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SPLM allows independent candidates to contest in elections

By James Gatdet Dak

February 4, 2010 (JUBA) – The Southern Sudan’s ruling party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has resolved to allow its members to stand as independent candidates, reversing its earlier announced decision which initially prohibited members from running as independents in the upcoming April general elections.

SPLM leadership during a meeting held in Juba last January.
SPLM leadership during a meeting held in Juba last January.
The Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan and SPLM’s Deputy Chairperson, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, said the decision was reached by the party’s highest political organ, the Political Bureau, during its closed door meeting on Wednesday after considering a number of factors.

Earlier, the SPLM Secretary General, Pagan Amum, announced during the second session of the meeting this week that the party would not allow independent candidacy and would therefore discourage members who declared themselves as independent candidates to reconsider their decision.

The latest decision comes as a relief to supporters of the party’s independent candidates who described it as the people’s victory in the process of democratic transformation.

Dr. Machar said among the factors considered included maintaining unity of the party and its popularity among the people.

“They will be allowed to contest as independent candidates…they will not be dismissed or asked to resign,” he said.

He explained that a total of 347 SPLM officials across all the ten Southern Sudan states have already declared themselves as independent candidates for various constituencies including for governorship, adding that dismissing them from the party would be unwise and would result to the SPLM losing many seats.

Dr. Machar added that the number did not include independent candidates from other political parties.

He said the situation, if not handled wisely, might even endanger the expected victory in electing the party’s presidential candidates at both Southern Sudan and national levels.

He also revealed that the Political Bureau would soon call for a meeting in Juba with the party’s independent candidates who are going to contest for governorship against their nominated colleagues and other contestants from other political parties in order to assure them that the party’s effort to win all the seats in various constituencies is harmonized.

Independent candidates had earlier blamed the Political Bureau for inviting the situation, accusing the highest party body of running away from the process of democratic transformation by removing most of the candidates chosen by the people from various constituencies and replacing them with handpicked individuals who are unwanted and unpopular at the grassroots.

Eight senior officials of the party have already declared their independent candidacy for governorship in their seven respective states out of the ten Southern Sudan states.

Only the three states of Warrap, Lakes and Western Bahr el Ghazal have no independent candidates for governorship.

The independents generally defended their decision, arguing that it is in the interest of the people to defend the process of democratic transformation in the country and described the 27-member Political Bureau’s nominations as “undemocratic” and “unpopular.”

SPLM Political Bureau used the criterion that was mainly seeking party loyalists and long time serving comrades, but observers revealed that the opinion of the party’s highest body was initially divided over the issue.

Independent candidates generally dismissed the claim saying it is simply a mere excuse for violating the democratic process because, to them, a lot of independent candidates contributed more to the party’s success or served longer than many of the handpicked individuals.

“A democratic transformation process coupled with the pressing need to develop economically in a given country cannot be achieved by a ruling party using a nomination criterion which is mainly based on identifying loyalists and long serving officials. These people may not fit to bring the desired change whether politically or economically,” said one of the independent contestants who declined to be named.

“They should first be loyal to the people; to the interests of the people and their welfare. But what these long serving officials and self-declared loyalists have unfortunately done to the people for the last five years is not what conscious loyalists should have done,” he lamented.

“And besides, how do you measure loyalty in this current situation?” the official asked.

Some hardliner party officials in the Bureau had earlier threatened to sack members who would not back down from running as independents.

In response, supporters of the independent candidates warned that this decision may cost the party dearly by losing majority of its supporters during the elections.

But Peter Dut, a SPLM youth member, said the Political Bureau’s earlier decision to sack them was right because it should not have been the right time to implement true democracy in Southern Sudan.

“We have not yet got our independence in order to ask for change. These loyal and long serving members are the ones who fought the war and can fight it again tomorrow if it breaks out again,” he said.

Atong Emmanuel, a supporter of Major General George Athor who contests as an independent candidate for governorship in Jonglei state against the incumbent governor, Lt. Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk, said the independent candidates were availing themselves as alternative choices for the SPLM supporters who are discontented with the current officials and want change.

