Jonglei ousted ministers should resign – SPLM
By Philip Thon Aleu
September 17, 2008 (BOR TOWN) – Jonglei state ministers who are voted out by Assembly and, are members of South Sudan ruling party; the SPLM, should resign, a senior official of the party said here on Wednesday.
Sudan’s People Liberation Movement (SPLM) State Secretary, Bouth Choul Ngot, told Sudan Tribune at his office that, the ministers should quit though they were removed innocently.
“They will resign from posts,” he said adding that the rest of the decision lies at the hand of the SPLM chairman who is the governor.
Bouth Choul, a University graduate, took Jonglei’s SPLM upper most post in April this year from former Secretary Antipas Nyok Kucha. Bouth, dismissed rampant circulation that the censured ministers from his party are corrupt.
“SPLM is not a corrupt party but they assembly never understood the situation,” he said.
The Southern Sudan ruling party Jonglei boss says corrupt party is in the north. “National Congress party is the most corrupt but because of the Islamic ideology, such reports are not seen,” he said in a counter-reacting statement against NCP accusation to SPLM in Jonglei assembly.
According to Choul the State parliament, controled by SPLM, is not partisan in handling some cases and argued that history will not repeat itself. “There is the SPLM caucuses where we (SPLM) discussed our issues and the party can remove corrupt leaders (therein).”
He lamented referring to humiliating vote of no confident against State ministers of Education and Agriculture
Jonglei State Legislative Assembly passed votes of no confident against State ministers of Education, Science and Technology, and Agriculture early this month. The duo, so far, have no official intention to resign as required by article 118 of Jonglei interim constitution.
‘SELECTIVE WITH YOUR WORDS’
The SPLM secretary, who was responding to alleged threats by members of his party on local reporters, denied any media censorship but squashed the press to be “selective on sensitive issues.”
“I can accept criticism (in the media)…but if you are not selective with your words, it will affect the future of our country and the coming generation because (media) records are kept for years,” Bouth Choul warns.
Relationship between press and some state chiefs became tense during this month marred by parliamentary sessions overshadowed by vote of no confident against state ministers.
(ST)