Two Umma Party members defect to SPLM-DC
August 26, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The SPLM-DC led by the former foreign minister Dr. Lam Akol, said today that two leading members of the opposition Umma Party in Juba have joined their ranks.
“Mr. Taban Alfred Lemi, the chairman (of Umma Party office in Juba), and Mr. William Minga Timatheus, the secretary, had arrived recently in Khartoum to announce to the leadership of the SPLM-DC leadership their defection from the UMMA party and to join SPLM-DC.
According to the SPLM-DC, Lemi said he and other ex-ten executive members of the Umma Party had effectively closed the office of the party for southern Sudan and came to Khartoum to join the recently formed party.
The SPLM-DC has decided to hold its convention in Khartoum by the end of this month accusing southern Sudan ruling party SPLM of restricting its political activities and arresting its membership.
“The party is heading towards its Founding Congress which will take place from 31st August to 2dn September at the Friendship Palace Hall in Khartoum, said a statement issued by Charles Kisanga, Deputy Chairman and Acting Secretary General of the SPLM-DC.
The former foreign minister Dr. Lam Akol, founded last June the SPLM-DC after a long latent crisis with his former party the SPLM. He said he wants to save the SPLM from the “abyss” and said that its leadership are “bankrupt” and “undemocratic”.
The opposition Umma Party is one of the ancient historical parties in the Sudan and had a majority in parliament during the three periods of democratic rule in the Sudan since its independence in 1956.
(ST)
Mel mosa
Two Umma Party members defect to SPLM-DC
It is obviously lie. It is an designed agreement between North politician and Lam Akol in order to sabotage the absolutly independent of Southern Sudan. We know how the Arab change the color. This time guys, you will never win. We know this party was form by Bashier and their politician. Now way guys. South is already gone.
oshay
Two Umma Party members defect to SPLM-DC
Excellent news and I hope more unfortunate members of the SPLM will wake up and know where the future of South Sudan lies.
Leo Abi
Two Umma Party members defect to SPLM-DC
Great job friends, Mr. Alfred and Mr. William. It’s been good you identified your selves and find out where your destiny lies. You are moving towards your destiny. You still have one step ahead of you.
By moving to the branch, you waste much of your time, you would have moved stright to the main stream the NCP or whatever you may want to call it.
Your base is well located in Khartoum since your consituensy is in the North. Go ahead and send my congratulation to your Master NCP-DC for the successed achieved at this critical moment in his politics.
Southern Patriot
Majak Garang
Two Umma Party members defect to SPLM-DC
This is a good move and is indicating the democracy in which the souterners were fighting for. It is an individual choice to join any party in the country regardless of tribe, gender or age.
Joining of SPLM-DC by UMMA Party memebrs is a welcoming idea and I view it as harmless to the southerners; therefore it should be clebrated.
Regards
James Okuk Solomon
Two Umma Party members defect to SPLM-DC
Learn to Respect the Determination of SPLM-DC for Change:
Soldiers do not and should not belong to political parties but to states as part of the executive branch of the governments. This is what is known worldwide in the theories and practice of governments and countries. Unless these soldiers are militias or rebels then an exception could be excused. I do not think SPLA is a militia nor a rebel as it stands now in the CPA Era of Sudanese politics. SPLA is a conventional standing army of South Sudan; it is not a property of any single political party even if it used to be connected with the past SPLM of the bush. I am saying the ’past’ because the current SPLM is no longer the SPLM of the past; it is an officially registered national political party in the Sudan like rest of political parties. SPLM is no longer a coalition of rebellious forces against the government force, calling for the regime change by power of bullets as it was the case before the CPA Era. The SPLM is peaceful party now.
The SPLM-DC is not a Shilluk party and it will never be as the prophets of dooms wish it. It will always be a party for all (including individuals of every tribe who voluntary decided to join it and become its members and leaders). I am saying ‘individuals of tribes’ because it is not viable and logical at all that a whole tribe can become a member of a political party. It will also not be acceptable for any member of SPLM-DC to hate Dinka tribe or any tribe in Southern Sudan because this focused robust new political is anti-tribalism and will never give in to shift the roles for this vice as it is practiced by some SPLM members.
There is flexibility in any good and realistic politics and Dr. Lam is gifted with courage for doing this, especially when things are not going on well for the people who are supposed to be served first and foremost. Yes, it is Ok for Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit to be a principled man but it will never be Ok at all for him to be principled (i.e., fixed) on incompetence and bad leadership styles. He needs to change for better or he will be forced by the tsunami of change that is building up through the wise leadership of the SPLM-DC. Being fixed when things are bad is not being intelligent and caring for people’s welfare.
And of course, there is no doubt that Dr. Lam Akol is a flexible savvy politician and a statesman who can leave the SPLM-DC if this new party fails to achieve the interest of the people. No regret on this shifting attitude as long as it is for bringing best change and right difference in the lives of the people. With his shifting courage and challenges to bad things, Dr. Lam managed to change many bad things within the SPLM/A in the past and he is also changing bad things that are being practiced by the SPLM and SPLA now. The recent example is the release of the detained SPLM-DC members by Governor Malik Aggar and by Commissioner of Manyo County in the Shilluk Kingdom (who is alleged to be acting on orders from SG- Pagan Amum). The bad SPLM leaders have realized and got embarrassed by human rights activists that what they have done was totally wrong as far as democratic transformation and civil liberties are concerned.
I want to end by assuring you that you will see the comprehensive substance of the new SPLM-DC soon. And if you are willing to see more, just come and join the SPLM-DC so that it can release you fully the confidential substance of the party. Just ask for the SPLM-DC Membership Form or download it from http://www.splm-dc.org , register and submit your application to the nearest office of the SPLM-DC at your end. Join the SPLM-DC and together we will save the South and other marginalized areas from the abyss of collapse and leadership bankruptcy.
No Matter How Much Threats, Intimidations, Humiliations, Torture, Even Death from Those who are Happy with the Painful Status Quo, Especially in the South; things must Change for the Common Good of the People. The fact that the SPLM is Panicking from the Emergence of the SPLM-DC is a Strong Indication that the SPLM-DC is a Real and an Avoidable Challenger for Change. Thus, the SPLM Must Learn to Swallow this Bitter Pill Because the SPLM-DC and its Cadres are here to Stay for the Real Chang. No Force on This Earth will manage to Eliminate the SPLM-DC from the Earth Surface.
So Learn to Co-exist and Respect the Purpose of the Emergence and Existence of SPLM-DC and change-determination of its Leadership who has the Best Understanding of Politics in the Sudan and Worldwide. Long Live SPLM-DC.