She warned that she would not vote for the current Political Bureau’s nominated SPLM candidate if her chosen independent candidate was not allowed to contest.

“The decision to allow independent candidates to freely contest is a people’s victory,” she said.
There were growing fears in the party’s leadership that the independent candidates who seemed to be more popular on the ground might win most of the SPLM constituencies in the April elections, prompting the Political Bureau’s earlier decision not to allow them to contest.

The decision angered some of the party’s independent candidates who reacted by expressing their intention to temporarily resign from the party if forced to do so in order to contest.

The Deputy Chairman of the SPLM in Lakes state, Isaac Kon Anok, has reportedly already resigned his position in order to contest as an independent candidate for the geographical constituency of Aweirial County, making him the first senior party official to have resigned in response to the earlier condition given.

Anok was also former minister of Parliamentary Affairs in Lakes state.

Another party official, Joseph Bakosoro, who recently declared his independent candidacy for the position of governor in Western Equatoria state, was also quoted as saying that he would temporarily resign from the party and contest as independent candidate if forced to resign by the Political Bureau.

He however further appealed to the SPLM leadership to respect the will of the people, adding that it is only the people of his state who could stop him from contesting.

The National Elections Commission (NEC) and its branch office in Juba have already published the names of those they have qualified to run for the elections including the names of independent candidates.

A period of one week is given for the Commission to receive any objection letters against the candidates and final lists of approved candidates will then be published.

GOVERNORS TO RESIGN FROM THEIR POSITIONS UPON DECLARATION

A member of the Southern Sudan High Elections Committee, Dr. Jabi Mualamu, said upon final declaration of candidates and beginning of elections campaigns, all the incumbent governors that are nominated to contest in the elections are required by law to step down from their positions.

Dr. Jabi explained that only caretakers or acting governors will take charge of the states concerned.

He said this will also apply to all the other incumbent officials who are constitutional post holders, civil servants, military personnel or judges who will contest in the April elections.

All the various levels of parliaments in the country will also be dissolved.

(ST)

50 Comments

  • Wal P Muoranyar Biet
    Wal P Muoranyar Biet

    SPLM allows independent candidates to contest in elections
    Yes, in SPLM, even if your left hand want to compete with right hand, it is free do so.

    Long live John Garang’s Party

    Reply
  • Gatwech
    Gatwech

    SPLM allows independent candidates to contest in elections
    Bravo political bureau!

    You have finally made a very wise decision to save the party from collapse under the weight of dictatorship. You are growing up and I should stop calling many of you political idiots for a while. That earlier premature announcement by Pagan Amum was what I called political idiocy!

    This decision to allow independent candidates to run is truly the victory of the people and of democracy in our nation in the making. Even in other democratic countries including here in the United States independent candidates are allowed to contest. We should respect the choices of the people and nurture democracy from NOW on so that we eliminate dictatorship by 2011.

    Wow! Where is comrade Pagan Amum as the SG of the party? I have not heard from him since Wednesday, the reported day on which the decision was made. Why has he shied away from coming out and quickly announcing this excellent decision? Is he ashamed of prematurely announcing that unpopular and contradictory statement?

    Pagan should be told not to always rush to the public and announce his personal opinion. How dare he prematurely announced that unpopular opinion that no independent candidate would be allowed to contest while the meeting was still going on? He should have waited for the final collective decision by the political bureau.

    Pagan should come out and denounce his previous misleading statement. He should be brave enough to do that and tell to the public that the political bureau has decided to allow independent party candidates to freely contest for SPLM seats in the elections.

    There should be no excuse that such incumbent SPLM corrupt officials be imposed on the people by the political bureau in the name of loyalty or fighters in case the war erupts again. This is a false reasoning from a dictatorial heart. The young politicians and honest elderly ones are even more conscious about the future than most of these old corrupt SPLM officials. They are both educated, politically conscious and determined to fight energetically. Actually they are the ones holding 90% of arms and ready to fight.

