South Sudan alliance reaffirms merger in the newly formed party

September, 28, 2007 (WASHINGTON) – The leadership of the South Sudan United Democratic Alliance (SSUDA) has refuted statement denying the merger of the party with other political forces to create a new political front.

The former members of Executive Political Bureau of SSUDA said in a press statement that the dissolution of the party and the merger with other political forces to establish the South Sudan Democratic Front (SSDF) was approved by Executive Bureau of the alliance unanimously.

The statement reiterated that SSUDA members who went to Khartoum to dissolve the party were mandated by the leadership. They also said that the denial of the merger by Mr James Miak kur was a fraud.

On 23 September, three political forces: South Sudan United Democratic Alliance (SSUDA), South Sudan Defense Force (SSDF) and South Sudan Democratic Forum to establish South Sudan Democratic Front (SSDF) merged in Khartoum establishing the South Sudan Democratic Front (SSDF).

However, this merger was differently appreciated. Two statements were issued on the name of the South Sudan forum and South Sudan alliance denying taking part in this front. Further, they described the new front as machination by the National Congress Party to divide southern Sudanese and to weaken southern Sudan government.

(ST)

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Below the text issued by the members of the former SSUDA Executive Bureau:

September, 28, 2007 — The former Executive Political Bureau (EPB) of SSUDA would like to inform the Sudanese people in general and South Sudanese in particular that the press release issued on 26 September by an individual called James Miak kur in United States is a hoax. The dissolution of SSUDA to merge with South Sudan Defense Force (SSDF) and South Sudan Democratic Forum to establish South Sudan Democratic Front (SSDF) was approved by Executive Bureau of SSUDA unanimously. The members of SSUDA who went to Khartoum to effectuate the dissolution of SSUDA were mandated by the Executive Political Bureau. Professor David de Chand and Peter Chuol Gatluak were entrusted to go to Khartoum to implement the decision of the Executive Political Bureau of SSUDA, which culminated in the formation of South Sudan Democratic Front on September 23, 2007.

The former chairman of SSUDA, Mr. Ojulu Ochalla, did not join the above mentioned SSUDA’s members to go to Sudan due to personal problems. His passport was confiscated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) due to violation of State of Minnesota’s laws. It is a common practice in United States that an individual with a pending criminal case cannot travel until the case is resolved by the court of law. Mr. Ochalla could have been part of the September 23rd Declaration that created South Sudan Democratic Front if the FBI did not confiscate his passport.

The allegations raised by James Miak Kur regarding the formation of the Democratic Front are unfounded and baseless. First, SSUDA’s leadership, including the members of the party in Diaspora and Sudan, approved the dissolution of SSUDA prior to arrival of Professor David de Chand and Peter Chuol Gatluak in Khartoum. Unless Mr. James Miak Kur and Mr. Ojullu Ochalla are enemies of democratic doctrine of majority rule, they should have realized that the decision taken by SSUDA’s Executive Political Bureau in regard to dissolution of SSUDA was final. Second, Mr. Miak Kur was suspended by then due to misappropriation of party funds in contravention of party rules.

Regarding false charges Mr. Miak Kur alleged in a press statement that the newly formed party was created against the Government of South Sudan (GoSS), the people of Sudan are profoundly disturbed by such a concoction because the transformation of South Sudan Defense Force (SSDF) into a political party does auger well with the Ceasefire Protocol of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). It appears as if Mr. Miak Kur and Mr. Ojullu Ochalla are foreign to the CPA which clearly states that all parties with military wings should transform themselves into democratic political parties for smooth implementation of the CPA.

It follows that the formation of South Sudan Democratic Front on September 23rd is predicated on the Interim Constitution of Sudan which allows any organized group to form a political party. The false allegation Mr. Miak Kur concocted that the newly established SSDF is formed to undermined the GoSS is baseless. This false accusation smells of SPLM’s negative campaign of depicting South Sudan parties as being manipulated by Northerners as a way to deflect the charges of corruption, which has overrun government institutions in the South.

The South Sudan Democratic Front is feared by the SPLM and its supporters because it is the only party that would end corruption and nepotism when it is elected to power in the coming election. Majority of South Sudanese have expressed happiness to join the new party to bring about development, tranquility, security and everlasting peace in Sudan. What is happening in Juba, under the leadership of the SPLM party, is a crime against development that would only be stopped through the ballot box.

Signed,

– Mr. Akech Deng Yak, SSUDA’s Former Deputy General Secretary
– Mr. Dabi Baco Domenic, SSUDA’s former Secretary of Information
– Mr. Richard Aciga Donato, SSUDA’s former Australian Representative
– Mr. Diang Liap, SSUDA’s former Secretary of Internal Affairs
– Mr. Flix Odol, SSUDA’s former Executive Committee Member
– Mr. Yak Jany Ruea, former Executive Committee Member
– Mr. Yien Lam Tot, SSUDA’s former External Secretary
– Mr. John Mayen Bol, SSUDA’s former Executive Member
– Mr. Galuak Chuol, SSUDA’s former Executive Member
– Mr. Andrew Akot Lueth, former member of SSUDA
– Mr. Nuot Puot, Former member of SSUDA

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