Lawmakers allow civil or military minister to oversee S. Sudan army
By Isaac Vuni
April 1, 2009 (JUBA) — Lawmakers have today amended the Sudan People Liberation Army bill 2009 to allow the posts of minister and undersecretary for SPLA Affairs to be held either military or non-uniformed qualified citizens of South Sudan.
The phrase in Chapter 16 (I) of the Act had said that both the Minister for SPLA Affairs and the Undersecretary of the Ministry shall be non-uniform, exclusively civilian officials. The Council resolved to amend the phrase, arguing that the qualification to the two positions should not be restricted to civilians alone, but to either of civilians and military officials.
Today the proposed amendment was presented on behalf of the Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Martin Elias Lomuro. He explained that the offices of undersecretary and minister of SPLA Affairs could be occupied by any experienced and qualified civil administrators from among southerners.
Then in a sitting chaired by Hon. Jimmy Wongo Miji, acting speaker and chairman of the public account committee, the August House unanimously passed the bill into an act awaiting final enactment by the president of the Government of Southern Sudan.
“The amendment puts us, the civilians, as well as the military people, on a level footing,” said Speaker Wongo in an interview with Sudan Radio Service. “The amendment will ensure that the minister shall be assisted by an under-secretary. It doesn’t talk about a civilian, it doesn’t talk about the military, so any of these posts, whether the post of a minister or the post of the under-secretary, can go either way. It can go to a civilian, it can go to a military man and there is nothing better than having such an Act. This Act will be there lasting for as long as possible.”
There were 91 MPs in attendance.
(ST)
yasuck
Lawmakers allow civil or military minister to oversee S. Sudan army
is this the main ya disscusing while major are not done, shame on you guys
Man of the land
Lawmakers allow civil or military minister to oversee S. Sudan army
I have very warm welcoming for the kick off for democracy in our beloved land. It is a good starts as minister defence and undersecretary would be non-military uniform in the parliament of Southern Sudan and also it is good opportunity for all qualified and experiences citizens to run that position. Democratic is very good but it had more disadvantages than advantages to the people of Southern Sudan. Democratic is good with educated community but whereas our community is not more educated 70% are non-uneducated and 30% are educated in whole the nation. Anyway what I am saying is if we are fighting to archive the democrat system in this nation then let us forgot about tribalism. Then let us work together to archived what are we aiming for and it will be a historic in the World where 30% are running democracy system within 70% are not educated .