SPLM says willing to cooperate with other political parties

By Ngor Arol Garang

March 25, 2011 (WAU)– The ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) said Friday it is willing to cooperate with other political parties to work together to ensure the prevailing peace and stability is maintained.

This comes weeks after nine southern political parties walked out of the constitutional review committee to prepare the region for secession, accusing SPLM of imposing unrealistic ideas based on simple majority.

Ann Ito, the SPLM’s Deputy Secretary General, said in an interview with Sudan Tribune on Friday, that the general elections were over and that what remained now was to strengthen co-operation among political parties in fostering development and enabling people enjoy peace and stability.

“Elections are over and it was good conducting referendum with unified voices as seen in the overwhelming majority vote for secession. This spirit needs to be maintained. And as SPLM, we are very much willing to co-operate with other parties to enable our country become model and symbol of peace and stability in rest of Africa countries,” said Ito.

She said South Sudanese have earned credit for being determined and peace loving people, a factor that has enabled the region, despite all odds, conduct a peaceful and orderly referendum.

“There is no going back. We are accelerating in our efforts to deal with the problems we are facing,” said Ito before adding South Sudanese need to remain united.
“We should not go back. We need to go a head. We must remain united as block and act together as one and the same people the same we did it in referendum. We should not see ourselves as parties and tribes. We need to see ourselves as block,” she said.

The senior member of the SPLM who holds the additional assignment as minister of agriculture and forestry in the government of South Sudan further added that problems were part of life and that what were needed were collective efforts in dealing with them.

“There is no way human being can avoid getting differences. They are part and parcel of human life we only need to resolve and move ahead, said minister Ito, before adding that the SPLM is ready to form inclusive government.”

“Next month the technical committee reviewing the interim constitution of south will give a final report to the president of the government of South Sudan and the Assembly on the envisaged constitutional reforms. This was not in the SPLM manifesto but the opposition demanded for it and the government has heeded their call.”

“That is a clear manifestation of collaboration,” she said. She assured the public that the government was searching for a lasting solution to problems facing the region including seeking how to end hostilities with political opponents.

South Sudan now has four rebel groups fighting sporadically against the government. The rebellions largely began as local disputes, many following the 2010 election, but the rebellion of General George Athor in Jongeli seems to have incorporated those of Gatluk Gai in Unity state and David Yauyau in Jonglei.

Last week a former adviser to the president of South Sudan was accused of starting his own rebellion by the southern army.

Political and military stability are major concerns as the South approaches independence from the north. The South has repeatedly accused Khartoum of supporting the militants. Sudan’s ruling party has always stringly denied the allegations.

(ST)