Lakes state: SPLM denies dismissing party official
November 3, 2012 (JUBA) – The Chairperson of South Sudan’s ruling party (SPLM) in Lakes State on Saturday refuted media reports that claimed he dismissed the party’s Secretary General in Wulu Country.
Daniel Awet Akot, in an interview with Sudan Tribune, described as “bad wishful thinking” allegations that he dismissed Benjamin Akol Muorwel from the party’s branch office in the state.
“There is nothing like that. Where did you get this report that I have dismissed Wulu County Secretary? Who told you I have dismissed him? What you people write in the media must be realistic so that it avoids misleading people,” he said.
Certain procedures, Akot explained, have to be followed before any elected SPLM member is eventually dismissed from the party.
“Dismissing a member require sets of procedures to be followed when there are sufficient evidences to support charges labelled the accused. This cannot be done by the chairperson. It requires processes involving other members,” said the SPLM Lakes state chairperson.
“The members of the Liberation Council at the county will sit first to discuss and see which provision of the basic rules and guidelines, which the member may have violated. So it is when a provision that has been violated by a member will the council sit to pass a resolution,” he added.
Akot, who is also the Deputy Speaker of South Sudan National Assembly (SSNA), further told Sudan Tribune that such a resolution would also have to be discussed by the chairperson at the county before it is sent to the state secretariat with recommendations for further discussions.
The state chairperson, he added, can only act based on recommendations from the state secretariat.
However, when contacted by Sudan Tribune, Muorwel, also denied media reports alleging is dismissal from the ruling party, saying they were “political propaganda by some prophet of doom to tarnish the good image of his party”.
“There is nothing like that. In fact, many people and I were surprised about these media reports that I have been dismissed from my position. It was surprising reading it the news. I have not received any letter from comrade Daniel Awet Akot who was also surprised when I contacted him,” he said in an interview on Saturday.
The SPLM Secretary General for Wulu County also wondered how one could be dismissed from the party without any cause, further denying allegations claiming he had for long been away from office.
“These allegations that I have been absent from my office are baseless. I am now talking to you in Rumbek,” said Muorwel.
(ST)