South Sudan parliament backs SPLM withdrawal from central government

By Isaac Vuni

October 24, 2007 (JUBA) — The Southern Sudan parliament voted a resolution supporting the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement decision to suspend its participation national unity government.

The lawmakers of southern Sudan Legislative Assembly have, Tuesday afternoon, passed resolutions supporting decision taken by SPLM Interim Political Bureau and formation of a committee including various political parties in southern Sudan to immediately meet the two presidents; Salva Kiir Myardit of the government of Southern Sudan, Omar Bashir of the republic of the Sudan and IGAD members over none implementation of the CPA by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

Appreciating James Duku’s presentation, the Speaker of Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, James Wani Igga thanked mover of the motion and MPs for their frank and open deliberation on vital issues that is of concern to the whole nation.

Wani said the designated committee will immediately meet with president Kiir then proceed to meet with President Omar Bashir in Khartoum and later the IGDA members as peace seeker.

It is to be recalled that on October 11, SPLM suspended its member’s participation in the government of National Unity in Khartoum because refusal by NCP to implement the Key issues in the CPA.

The eight political parties in southern Sudan are: 1-Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) led by Salva Kiir Marardit, 2-Union of Sudan African (USAP) Parties 1 led by Joseph Ukelo, 3-Union of Sudan African Parties (USAP) 2 led by Eliaba Jamers Surur, 4- South Sudan Democratic Forum (SSDF) led by Dr. Martin Elia,5-United Democratic Front (UDF) led by Peter Abdurrahman Sule, 6-United Democratic Salvation Front (UDSF) led by Joseph Malual, 7-Sudan African National Union led by Dr. Toby Madut, and 8-National Congress Party (NCP) Southern Branch led by Dr. Riek Gai

The urgent matter as out lined by Duku stated that the current evolving political crises between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the National Congress Party (NCP) spark by continuous violations on implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed on January 9th 2005.

Duku say the crises reached its climax when SPLM, out of deep concerned, withdrew its presidential advisors and ministers from both federal Government of National Unity and states in northern Sudan; adding that the NCP has risen to the occasion of flagrantly disregarding smooth implementation of the CPA.

That the NCP has allocated itself the role of being the head prefect for SPLM hence chooses to violate the CPA without qualms than treating SPLM as an equal partner in signing the CPA agreement.

That the NCP sponsored militias together with SAF forces put the CPA into its most dreaded test by launching unprovoked attack on SPLA forces in Malakal in the month of November 2006 resulted to heavy human and material lost from both sides.

Duku noted that refusal by President Omar el Bashir to grant Goss President and chairman of SPLM, Lt. General Salva Kiir Mayardit, the right to exercise his constitutional powers to effect reshuffling of SPLM ministers he appointed to the government of national unity is a clear interference on the constitution powers of the president of the government of Southern Sudan.

The lawmaker further stated that the NCP without any reasons reneged from implementation of the Abyei protocol as was agreed in the CPA.

Emphasizing that non compliance by NCP to redeploy their SAF from southern Sudan to northern Sudan border of 1956 as agreed in the CPA.

That NCP has deliberately refused to accept the report of the Abyei border commission and subsequently failed the demarcation of the north-south border which is very crucial in determination of the location of the oil wells and redeployment of the forces as stipulated in the CPA agreement.

Duku made earnest appeals to international community especially IGAD member states who brokered the CPA agreement to intervene and bring pressure to bear upon the NCP to honour its signature on the agreement

Contributing to the debates, Hon. Paul Akot, SPLM, Upper Nile state stated that the people of southern Sudan and across the borders would not go for war because they had had enough experience of war and its effect on the innocent people.

Therefore, the honorable call for the unity of the august house irrespective of their political affiliation to casually address the crucial matter with sober mind

Paulino Apinyi Akol ,SPLM, Western Bahr el Ghazal appeal to members to address the issue with cautiously as if threaten every person in the whole Sudan .adding that there is urgent need to conduct aggressive political awareness to all people of southern Sudan, especially the grassroots to also come up with one voice requesting Sudan President Omar Bashir and his ruling National Congress Party to implement the CPA to the letter.

George Par of Unite Democratic Front (UDF), Upper Nile State say it’s the southerners who are obstacle to having their own independent state of south Sudan because they don’t have confidence among themselves and that majority of people in Sudan don’t want to go back to war but would like to creates an statehood through the CPA that must be implemented to the letter.

