Former Lakes state advisor denies agitating for removal of governor

18 October 2011 (JUBA/RUMBEK) – Dut Makoi, a former political adviser in Lakes state denied on Monday claims linking him to calls for the removal of governor Chol Tong Mayay Manyiel, over allegations of corruption, inability to govern the area and using divisive tactics.

Makoi, who resigned from his advisory position in the state administration in July, said in an interview with Sudan Tribune on Monday, that he has never come out publicly against the state governor and is not engaged in political campaigns and activities aimed at removing him.

He also said that there was “false information” that he was connected to recent strike by students in Rumbek, which resulted in damage to government property.

“I have been away for four months since I left Rumbek,” Makoi told Sudan Tribune. “I do not know what happened. What I heard was that students went on strike over delay in the opening of schools.” He said he had his own opinion on the governor’s performance but had yet to make it public.

YOUTH GROUP ALLEGATIONS

On Saturday, Daniel Machot Makuer, who described himself as a member of a youth group in the state, told Sudan Tribune from the Lakes capital Rumbek, that Makoi was involved in political campaigns agitating for the removal of the state governor.

But on Monday Makoi denied any political engagement against the governor and questioned whether Makuer was making a statement as an individual or speaking for the youth body of South Sudan’s ruling party.

“As far as I am aware I do not know Daniel Machot Makuer as the SPLM youth league chair in the state. He could be a member but I doubt whether he was speaking on behalf of the youth because I do not think the youth league would accuse me. Maybe that was his own opinion,” Makoi told Sudan Tribune.

On Monday, Zechariah Gum Ater, the leader of Rumbek Youth Union, urged Lakes state youth to cooperate with the state government as it had been elected by youth in last year’s elections.

Ater said that young people should not oppose the government, but communicate their issues or any “misunderstanding” they wanted to raise. He also said that youth should not engage in political propaganda.

ARRESTED FOR “PERSONAL” REASONS

Since 4 October, six men, including politician Poundak Benjamin Makoi, have been held in custody after they established an alternative ‘open’ parliament to oppose governor Mayay’s administration.

Makoi, and other members of the alternative parliament had written a letter addressed to the president of the government of South Sudan, accusing the state governor of corruption and inability to govern the state.

The governor denied the charges and said he had to arrest the members of the alternative parliament because of the letter they sent to President Salva Kiir requesting his removal.

“We were very open with our charges against state governor because there is massive corruption going on in the state while he is not taking action, which means he is encouraging it,” Makoi explained.

The self-established house further claimed that the arrest of its members was an attempt at scaring them from speaking out against what is taking place in the state, but that will not happen despite facing threats.

“We know what they are doing is to scare us from speaking against this corruption. They will not succeed. We will continue speaking out even if we are arrested,” he asserted.

But Lakes state minister of information, Marik Nanga Marik, denied the state government was involved in the arrests, saying that there was freedom of expression in the state and were free to criticize the governor.

Nanga said that the men were being held because they had insulted the director of taxation; not because they were part of the ‘open parliament.’ He claimed that they had given him the nickname “Manyiel Dut and Son enterprise,” apparently accusing him of nepotism. He remarked that their arrest had “nothing to do with state authority at all.”

LAKES YOUTH IN JUBA CRITICIZE DETENTIONS

However, according to a statement received by Sudan Tribune on October 17 from a SPLM youth group from Lakes state, residing in Juba, the young men are in prison for being critical of the state government and the governor.

The group accuse the governor of the arbitrary arrest of youth members after they accused him of corruption, incompetence and nepotism. The governor has denied the charges. Some of his aides have described the calls as an “unconstitutional” attempt to create “confusion” among the general public and the leadership of the SPLM.

Those named Matur Mapuor Deng, Malir Akol Yol James Ted Apac Yit Abuong Matur Puondak Benjamin Makoi Thon Malual Dhuor and John Majak Nhial, are some of the youth members who have been put behind bars in what he described as a ‘crackdown’ on political opponents.

Beny Gideon Mabor is the signature to the statement which denied the men were guilty of defamation, instead claiming that they were merely voicing their political opinions, which they are entitled to do in the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan. The statement also alleges that appointments to the Lakes state government did not adhere to procedural requirements and amounted ‘to clear nepotism.’

He also claimed that the state government has undue influence over the performance and impartiality of Lakes state’s public prosecution attorneys. South Sudan’s 2008 penal code allows criticism of public officials if conducted in the public interest, Mabor said, adding that his group wanted to restore good governance, rule of law and the protection of human rights.

The members of the pressure group calling for the removal of governor Mayay, asserted that they were acting in conformity with what South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir outlined on the country’s independence day in July, in which he said that all forms of corruption must be eradicated.

He asked for the president to intervene in Lakes state. Under South Sudan’s constitution the president can only dismiss governors and MPs in a state if there is a national security risk.

(ST)