum there are many armed militia sponsored by the SAF and the leadership of the NCP and we wonder why they are doing that?

– What do you think the solution will be?

Pagan Amum: The solution is for the NCP to disband these groups and stop their activities against their partners in government. According to the CPA the Sudan Armed Force should be deployed north to the border of January 1956, but they are still heavily deployed in the oil areas in Unity State and Northern Upper Nile State. This a clear violation of the CPA, and is another unfortunate indication of bad intentions by maintaining the deployments in those areas

– Many people think that SPLM have accepted the role of the weak and powerless partner in its relations with the NCP in the North. They refer to many crucial decisions such as the sugar and fuel prices last September, the continual rejection of the international forces in Darfur, and the ongoing violation of human rights?

Pagan Amum: In the compromise agreement we reached the SPLM have only 28% of power, which is a minority, whereas the NCP have 52%, and with their allies in the government they account for 70%. The power is with them and they exercise their power to impose their agenda, and that is the reality of the agreement itself. When we are in disagreement with them we are not weak but we are in a minority that is the difference. The SPLM has made itself clear through its chairman, especially on the issue of Darfur where thousands of people have been killed and millions have been displaced, that we are for ending the suffering of the people. We have said that we are for the protection of the civilian population and therefore we accept the deployment of International Forces in Darfur.

We have no majority to impose our ideas and we are waiting for the general election to be able to do that.

– What do you make of your relationship with your partner in the peace process NCP?

Pagan Amum: Well it’s difficult, we have a lot of disagreement on certain issues, but we keep working to move in the direction of genuine partnership. We strongly believe that this will lead to the smoother implementation of the CPA and that this will strengthen the partnership.

We are now discussing a number of difficulties. Last year the relations were not very good, a lot of disappointment and bad blood between the SPLM and NCP. We saw at the second anniversary of the CPA in Juba, that the two leaders were totally opposed to each other, but since then we have been working together and made some progress, but it’s very slow progress.

– In general are you optimistic about the implementation of the CPA?

Pagan Amum: I am optimistic but this will take a lot of struggle. It will also come after a lot of persuading of our partners in the National Congress Party that we are able to reach an understanding, and if they have fears then we will help them to overcome these fears. We are genuine in this. We want them also to implement other peace agreements in the East, Cairo, and Abuja to bring an end to the war in Darfur. This is our struggle and we hope peace will prevail and democracy will be adopted and that the people will take power into their hands and select their own government.

GOVERNMENT OF SOUTHERN SUDAN

– The problems facing GoSS are numerous – tribalism, lack of structure, corruption, insecurity – how do you assess progress in the South?

Pagan Amum: The signing of the CPA and establishment of the Government of Southern Sudan are tremendous achievements. First of all the people of Southern Sudan enjoy freedom and peace – with the exception of sporadic insecurity caused by the militia sponsored by NCP the situation is peaceful. Maybe for the first time in two centuries the people of Southern Sudan enjoy peace and freedom.

Our people have been brutalised by different regimes for a very long time. Of course the situation in Southern Sudan is one of serious underdevelopment because it has been marginalised for so long and the war has destroyed the entire infrastructure. The government of Southern Sudan is starting several hundred degrees below zero and we have moved the situation up. The GoSS has built more than 200km of road in the last two years, the few hospitals that are in the south are now all supplied with drugs for the first time. These hospitals have all been renovated, whether it’s Juba hospital, or Malakal hospital, Wau, Yei, or Rumbek hospitals, all of them have been renovated. Millions of dollars have been spent so that millions of southern Sudanese are able to access medical treatment, so the demand has increased, especially with returnees, and our capacity is very limited for the first time. The medical profession has started to receive their salary regularly there has been an increase in their remuneration. In education there is some improvement but 80% of our children still do not go to schools. It will take several years for us to be able to provide for those children. There are a lot of challenges and it would be a big lie to pretend that we can operate with the capacity of a government system with 500 years experience – we are like a two year old child who has just started learning to walk.

– The regional Director of the World Bank says ministers in Juba know nothing about administration. Do you think this a fair and accurate portrayal of your party’s ministers? What does GoSS plan to overcome such difficulties?

Pagan Amum: This is absolutely not true and is outrageous, all these ministers know how to administer people. Many of them managed people during a war, and war is more tense – if you can manage 1000 people to engage in a war you will definitely manage them to build a school. I think it is more difficult to manage society in situations of war than in situations of peace. They are talking about not having managerial skills and of course none of them were in government before, but this is just outrageous stereotyping and definitely wrong.

– There are many unconfirmed allegations about corruption in the South, what is the SPLM strategy to fight corruption?

Pagan Amum: Yes, corruption in the Sudan, and south Sudan is part of that, is not merely an allegation; the Sudanese state is one of them most corrupt in the world. It is number five in the world according to Transparency International. Ranked number three in Africa and ranked number one in the Arab world. This is not just an allegation because Sudan is sick with corruption, and the centre of the sickness is here in Khartoum. Now we are joining a sick government infested with corruption and it’s most likely that this problem will come to Southern Sudan. Corruption is the normal thing in Sudan and the policy of the SPLM is zero tolerance, we will fight it and we will defeat it.

