SPLM office in Aweil cautions MP
By Ngor Arol Garang
January 9, 2012 (JUBA) – The branch office of South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Aweil, capital of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, issued a last warning to one of its members in the State Legislative Assembly, local lawmakers told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.
Lawmakers deny knowing the cause of the warning issued to Andrew Lual Buola, a member of the state parliament representing Aweil town. Individual members within the State Secretariat described Buola as a “simple and active” member of the party in the state but said he was not loyal to the party despite being a member of parliament on the party’s ticket.
“Yes, our office has issued a warning to comrade Andrew Lual Buola. The decision was reached after a four member committee was formed to examine his conduct and performances in the assembly”, said a member of the disciplinary committee who preferred to remain anonymous.
“This is what the policy says. We look into files of all individual members in the assembly, executive and in other institutions after observations. I was one of the committee members and as per our observations; we came to know that comrade Lual was no longer a loyal member of our party in the parliament. He is not performing his duties in favour of his party”, he claimed
The letter of warning dated 19 December 2011, seen by Sudan Tribune on Sunday, bears the signature of SPLM State Secretary General, George Garang Lual, but makes no mention of Buola committing a serious offence.
Buola is said to have told senior members of the ruling party in one of the caucus meetings on 17 December that he was mandated by his constituents and not by the SPLM.
However, Buola told Sudan Tribune that he denies acting against the interests of the party and clarified that what he said in the caucus meeting chaired by the state governor who holds additional assignment as SPLM chairman in the area was that he was performing in the interest of his community which reflects interest of the party.
“I have been issued last warning without any reason and when I asked Secretary General, George Garang Lual, he said he received instructions from the chairman that he should give me last warning.”
“He even told me that the governor told him he was traveling out of the state and when he returns he should find that I have been served with last warning. And he did not give me any answer when I asked him why the governor did not write it himself”, he claimed.
The lawmaker accused governor of running the state like a “military barrack”.
“You know people do not need truth in this state. The governor himself at the meeting on 17 December told me that in SPLM, we do not call things by their real names. When a human waste is placed on the table and you are asked to comment on it you say what those who put it on the table want you to say,” Buola quoted Governor Paul Malong Awan as saying.
He said Governor Awan made this statement before Stephen Ayaga, John Gau, George Garang and Jok Lual.
“The Governor grew annoyed when I told him before these people that if it is me I can call it by its real name,” he said.
Buola said he is astonished to see some of the leaders who fought hard for democracy including the right to fair hearings defying the same principles for which they took up arms.
“The party is not moving on a right track. We want to see changes to ensure that the party’s strength is maintained. Corruption is rampant because the party is being run by one person”, he said.
The lawmaker claimed that another reason why he was targeted is because he was among the 30 members who voted for removal of the state minister of finance, Ronald Ruay Deng over an alleged financial scam.
“I am not the only member being targeted. They have targeted all 30 members who voted for removal of the minister of finance. What they did was just a beginning to test the reaction”, he said
(ST)