    The old SPLM so-called loyal officials have failed to feed the army (SPLA), pay salary to the army, or arm the army with necessary modern weaponry. They have not brought development which was expected to materialize for the last five years. Instead they are eating the money.

    Most of these people should be replaced with new faces that can bring the real development, realize provision of basic services across the South, feed the army, provide them with adequate health care, pay them their salaries and arm them to the teeth, not only with the outdated Kalashnikovs but with the latest weaponry that can face off Khartoum in case.

    Ooops! And before I forget, I should say goodbye to the soon to resign incumbent corrupt governors and try their luck in the elections if they will really make a come back…

    Reply
  • Gatjang
    Gatjang

    SPLM allows independent candidates to contest in elections
    It is good job for the SPLM for letting independence candidates run. It is a wise idea because Nuer/Equatorian wanted to break the party apart because they are the one looking for independence seat. Look at the 3 states without independence are 100% Dinka.

    There is one Dinka though in Jonglei state, but he was there to block any Nuer entry for Independence, so do not use George as an example, he know what he is doing.

    Nuer should change and accept the way things are done today than they were in the stone age.

    Reply
  • Oduck Bol
    Oduck Bol

    SPLM allows independent candidates to contest in elections
    SPLA Oyeeeeeeeeeeeeee ,independent Oyeeeeeeeeeee. That is how democracy work. Everybody has right to elect or be elected if we want our country to be democratic and live in peace.

    No,No and No for minds of dictatorship.

    Reply
  • babadit
    babadit

    SPLM allows independent candidates to contest in elections
    This was the rightfull decision the political organ of the SPLM should have done,
    south sudan is for southerners, i am particularly not happy with the way the selection was done at the state level by collecting rubish from the dusbin to the people yet they are not popular figher among the communities, others had just crossed from NCP to SPLM in less than one month, they were also nominated by the electral college as SPLM flag bearers, which aganist the community’s will.

    Reply
  • thieleling
    thieleling

    SPLM allows independent candidates to contest in elections

    Thanks Dr. Machar for sticking to your democratic roots with few of your colleagues among the moral corrupted so-called Political Bureau. The best afterthought decision that Bureau made in along time. SPLM will try by hooks & crooks to win the election over the independent candidates, but the grassroot-power, the people power will triumph over some of the SPLM’s corrupted hand-picked candidtates. Democratic transformation have to take place in south sudan!!

    Reply
  • Pwad Achob
    Pwad Achob

    SPLM allows independent candidates to contest in elections
    Dear readers,

    This is a new development in southern sudan politics and I think it is a turning point in our aspirations for southern sudan independence. I would also add that we are coming to the end of a political stagination of tribal confrontation.Are we seeing an end of dinka aspirations in the southern sudan?

    Wake up those who thought that dinkas could dominate and rule as they wish in the southern sudan.

    I will keep on following up new developments.

    God bless you all

    Paulino

    Reply
  • Samuel Ater De Makuach
    Samuel Ater De Makuach

    SPLM allows independent candidates to contest in elections
    My dearest brother and sister in Christ Jesus,

    Remember we are all peacemakers for better future and long lasting freedom of the Sudan. You and I are ought to play big roll to obtain peace and make significant differences. Do not make room for evil one and do not make our enemies wins.

    Activities such as tribalism, acquisitiveness of leadership, promoting unsuccessful actions, rewarding disastrous ideas and praising evil’s influential being who nothing else but satanic agendas will not get us anywhere. God has given us this gleam of freedom to see whether we can manage it by ourselves or not. God has given it to see whether our prayers will match up with our actions. Please allow peace to produce. Let’s find ways to work together and our God will shower His blessings upon us.

    Remember we are one. Keep these words with you my people, what bond and bound us together and set us apart from others in Sudan is our skin color – the black people. In contrast, what make us different and unique from one another is our hearts, actions and what we say – the God creation of individuality…!

    In togetherness we can overcome evil (the enemy who is always hunting for ways to shatter us apart) and anything!! In togetherness we’re winners and we’re already winners’ folks…!!!!

