Sudan’s SPLM needs ‘100%’ votes in Jonglei to ‘maintain history’
By Philip Thon Aleu
February 27, 2010 (BOR) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) stressed at the first electoral rally in Bor on Saturday that winning gubernatorial and parliamentary seats in Jonglei state would “maintain history.”
On freedom, the SPLM at the rally said that principles of democracy, including free speech and media, are a “matter-of-fact” in the south. The SPLM deputy secretary for political affairs, southern sector, Antipas Nyok Kucha, lamented that the SPLM allows its citizens to express their concerns without intimidation “unlike in the past when you cannot ask your leader why he/she does not deliver any services?”
“It was a crime if question a politician. The SPLM says you are free to express your views in the way you are governed”.
The ex-Southern rebel group underscored achievements made in the last five years and urged voters to allow them to “cross the river.”
On the issue of insecurity, a vital element for this year’s gubernatorial campaign, there was finger pointing to the north and Juba for its slow response in quelling tribal fights over resources.
Boarding a pick-up car, SPLM’s Kuol Manyang Juuk, Baranaba Marial Benjamin, John Luk Jok, Michal Makuei Lueth and Gier Chuang Aluong, were waving to on-lookers and supporters escorting them throughout the town. Chanting ‘SPLM Oyee’ and praising the former rebel leaders with songs of liberation, it is now clear that this campaign is another testing struggle to the five years old party.
“There is lots to be done,” said SPLM candidate for Jonglei governor Kuol Manyang. “CPA implementation and particularly the preparation for 2011 referendum in the south need SPLM. This is another war,” he says.
“If you give the NCP [ruling National Congress Party] a chance, they will dishonor the CPA,” Mr. Kuol said in a challenge his NCP rival Joseph Duer. He cited 1972 Addis Ababa agreement that was broken by Khartoum thus ignited the 1983 war. A third candidate for Jonglei governorship is independent, George Athor. He was initially seeking election on SPLM ticket.
A number of SPLM members are contesting for the elections as independent candidates in Jonglei. Analysts say SPLM risks losing some seats following party’s nomination processes that disappointed many aspiring members.
Kuol noted today that constituencies where independent candidates are competing against SPLM cast some doubts of victory there.
“When two dogs fights over a borne, the third dog will take it,” Kuol quoted what the English saying in reference to SPLM versus independent, where the third contender, either NCP or southern opposition party, will have clear chances of winning.
As incumbent governor, Kuol outlined his areas of success in the last two years in power. He announced completion of Ayod – Akobo road yesterday, Friday February 26. A road network connecting Twic East, Duk, Ayod, Uror, Pibor, Bor and Nyirol Counties through Gadiang, a modern village under construction in eastern Twic, is underway. Construction of Bor-Pibor road will begin next week as breakthrough to what he calls “main challenger.” “And that is why I need your votes to complete what I had started,” he says.
“SPLM FOR PEACE”
In 2009, Jonglei experienced deadly inter-tribal conflicts over cattle raiding and child abduction. The clashes, where nearly two thousand people died, tainted Jonglei’s image and challenged the ability of the
Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) to provide security to its citizens.
Kuol, who took office from Philip Thon Leek in December 2007 was tasked with restoring peace in the diverse state inhibited by six tribes of Jei, Dinka, Murle, Nuer, Anyuak and Kachipo.
He said in today’s rally that he proposed civilians’ disarmament since he took office but the response from the GoSS was slow – which he coherently attributed to limited resources.
“A lot of deaths occurred in 2009 and the response from GoSS [to calls for disarmament] was slow,” he saying adding that “We understand that there are no enough resources [in the south to finance disarmament programs].”
The SPLM state leader also accused the north governing party, the NCP, of not playing its part in contributing to stability in the south on areas of road connections that could increase police mobility to control insecurity.
With disarmament in the last phase, Mr. Kuol says he will work extra hard to maintain unity. He called upon the citizens to remain calm during the elections and asked for forgiveness if SPLM had offended anyone during the liberation war. “We are Christians,” he said “don’t punish us [SPLM] by denying us a vote. We want to take you across the river” in direct reference to 2011 referendum for self determination in the south.
Launching campaigns in Bor today revives memories of May 16, 1983 when the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), the SPLM guerrilla military wing, started a war that ended in 2005 with peace accord.
“In Jonglei, SPLM needs 100% votes at all levels,” Mar Nyuot, the SPLM State deputy chairperson says. “We need this to happen in Jonglei for this historic town of Bor to maintain history,” he added.
KIIR TO VISIT BOR
The SPLM also announced that South Sudan candidate for President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, has named Bor town for second campaign stop after Juba. Kiir, who will marathon the election campaigns against a SPLM breakaway political party in the south, the SPM-DC nominee Lam Akol, has also named Torit, another revolutionary town to visit after Bor. No dates are made public for both rallies in Bor and Torit. If Kiir comes to Bor in March 2010, it will be his first visit since 2007.
The significance these 2010 campaigns is that people in south Sudan are aware, for the first time, of the power they possess. Leaders are going out of their way to say “vote for me.” In Bor rally today, each candidate had a chance ask voters to “take me back to power.”
From Kuol Manyang Juuk and other SPLM candidates, everyone have his/her T-shirt for easy recognition. Giant posters were erected in the town to mark the beginning of campaigns as clock ticks to April 11 in the next 43 days of official campaigns.
April polls are first inclusive elections in the south since independence in 1956 and part of the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) signed between the NCP and the former southern rebel; the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in 2005.
(ST)