It is premature contesting for chairmanship of the SPLM
By Jacob K. Lupai*
May 18, 2008 — In response to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) convention in Juba two contenders for the chairmanship of the SPLM have emerged. Dr Riak Machar the vice chairman of the SPLM and the vice president of the government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) and Mr Niall Deng Niall a former minister of cooperation who resigned from the GOSS citing corruption as the main reason for his exit, have both put their names forward as candidates for the chairmanship of the SPLM. Both Dr Riak Machar and Mr Niall Deng Niall may be considered senior members of the SPLM. They fought as commanders in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) for the vision of New Sudan where the marginalisation of fellow Sudanese would be seen as a thing of the past. However, mid way in the liberation struggle Dr Riak Machar had an eye on the leadership of the SPLM/A where he and others eventually mounted but an unsuccessful coup.
Dr Riak Machar and his fellow conspirators realising that the coup was a miserable failure surrendered to the National Congress Party (NCP) government under the disguise of peace from within after an enormous loss of life and destruction of property. However, after learning the hard way Dr Riak Machar was to realise the NCP was no fool. Despite what became to be known as Khartoum Peace Agreement, Dr Riak Machar was left helplessly fuming at what the Khartoum Peace Agreement deceitfully did not deliver as expected. In desperation Dr Riak Machar abandoned the Khartoum Peace Agreement for the SPLM not because he had the interest of the SPLM at heart but most probably because there was no choice. Although Dr Riak Machar may labour hard to prove he is a loyal son of Southern Sudan, his ill-fated destructive coup and the subsequent surrender to the NCP is still fresh in the memory of many. This may not be helpful to Dr Riak Machar’s bid for the chairmanship of the SPLM. What guarantee is there that Dr Riak Machar may not hand over the SPLM to the NCP wholesale on a golden place as it were? Dr Riak Machar surrendered before and it was not clear what deal he might have struck with the NCP. In choosing the chairman of the SPLM we have to rise above tribalism if we are to realise the vision of New Sudan.
As for Mr Niall Deng Niall he may be trustworthy as a committed member of the SPLM since its inception. However, his resignation from the GOSS might not have been the best option. There could have been another choice to fight corruption from within with whatever means available instead of running away to enjoy a life style dissimilar at home only to eye the top job. Nonetheless one’s decision may be respected. Mr Niall Deng Niall may be favourably perceived as an individual who stuck with the SPLM in the most of difficult circumstances until the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Naivasha, Kenya on 9 January 2005. This may be the candidate to think of seriously if at all there is a change of guard.
.Although a recent poll shows that the GOSS is 90 per cent corrupt the present SPLM chairman is the right person to chart the route to New Sudan which is offensive to the NCP because of what it guarantees to the majority of Sudanese. Besides why the change of guard when the enemies of he CPA have their guns cocked. We are still in turbulent waters where we all need to put our differences aside to confront decisively the enemies of the CPA. In addition election and the referendum are not very far away. As a career soldier it is preferable that the current SPLM chairman should lead until after the referendum in 2011 in case of a military confrontation. Dr John Garang de Mabior seemed to have prosecuted the war of liberation successfully because of being both the chairman and commander-in-chief of the SPLM/A.
In conclusion Dr Riak Machar and Mr Niall Deng Niall may need to be patient until we are out of the wood.
*The author who is a regular contributor to Sudan Tribune,
* is a researcher on household food security. He can be reached at [email protected]
Mabior Ayuen Dengajok
It is premature contesting for chairmanship of the SPLM
Leadership is the only thing that bring whole continent of Africa backward, with out good government in South Sudan, there is no hope for referendums.
“Patient for leadership among our Southerners can really saved our next generation” I simply disagree with what so called SPLA/M convention, by voting for the Spla leadership is totally wrong to be carried out at this time, its going to break our Southern Sudan unity resulting into division of tribes.
What do you think if division of tribes occurred? Simply, it will melt down south just like Somalia and we are not going to win the referendum in 20011
In other hand, spla delegates should only allowed a really clean person to be our leader, not anyone who have a history of karbino kuany or of any kind that can be condemns in a crime of humanity.
By Mabior Ayuen Dengajok/Jangdit
Gatwech
It is premature contesting for chairmanship of the SPLM
Dear Compatriots,
The recent understanding not to democratically transform the SPLM and its leadership through free and fair elections indicates the weaknesses of Salva Kiir not to acknowledge predicted defeat and to step down.
His home delegates from Warrap state and Abyei have been crying begging Dr. Riek Machar not to kick out Salva Kiir after they learnt that Dr. Machar has commanded a huge support from Convention delegates. Now they have come up with the idea to keep three deputies to the chairperson which they previously refused because they conspired against Dr. Machar.
