Bahr el Ghazal MPs says determined to remove Speaker

By Ngor Arol Garang

September 30, 2009 (ABYEI) — The members of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Legislative Assembly today said they are determined to completely remove Speaker Hon. Angelo Marach Thiik from the chair.

The Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Assembly earlier this month passed a no confidence motion against its Speaker Mr. Thiik on eleven counts related to mismanagement of the state parliament budget, lack of consultation with the leadership of the ruling party and working with an international NGO, CSI, in a clear violation to the state constitution.

The international nongovernmental organization, CSI, denied the accusations and said Hon. had worked for the international NGO before his appointment as speaker.

“We can no longer accept Angelo Marach as our speaker again,” said an angry MP, Garang Aguer.

“We have today concluded our session with another vote of no confident against speaker and we are determined to go ahead with other sessions dedicated to resolutions that will center on election of the new speaker and other leaders needed in the house,” he further stressed.

The legislator also pointed out that all the members of the state assembly participated in today’s session and have unanimously repeated their positions to vote against speaker.

This comes after another heated debate chaired by the Deputy Speaker Hon. Celina Awien Majak who said had twice been forcefully asked to share sessions against her will.

“I have been repeatedly sharing debates dominated by none other motions with interest that talks vote of no confident against speaker”

She said 23 MPs voted in favor of the motion while 6 others were against his removal, adding that the three years long dispute must be properly addressed by immediate presidential intervention.

The speaker denied the charges formulated against him and called for independent committee to investigate and audit his two accounts with Nile Commercial and Ivory Banks.

Responding to these new developments, Hon. Angelo Marach Thiik said, does not recognize all the voting done in his absence and described their behavior as “confusing.”

The lawmakers in a first time had passed a first motion against him during his presence in Juba.

“They are saying to have impeached me in my absence and also mobilized governor to force me to leave which I respected this is why I’ am still in my house till now. They now again said to have passed new vote of no confident against me. Why all these? Where they are running to?”

Asked whether he is determined to resign, he said resignation is not an issue but wanted to know of what he is accused to settle it once and for all so he can go with clean hands.

“I do not want just going without knowing what crime I have committed, I need to go when I am fully convinced of my mistakes in the court of law,” he said.

(ST)