Sudan SPLM official dismisses resignation report as ‘April fool’
April 5, 2009 (CAIRO) – A senior figure at the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) denied reports that he suspended his membership in the political bureau and threatened to resign.
Lino was quoted as saying in the letter that he is unhappy about the SPLM position with regard to the dispute over the Abyei region, support of some SPLM figures to president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir in his confrontation with the International Criminal Court (ICC), abandoning the vision of new Sudan and slow response by the leadership in dealing with some members who are not working in line with SPLM policy.
Furthermore Lino, according to the newspaper, has expressed outrage with the “current status of the SPLM” and “lack of implementation of the Abyei protocol”.
However speaking to Sudanile news website from the Egyptian capital, Lino said that the letter is a “fabrication” by the ruling NCP.
“I affirm to the SPLM people and in the name of the martyrs who perished under SPLM flag, that I will not leave my position in the SPLM or SPLA at all. I will stay a loyal soldier and struggler for our people’s rights” Lino told Sudanile.
The former SPLM intelligence director said that the NCP “must devote more attention to the allegations against its president of war crimes and rape against Darfuri women rather than making up stories”.
He also said that he is not interested in positions but in national work behind SPLM chairman Salva Kiir and its Secretary General Pagan Amum.
In February Lino said that an ICC warrant for Bashir will make him “practically dead” and that he will replaced by Kiir.
The SPLM figure said that he is convinced that Bashir will face trial in the Hague based court “soon”.
“If he does not surrender himself we will see him on satellite TV handcuffed being prosecuted” he said.
“In the event he is arrested the Sudanese president will have no alternative to trial other than committing suicide” Lino added.
Lino was a former administrator of the Abyei oil rich region but was removed last year as he was fiercely opposed by Dinka Ngok traditional leaders. The NCP was also not in favor of his appointment, accusing him of instigation the local hostilities in the area.
Both the NCP and SPLM have chosen the International Arbitration Court in The Hague to settle their difference over the finding of the Abyei Boundaries Commission.
(ST)