– What mechanisms do you have in place to fight corruption?

Pagan Amum: First of all our political commitment to the transparency of the decision making process. We have five mechanisms in addition to this political commitment, and they are as follows:

1. We operate in a democratic environment where parliament represents the people and has strong supervision over the executive. The parliament, first and foremost, is the one that allocates budget. The parliament has the power to oversee the budget, have it spent accordingly and ensure that no spending has been made contrary to the intended purposes.

2. We have established an Auditor General, who is independent and has the responsibility of auditing all the government department funds and public money, and to find whether money has been diverted to private use. The Auditor General will be able to bring that violation to the attention of parliament and the executive and to take action under the law.

3. We have an independent anti-corruption committee that will investigate all cases of corruption and allegations of corruption.

4. We will strongly support the media in its role as a watchdog to bring any issues of corruption to the attention of the people. But we also require them to be responsible and not to use this power for political blackmailing, or as a tool for psychological warfare as is unfortunately happening now with some disreputable papers in town.

5. The people themselves who are aware and will use their own resources to stand strongly against corruption.

The SPLM started talking publicly about corruption and we encourage people to talk about corruption. We are ready to expose those who are corrupt and listen to those who are courageous and brave enough to come to us with allegations. These mechanisms, I am confident, will corner corruption. Corruption is not a just a problem of Southern Sudan, it’s a worldwide phenomenon, but it’s also about the need to create a system. Our systems are very weak because we are just starting and this not something to blame ourselves for. By discussing this issue publicly we are starting in a better position than many countries where power and land in the hands of so few has made the discussion of corruption impossible.

– There may have been as many as 50,000 refugees and IDPs returning to the south in the last two months. What is the GoSS’s capacity to absorb these newcomers and what are the preparations in terms of jobs, housing, health and education services?

Pagan Amum: The capacity will be built up in the process; the most important thing is for them to return. This constitutes an opportunity for them to rebuild their lives from scratch, it’s difficult but they will make it. These are efforts that need to be encouraged and the Government of Southern Sudan needs support from the international community to be able to develop the capacity to receive returnees. Also, we need to provide people with basic services such as medical services, clean water, schools, and food for a number of months until they start to look after themselves. These are the necessary preparations for the return of the IDPs.

GENERAL ELECTIONS

– It has been reported in the media that you have said, “SPLM is the only party in Sudan with the key to unity and separation”. Can you elaborate on that?

Pagan Amum: Yes, I believe that SPLM is the only party that is capable of achieving the unity of Sudan. Only the SPLM vision of a new Sudan can unite Sudan because it is the only political program that can create a country that enables all Sudanese to feel the sense of belonging, and to create space for all the Sudanese. All other ideologies which have been tried have caused war, instability and genocide, whether in the South, Nuba Mountain or in Darfur. All the political ideas that have been used since independence have caused the marginalization of the majority, and the concentration of power in the hands of the few. This has brought about a distorted development in the country and Sudan has become a failed state. Sudan is now the country that has produced the largest number of IDPs in the whole world – nine out of ten displaced persons in the world are Sudanese. The Sudanese capital, Khartoum, has the largest concentration of IDPs in the world where millions live in squalid conditions as a result of the policy pursued through all of Sudan.

All those ideologies which have been imposed since independence have divided the Sudanese into Arabs and non-Arabs, Muslims and non-Muslims, Northerners and Southerners. The idea of the new Sudan is to unite all Sudanese simply to be Sudanese, as equal stakeholders who have a sense of community and an allegiance to each other, and where we share a simple commonality – our aspiration to be peaceful. That is the only guarantee of unity for Sudan. If we fail to make use of that then Sudan will disintegrate.

At the same time the SPLM is the only political force that could achieve for the people of Southern Sudan their right for self-determination, including their right to separate. Because the SPLM affirms the right in the CPA for the people of Southern Sudan to voluntarily choose to be part of Sudan or to separate. The SPLM is the only guarantee for Southern Sudanese if they choose unity and want to see things change so that people become equal stakeholders, and where southern Sudanese will not be slaves in their own country. That is why the SPLM is the key to the unity of Sudan or separation of Sudan.

– Many people recognize that transferring what is essentially a guerrilla organization into a political organization is a very complex and difficult task – in your view is the SPLM capable of making those promises you mentioned in your previous answer come true?

Pagan Amum: The SPLM is an organization capable of achieving those visions, and of presenting itself as the best alternative for the Sudanese people who will rally round this vision and make it work.

– Is this your coming election program?

Pagan Amum: Yes, it is also our program for life, for the future and for government.

– How do you describe your relations with other political parties and especially your former partners in the National Democratic Alliance?

Pagan Amum: We have very good relations with the NDA, we discuss with them and exchange ideas about the future of the country. Because we recognise other political forces and believe in democracy, we believe in the viability and capability of other political parties and we will continue talking to them.

– Is there any possibility of coordination with the NDA in the next general election?

