Forgiveness is necessary for SPLM sacked ministers
By Taban Abel Aguek
December 10, 2007 — Speculations and allegations have mounted high since the dismissal of the two former SPLM ministers both from the Government of National Unity as well as in the party.
Meanwhile, it is very painful losing these two prominent members it is hard as well to see where one would base the stand of his or her opinion because of number of reasons.
In the first place, the charges that SPLM has framed against the two former members are quite convincing. It is disgraceful that the two who once used to be Kiir’s friends were alleged to have connections with, circulation of the message that ran across many regions of overthrowing of the Government in Juba, South Sudan. To find such renowned characters as either the agents of the agenda or having played a role in bringing it to the public is not in good order. Moreover, the fact that these same ministers did not move to Juba immediately after their party’s pull out was announced intensified the doubts that have all along been marred against them on their relations with the NCP. The statements by Aleu on the Dr. Garang’s crash report and Telar’s desire to replace Pagan Amuom as the SPLM Secretary General as among the reasons, created an atmosphere of confusion and dilemma in the public of South Sudan.
However, the SPLM has stood reserved on the issue of Telar’s ambition of party duties denying it as one of the reasons. Dismissing any member on expression of political interest in the party is not anything anyone would oblige to hear; but this has been kept behind the scene although this already burst to the public even before the publication by the newspapers.
Sudanese, especially those in the South are very vigilant about the course of the helicopter crash of Dr. John Garang and Aleu’s outburst on Garang’s Crash Investigation Committee report – in which he was a member – almost created commotion. The people want to know the truth about the crash and along side it, the SPLM has to see to it that the same people are not fed with a conflicting unverified individual report. The SPLM knows so well that the people of Southern Sudan are not completely convinced by the report and it is their duty to protect the confusion that may be caused by the aftermath of such revelations whether they are right or not.
As a result, sacking the ministers on the basis of this, according to me, is not quite convincing. However, the high relations between the two sacked ministers and NCP, to an extent of dismissing their party’s pull out puts a big question mark on their loyalty to the Chairman of the party. This point, aggravated by their refusal to report to Juba after they were called, put their position at stake.
Yet, it is concern of many people that the two ministers be brought before an impartial hearing. It is not well versed that the ministers were dismissed before they appeared before the committee for investigation and the president should not have taken the decision quite so early.
The right to object the partiality of the Chairperson of the Investigation Committee is not disobedience and is not heavier than the charges already barred against them to cost them party membership.
So, generally looking into this situation one finds himself balanced on who to blame between the SPLM and the two ministers.
Mr. Aleu Ayieny, for one, has shown no good conduct of a sound politician even in the wake of his dismissal, uttering words like ‘No one can dismiss me; it is me to dismiss people’. This statement alone has held many people back from questioning the SPLM leadership decision on the issue. For if Aleu knew of what he was doing then he better go at it alone. As much as we all know the public opinion goes all Kiir’s way and this was by far magnified by Aleu himself.
However, Telar’s conduct has outstandingly proved of a politician especially his personal decision to still declare his stand with Kiir even after his dismissal during the elections. Though, he complained almost the same things, there was a lot of sense in his approach and the way he regards the Chairperson of investigation.
The rumour mongers, anti-SPLM propagandists and envious media got a nice comedy and all the rubbish they gave about the ministers-SPLM affair was as bitter as the incident itself, for losing the ministers means the party going less by two heavy stones. One of the newspapers, The Advocate, had it that the ministers had stood with the party during the ugly days only to go into the dustbin quite so early. Still, this is not the excuse to pave way for the destruction of the party under the pretext of observing service during the bad days. Much as we all know, the two did not suffer alone in the bush. Neither is it right for anyone to beseech recognition based on bush contribution, for there are many who had vivid share of the war and are less noticed today either because they are not intellectuals or are far from the centre of the movement, yet their loyalty and support to the South Sudanese courses have always remained unshakeable.
Both Mr. Telar Deng and Aleu Ayieny have had very significant contribution in the movement, but that should not rate them higher than others who also had similar contribution. The people who term them as “feared group” are only making the dormant performers in the politics of South Sudan. Their expulsion will lead to their immediate exclusion in the political activities whether domestically or externally.
As people who are used to responsibilities, it will make them restless; and joining another party will not be an impossible choice. However, there is no any other party that may render them the privilege of working close to people, since it is the party most honoured in almost all corners of South Sudan.
If at all, and for the cause of all Sudanese, it would be a step in the right direction if the SPLM political bureau would sit and discuss the ministers’ dismissal affair, revisiting the root causes of the allegation and finding less harsher solutions or issue other disciplinary punishment; for all – most people will be happy to see the ministers get back their membership much as they are wrong.
* The author can be reached at [email protected]
Daniel Akech he Thiong
Forgiveness is necessary for SPLM sacked ministers
I like to point out that this is the best piece of opinion I read on this web thus far. Although I am agreeing with most of the author’s conclusions, I do not share the part where the author asks for forgiveness of the sacked ministers.
It can easily be demonstrated that while leaders in the South know how to spot a problem, they often find it hard to address it. When one looks at the reshuffling, which is a common thing in the government of Southern Sudan, it is easy to see that something is not right with this process. You all know how the reshuffling works. Bad guys are spotted and then they are replaced with good guys, but instead of discarding the bad guys (and get new and fresh ones in the South) they are kept and given different positions and we hope that they will improve. One wonders if these people who are rotating positions are they only people who have qualifications in the South.
I think if those two sacked ministers were deemed to be problems to the well-being of the South, I then forgiveness is not necessary.
Many thanks!
Monye Jur
Forgiveness is necessary for SPLM sacked ministers
Dear Taban Abel Aguek, I agree and disagree with you in some other points.
Just I want you to understand that; this two guys(Tiler and Alui)were not dismissed before they could be surmon to come in Juba before the invastigating committee. They were first surmon to come to Juba and to defend their possition before the committee (I guess maybe only Lam Akol turn up), the two guys(Tiler and Alui) didn’t turn up. So am asking you Taban; whose’s fault now? You are now advocating for them simply because they were sacked from the party? What about their(Tiler & Alui) ignorance to respond to the call by the investigating committee!!! whose’s responsible for that? I guess it would have been better if they would have turn up for the committee in Juba, maybe their case would have been considered. But their failure to respond to the committee have put a big question mark on their previouse statement which made the committee to judge the matter on their absence.
Yes we lost them even if though they contributed much during the movement, but that is due to their irresponsible ways of acting as if they are supperior to the SPLM at the extend of having right to dismiss the president(Salva Kiir).
You should know that without this two guys(Tiler & Alui) still SPLM can function successfully and even much better than you say less.
There are only two option: if one is tied of SPLM, he should either joint NCP or other southern parties, no need for comment in this point.
Southerners can forgive and reconsiled with them on one basis; if they acknowledge their mistakes and asks for forgiveness from the SPLM Political Berue.