Lakes state anti-speaker group hijack swearing-in ceremony

By Manyang Mayom

November 25, 2008 (RUMBEK) – The swearing-in ceremony of the three members National Congress Party (NCP) members was interrupted today in Lakes state Legislative Assembly by the anti-speaker group.

The group includes Gordon Maper Manyiel, who is the chairman of the SPLM caucus in lakes state assembly, Maker Mathiang, who is former chairman of security affairs in Lakes state Assembly and Bullian Kot Beny who is the speaker for 13 days, plus others.

The anti-speaker group numbered 23 MPs in August, but a few of these have rejoined Speaker Mashinkok since Southern Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit reinstated Mashinkok and his deputy Marik Nanga in October.

On Tuesday the presidents of the high court of appeals in Lakes state sent Judge Daniel Deng to swear in three members of NCP in the presence of Speaker Isaiah Alier Mashinkok, but the procedure failed due to the Assembly’s failure to come together.

The anti-speaker group leader Mathiang said that “Mashinkok is not eligible to swear in three NCP members into Lakes state parliament because we have already managed to dismissed Mashinkok with his group last month, if yes to swear in these members of NCP, then the deputy speaker Marik Nanga should take over to swear them and not speaker Mashinkok.”

Defiantly, the anti-speaker group ordered Judge Deng to skip the August House immediately. According to Deng, his said that “I am natural, and these groups of honorable members are dangerous themselves.”

Under the compromise agreement in which Mashinkok and his deputy were reinstated by Kiir, the specialized committees were dissolved, and nothing yet has been done by Lakes state parliament to name new committees.

Tuesday, the August House chair belonging to Speaker Mashinkok was confiscated by the former speaker-for-13-days Bullian Kot Beny following the confiscation of the August House by acting Minister for Parliament Affairs Jeremiah Telar Arol.

Furthermore, the swearing-in was is postponed until further notice due to the seemingly worse situation in the parliament.

Agum Jacob, a key NCP politician in Lakes state parliament, accused the state government of backing up the anti-Speaker group in rejecting the Government of Southern Sudan presidential decree No. 135 that appointed Barnaba Marial Duol, Abdul Gadir Abdalla Majok and Mayen Malou Akeryal.

This decree No. 135 was released on Oct. 23, 2008 following a decree No.134 that relieved Mochuar Marial Wol, Lucia Ledit Murnal (commonly known as Koseia Kedit Muortat) and Khamis Hagaar Zaat.

Agum added that “the SPLM members in Lakes state parliament are now behaving like children in politics.” He added that there is no partnership in Lakes state government and SPLM members are just playing politics.

The NCP member argued that the SPLM members also cut personal deals and this does not help the SPLM members to guide the democracy in Southern Sudan.

Mashinkok told Sudan Tribune that he will lift some immunities of some MPs by Wednesday and they will a face a warrant of arrest and must be investigated.

(ST)