This incompetent person in the name of Salva Kiir if kept as the Chairperson will mean that Southern Sudan should forget about winning the coming general elections. Referendum will not be conducted because Salva Kiir will be told by Beshir in the Presidency to do whatever Beshir sees fit like the recent embarrassing population census.
The party is doomed to failure if led by incompetent person known for his lack of knowledge worldwide!
Dr. Machar deserves to lead the party sicne he was the very champion of democracy itself in the Movement! He is also the very champion and educator for respect for human rights in the Movement! He is also the champion of self-determination for our people!
Those were the very principles that led him to form his own Movement in 1991 so that the old SPLM/A could adopt such principles. These very priciples were also enshrined in the 1998 Sudan National Constitution following the signing of Khartoum Peace Agreement (KPA) in 1997. His victorious merger with late Dr. Garang in January 2002 in Nairobi led to the acceptance of self-determination in the new SPLM/A Movement and followed by the signing of the first protocol on self-determination in July 2002 between SPLM/A and Khartoum government.
Dr. Machar should now be given the chance to captain the very ship of these principles which he himself championed!
However, the incompetent Salva Kiir is crying begging Dr. Machar not to contest his position because he has no qualification to find another job somewhere.
Is Salva Kiir’s future more important than the future of our people? The world will also criticize the SPLM for not exercising true democracy.
A democracy without free and fair elections is not a true democracy. I am still looking forward to the future where Dr. Machar becomes the Chairman to teach Sudan true democracy!
Down to tribal greedy dictators who are not confident in themselves to face democracy!
Gatwech
Perfect
It is premature contesting for chairmanship of the SPLM
Theres nothing premature in performing a planned political scheduale on time, because President kiir have accumulated bunch of fool in the presidential palace all they do is eat too much drink alcohol too much and sleep too much until they are caught by the election time unprepared.
Dr Riak Machar is the only good and qualified man among all the available candidate.In 1991 when he staged coup against Tyran blood thirsty John Garang was to bring change although he failed that doesnt mean he is a betrayer of southerners also alot of Dinka claim him innocent back then and place the blame entirely on Dr lam Akol an innocent(Newton of Sudan). Dr Akol was the man envyed because of being so intelegent and intelectual, Pagan Amum was the man who was used by the Dinka to Fuck his brother Lam. now this pagan amum is also dumped by Dinkas as he is no good for time to come. The Dinkas have envyed the other shilluk such as Oyay Deng Ajak the man apointed by god to be the SPLA minister but Dinkas will not let him despite the good things he done.
Your claim against machar is just part of your life that you are born with bottomless apetite and you will never be satisfied of any person even your own.
Dr machar IS for change
here is the predicted out come of election
1. Dr Riak Machar president of southern sudan
2.Malik Agar vVice president
3.Taban Deng SPLM Secretary
4.Dr lam Akol Southern Sudan foreign minister
5. Oyay Deng Ajang minister of defence
6. Obote Mamour Minister of interior
7.Nuba Mountain speaker for the Southern national Assembly
8.Equatoria Zande minister for Finance
9.Southern Sudan Justice(Bor Dinka)
10. Huamanitarian Taposa
10.
Mijocque
It is NOT premature contesting for chairmanship of the SPLM
My comment goes direct to those who are opposed to Dr.Machar & Nhial Deng candidacy for SPLM top seat,forget about saying THERE ARE THOSE BORN TO RULE.What do you do when you are a job seeker and got an advertisement of the job that you are 100% qualified? You apply right? Then what are you fools trying to put into tribal line while The first Vice President of the Repulic of Sudan and President of GOSS Mr.Salva Kiir advertised his position for any one interested to run against him.I guess that the trick was planned as a way of kicking Dr.Machar out of GOSS Leadership,a trick which twisted itslef around SALVA KIIR ‘s neck when Dr.Machar & Nhial Deng declared their interest on the seat.A household reseacher who posted his comment above attempted to sell negative opinion about Dr.Machar I can only take his ideas seriously if he was a POLITICAL RESEACHER I am afraid he is not and have to ignore him.Moreover if you compare SALVA KIIR & DR.MACHAR ( Kiir is a unionist) while Dr.Machar is separatist the right stand which all Southerners are going to take come 2011 referendum.Meanwhile don’t mislead others,swallow your bribe and keep your mouth shut if you are given.If you are not think of who you are not engagging yourselves in tribals talk which will not benefits our people.BY THE WAY HOW LONG HAVE SALVA BEEN OUT OF KHARTOUM?Because as the first Vice president of the repulic of Sudan I thought he should be base in the capital rather than running away from his official docket as stated in CPA.That can simply indicate that KIIR is not ready to govern Sudanese.