    God peace, grace and blessings to you all!

    Jesus Christ Servant Always!

    Samuel Ater de Makuach

    “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9).

    Reply
  • Ajak Yak Giet...
    Ajak Yak Giet...

    SPLM allows independent candidates to contest in elections
    Whatever but this would have not been the right time to exercise democracy……If i define the term”DEMOCRACY”from the English dictionary especially Oxford one,it read that,democracy is the government of the people,for the people;by the people but now,where is the government for the people? Independent candidates are insane and none of them would win against the nominated one from SPLM political bureau…Riek Machar seconded to issue such that he get achance to declare himself as independence candidate against Salva Kiir…Let us just wait and see those who support independence candidates what will happen..Our people look at the side of money first before they even see where to rule and get that money…..Leadership has become lucrative field that give people wealth in less then a second but time will come to let these leaders stop exploiting public resources…..Achieve referrendum first and then eat vulnerable people’s money while safe….If Dr John could come now,he will know that he was with monkey minded people and would dare to die again….

    Reply
  • Gatwech
    Gatwech

    SPLM allows independent candidates to contest in elections
    Dear readers,

    Pagan Amum’s reckless behavior needs to be disciplined. He puts his own opinion above the party’s collective decision. He doesn’t respect his senior party officials and always wants to be right. This is why he always wants to contradict his bosses and feels delightful about it. This guy is emotional and typical of a communist guy.

    SPLM should look for another respectful SG if it is to avoid Amum’s parallelism.

    Reply
  • Gäär
    Gäär

    SPLM allows independent candidates to contest in elections
    doar diaal ruac ke baang, thiele mi ngacken e

    Reply
  • James Okuk Solomon
    James Okuk Solomon

    SPLM allows independent candidates to contest in elections
    What a funny SPLM elections game without basic democratic rules: the independent SPLM candidates like the wife of Dr. Riek Machar running against the dependent SPLM candidates like Taban Deng when they are both from the same party. Why don’t we just call the game: Popular SPLM candidates running against the PB handpicked SPLM candidates.

    Why waste our time with SPLM party rules and procedures if they can just be dishonored in a second so as to allow the rule of opportunism to supercede everything. How can such a politcal party that does not respect the rule of law be respected and entrusted with another mess in power.

    Surely, with SPLM ever-messy funs in the South, wonders shall never cease. Let’s wait and see how both the independents and the dependents of the SPLM shall be declared winners by the SPLM after the elections.

    God of democracy, save us from SPLM hell and free us from the democratic mess of SPLM Polical Bureau.

    Is there a value of unity of a party that does not respect democratic principles and dictates?

    If I were Pagan Amum I will resign from such a contradictory politcal party and leave it to fall from its own misgivings like an overripen fruit.

    Reply
  • Chol Mading
    Chol Mading

    SPLM allows independent candidates to contest in elections
    Dear all,

    Our leaders have talked of taking “wise decisions”, I think we should also follow their lead and should start making substatial comments. Our people have suffered so much in the hand of dictators like Bashir for so many years, and for our party to take such a profound decision in my book deserves positive compliments and respect.

    In order to be a successful party, PB needs to investigate all issues before rushing to conclusions. Preventing independent candidates from contesting would have yielded a disaster and losing seats in the upcoming election.

    Bravo SPLM!

    Reply
  • wisdom for us
    wisdom for us

    SPLM allows independent candidates to contest in elections
    The politicl Bureau has made a wise choice by reversing its decsion, if the decision was not reversed, it could mean that SPLM could possibly loss many people as a party and possible limited seats in the upcoming election in April.

    I like the new decision because the handpicked individuals like greedy Simon Kun Puoch and others as loyalist to the party or long serving members do not give them the right to over rule people’s will.

    I’m wondering how the SPLM measures the loyalty in the party?, we all died in the war and we are the pateriot to our country, bringing people who do not have more suport in the community is more dangerous and can potentially damage the party’s reputation.

    Please think twice again about how you run our country during this time limit.

    Wisdom

    Reply
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