SPLM brings campaign to remote part of Lakes state

By Manyang Mayom

March 12, 2010 (RUMBEK) — The Lakes state Sudan’s People Liberation Movement has widened its election campaign to Rumbek North County lobbying for more votes in the forthcoming general election of April.

Chol Tong Mayay, SPLM governor candidate was accompanied by Daniel Ayual Makoi, who was a candidate who lost in the party’s primary process, as well Lakes state SPLM secretary for Planning and Research Charles Bardri and others.

Three South Sudanese artists were also involved in the team including Marial Awuok Til, David Pacong Mading and Nyankol Mathiang. Turnout was large in Rumbek North County. Maper, the county headquarters, is located 75 miles away from Rumbek center in a remote area which lacks infrastructure.

Eng. Mayay was welcomed by County Commissioner Isaac Mayak Noah and paramount chief Kuclong Marial and a mass crowd chanting his name and holding up the SPLM logo.

The Rumbek North paramount chief endorsed Eng. Mayay’s candidacy, saying “we the Pakam inhabitants of Rumbek North County only know the SPLM party and those who work in it – Chol is our governor now as we speak, we don’t know anybody whom we could vote into power apart from SPLM”.

Chief Kuclong affirmed that “we know you all, those who were working in the government before and those who were not working – no more lobbying for votes because SPLM is already married to this county since 1983 and now SPLM has to bring more votes from outside this county because this county belongs to SPLM party 100% – we are for SPLM and our commitments are in order to move SPLM forward”.

Speaking at the rally, Chol Tong Mayay told the Pakam Wol inhabitants “I am with you always before and after. I will solve all your difficulties and cattle looting between you and your neighbouring states will stop. The problems of chiefs’ payment are another trouble and I will make sure that chiefs will get paid if I take over power as governor of this state”.

Chol also promised to reform services in Rumbek North by delivering more education, hospital services and to drill more water points for cows to drink in Rumbek North as part of solving Pakam community’s problems with inhabitants of the neighbouring state. “Time has come for change in Rumbek North and I will need everybody to stand up for complete change to happen in this county because Awerial, Maper and Wulu are left behind in development”.

However, the SPLM governor candidate did not address human rights abuses in the county. Last year a member of SPLM who served as commissioner, John Bileu Wol, ordered two boys accused of cattle raiding to be burnt on the lips. A court case is pending and Bileu was dismissed by the Southern Sudan government.

Nevertheless, Chol promised to increase women’s representation in his cabinet if elected as state governor. He also talked about the South Sudan Referendum to take place without delay as a key milestone of SPLM’s objective.

Voter education seems difficult in Rumbek North County because the majority of people are not educated. Likewise in Awerial, Wulu and Cueibet County as well Rumbek East County.

(ST)