Rumbek SPLM launch campaign in Wulu

By Manyang Mayom

September 23, 2009 (RUMBEK) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement
(SPLM) in Lakes state reached southward from its headquarters to Wulu County on Tuesday to form the county election committee and sub-committee.

The head of Lakes state SPLM Electoral Strategy Committee Philip Marol Mading, the state Assistant Secretary of Research and Planning Charles Badir, as well as Wulu County Commissioner Simon Waywai Ali, and SPLM County Secretary Benjamin Akol Muorwel, were among those present in the rally.

SPLM officials described the rally as an important way of building support for democratic transformation of Sudan.

Commissioner Waywai told the crowd that “SPLM has done more on the ground of Southern Sudan as well in Northern Sudan sector, the movement has brought to you cars, roads, law and freedom in South Sudan as well as inside Khartoum there is change there; as you can witness there in freedom in Khartoum that has replaced living restrictions in the capital.”

Yet he cautioned his Wulu county followers not to accept division within Wulu, saying “there are more political parties who are trying to separate South Sudan population according to their favor to hunt for wealth in name of Southerners in Khartoum. We are very few and if we accept division within Wulu here then there will be weakness in our residents and Wulu will remain a more vulnerable county among the counties of Lakes state.” He recommends his Wulu county followers to remain in SPLM until 2011 which better for everybody to join any party that someone like to vote.

“Now, everyone in SPLM who will contest will not bypass its county or boma levels; all candidates will come though her counties’ constituency and state will give them ticket to contest in any level expected. Vote now your leader among leaders, a leader who can meet your interest and a leader who can listen to your choice,” said Marol.

However, the Deputy Education Director for Wulu County Charles Mayen Manyang, complained of being labeled a member of the breakaway faction SPLM-Democratic Change. He assured his colleagues that he is an SPLM party member and would like them to allow him to play a role by not putting him onto an SPLM blacklist. “Taking SPLM to every hut and heart of Sudan will be my work,” he said.

In a separate interview, Monica Yar, a cook for 13 years serving in the education department in Wulu County affirmed that schools had been affected by inter-clan fighting; over 466 pupils have stopped attending class. “I am glad that our children are speaking good English and this effort is done by Ugandan teachers who were brought by education director Mr. William Kerjok earlier last year. We have nine Ugandan teachers who are now teaching in lower classes and upper classes,” affirmed Yar.

She said that she had not been paid her salary since chaos of inter-tribal conflict hit the county this year between Dinka Agar – the dominant tribe in Lakes state – and Jur-beli of Wulu County.

(ST)