Pagan Amum: Absolutely, we are holding our cards open and we are saying our agenda is that of a new Sudan. If there is any political force that’s ready to implement that agenda with us and we find ways to agree and common areas to work together on, whether it’s for the election or in government, we are interested. At the moment we are discussing with all political parties including the National Congress Party and The Popular Congress Party because we recognise all of them. We are talking with a wide front of the new Sudan forces to prepare for the election

– What about the South? Is SPLM creating a one party state in the South?

Pagan Amum: No, actually it is one of the most viable democracies and the Government of Southern Sudan has got seven political parties. There are two other political parties that are not in government but they are in opposition and they have their own plans to win power. The SPLM is the most popular party, that is the reality, but it doesn’t mean other parties don’t exist.

HUMAN RIGHTS

– On Sunday 15 the government once again cracked down violently on peaceful demonstrations in Khartoum related to former government employees who were sacked because of their political affiliation. This is in obvious violation of the Interim Constitution, what is your opinion on this issue?

Pagan Amum: As the SPLM we condemn the use of force by police and feel that it is misguided. It was a peaceful demonstration, the Sudanese people have the right to demonstrate peacefully and there are no reasons for that violent response. The huge deployment of security forces in Khartoum was an over reaction, this is wrong and these old practices should not be there at all. People have been terribly mishandled and arrested, and even Members of Parliament were beaten! I condemn the use of force by the government and as part of that government the SPLM condemns it because it is an unconstitutional practice.

– On April 16, it was reported that SPLM condemns the arrest and detention of Mjr Gen. Elias Waya in Khartoum. Do you find this is a very strange statement coming from a party supposedly a member of this government? Can you explain that to us?

Pagan Amum: It is not strange and it’s in our nature as the SPLM to condemn wrong things, even when we ourselves are part of the government involved. Our ministers will raise this issue, but although we are in a coalition government the SPLM did not participate in the decision to take that action.

– Do you have any idea how many people are now in prison in Sudan?

Pagan Amum: No, I do not have any idea, even though I’ve heard some of them are SPLM – do you have any idea (laughter)?

DARFUR CONFLICT

– Your position in specific issues related to Darfur is very ambiguous and not many people are really clear about where the SPLM stand on the ICC?

Pagan Amum: First of all Sudan has signed the ICC and Roma protocol, but did not ratify it, so therefore technically Sudan is not obliged to participate on the ICC because they are not part of the judiciary. Then Darfur case was referred by the Security Council to the ICC and because Sudan is a member of the UN and has international legal obligations the situation became more complicated.

When the ICC prosecutor raised an accusation against two Sudanese, one of them a minister of the Government, we engaged the Congress Party and the Government of National Unity to deal with the issue with prudence. The government agreed to engage positively, however they changed their position to one of confrontation. The position of the SPLM is that the Government of National Unity should engage positively with the ICC and cooperate, most importantly in relation to the conflict in Darfur. The Government of National Unity must prioritize the issue of peace in Darfur and we as the SPLM declared our intention to help resolve this problem by using our unique position as a partner in this government. Also, to utilize our relations with all the Darfurian movements and invite them to Juba where the Darfurian group will find the best way to achieve a comprehensive peace in their region. The SPLM have formed a task force on Darfur and their personal envoy will work together with this group and contact has already been made. The SPLM are engaged seriously in this issue and the SPLM chairman will talk with the IDPs’ representative in Khartoum at a meeting in the next few weeks.

The SPLM will use its good relations in the region to work closely with countries affected by the conflict in Darfur, like Chad or Central Africa. In the long run we will use our position to rehabilitate the image of Sudan in the international community.

– The Sudan government signed an agreement with UN and AU on Darfur, can you tell us any more about this?

Pagan Amum: I am told that the National Congress Party has accepted the three packages, including the heavy support from the UN. I think this is a welcome development and we in the SPLM always advocated the deployment of international forces in Darfur to protect the civilian population. It came late and it was unnecessary to make those delays which caused the loss of life for many people during the period of discussions. The people in Darfur are Sudanese citizens and their lives should be as important as anyone’s life in Sudan. There are no grounds for the biased treatment of any citizens of this country.

– Finally, what in your opinion will make unity attractive?

Pagan Amum: What will make unity attractive, in my opinion, is the following: Firstly, to make Sudan a country for all Sudanese. Sudan is now the country of Awlad Al Balad who marginalizes others, and of those who have real power and practice segregation against others. We are in the 21st century and it’s high time we accept that all Sudanese are equal citizens, equal stakeholders. Secondly, a fair distribution of power where all Sudanese will govern themselves and participate in the decisions that determine their future. Southerners have never felt that they have been treated as equal citizens in this country. If you go to any ministry or government building it’s as if you are going to a ministry in a foreign land, they are simply strange places and our civil service should reflect the composition of all Sudan. Thirdly, to have an equitable share of resources of this country – they might be few but let us share them. Let us make our people in the far north, in the west, east and south have access to this share. Finally, by making unity voluntary, nobody should use force to impose it.