Peter Longole Kuma, SPLM, Eastern Equatoria State say the spirit of Southern Sudan lawmakers of august house have gone down despite being at the state of political liberation and nation building programme because their partner, NCP, is reluctance to give southern Sudanese their rights That the NCP do not want to listen to issue of Abyei including demarcation of north-south border.

“We become recipients of wealth sharing money without knowing how much is being produced and sold to international market”.

Kuma says NCP is failing to implement even the wealth sharing protocols because lack of transparency on oil being produced daily

The legislator wondered why the wealth from the northern Sudan not being divides to southern Sudanese. He suggested formation of mediation committee to bring the two partners together for implementation of the CPA.

Ceasor Baya, NCP, Eastern Equatoria State, says southerners don’t want to go back to war because the victims will mainly be the southerners. However, Baya emphasized that all southerners must ensure that the CPA is implemented to the letter”.

Arop Deng Koul, SPLM, Abyei said all the people of Abyei expressed their support towards the decision taken by SPLM Interim Political Bureau because 33 months has passed without implementation of the most vital issues of the CPA including Abyei boundary Commission and administration setup for effective development in Abyei and of southern Sudan.

SPLM should not wait for more discussion with NCP otherwise its waste of time because NCP wills not listen; besides, waiting amount to surrounding to NCP because they are now resisting implementation of the CPA, remarks Hon. Koul

Koul noted that NCP has not taken any political education to northern Sudanese on CPA since it was signed on January 9th 2005; Regarding oil wealth sharing, Honorable Koul said SPLM is handicap by NCP to knowing the details information about oil wells and production in southern Sudan and suggested that the august house should come out with a strong resolution demanding immediate withdrawal of Sudan Armed Forces from southern Sudan and Abyei area.

Anderia Yona, SPLM, Wulu County, Lakes states say southern Sudanese need to study the current political explosive issue with wisdom and not to only concentrate in southern Sudan but the whole marginalized people of the Sudan. He said all the provisions of the CPA must me implemented.

Gorgeet Lat, NCP, Unity state say the issue should also be debated at national assembly level in Khartoum, we need to be told of what has not been implemented.

Richard Mulla, SPLM, Mundri East raise a motion to postpone the debate in order to give chance for Goss president to held press conference thereafter the august house will be able to pass resolution that will be relevance to the debate and it was postponed for Tuesday October 23rd 2007.

This morning when the debate resumed, Martin Algo, USAP, Yei County, Central Equatoria state say the august house should drown a line on how to advise SPLM members in the National Assembly in Omdurman to work out in solidarity with SPLM IPB during the opening session in order to show strength of the SPLM.

Dr. Topy Madut, SANU,Warrap state stated that southern Sudanese have suffered greatly from 38 year of wars and blamed the two parties for not enlarging the discussion between the SPLM and NCP rather than involve other political parties for immediate solution. He suggested that the eight political parties in southern Sudan should immediately meet President Salva Kiir in Juba and later president Omar Bashir in Khartoum to discuss on how to implement the CPA without going to war.

Remijo Lasu Peter, SPLM, Morobo Lasu county, advised some MPs not to blame SPLM for taking a painful but right decision because it’s the only language NCP would listen to, adding that doors are still open to any peace loving Sudanese to team up in pressurizing the NCP to fully implement the CPA in which they were signatories.

Mary Nyaulang Ret, SPLM, Ayot constituency, Jongulei state, hails SPLM Interim political Bureau decision and patience in handling unpredictable NCP for the last 33 months. She suggested that both parties’ signatories to CPA to sit for a serious discussion together with IGAD members to find out why CPA has not been implemented as expected. Otherwise Sudanese people do not want another war, she remarks.

Martin Tako Moyi, UDSF, Western Equatoria state, said those MPs who have spoken never left any stone unturned; therefore, call for termination of the debate with the following resolutions that the august house should:

1-Come out with a resolution supporting president of southern Sudan and chairman of SPLM decision for suspending SPLM member’s participation in GONU because the NCP has refused implementation of crucial aspects of the CPA

2-Form a committee from various political parties to immediately meet with Goss president Salva Kiir, Sudan president Omar Bashir and IGAD members who over none implementation of key issues of the CPA.

Two days ago there were 91 present and 13 absences with permission while in today seating there were 86 MPs preset plus 13 absences with permission. The assembly has 170 seating MPs members and a quorum is reach by 86 members.

(ST)