SPLM divisions widen as Kiir accuses Machar of “disrespect”
July 30, 2013 (JUBA) – Cracks within the leadership of South Sudan’s ruling Sudan’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) appear to be widening as its leader, Salva Kiir Mayardit, broke his silence on Tuesday, accusing his former deputy, Riek Machar, of disrespect and insubordination to the party leadership.
Speaking at an event marking the eighth anniversary of the martyrs, Kiir said he made the decision in response to calls from the people of South Sudan.
He accused Machar and Amum of showing disrespect and publicly discrediting the achievements of his administration in the media, rather than addressing their grievances through the correct channels and structures.
“I removed the former vice-president because he decided to go astray. He used the public media to discredit the government in which he was a party before the international community. This was an act of disrespect and [shows an] intention to hurt the image of this country”, Kiir told the audience.
SPLM BIGGER THAN ONE PERSON
Kiir stressed internal discussions on the state of affairs are administrative issues and thus should be dealt with privately by the leadership, not in the public arena.
“I have never issued any statement, and from my office, those who work with me, there is not a single person who has made a statement. There is only one side that is making statements”, Kiir said.
“Let me tell you something, SPLM is not about one person. It is bigger than all of us. We have a lot of people. SPLM is all of us and it is going to clean itself and those who will not be found fit in the SPLM formula should leave on their own or SPLM will throw them out. That is all because at the end of the day our people want services. They need roads; they need schools; they need hospitals; clean drinking water”, the president stressed.
Kiir also made reference to Machar’s media address last week in which he warned that inciting violence would not solve the problems the party is facing.
Machar has also objected to Amum’s suspension, criticising Kiir’s decision to block the secretary-general from making public statements and travelling abroad.
“When you bake a piece of cake and it does not come out nicely, even if you put decorations, icing and whatever, you are wasting your time. The cake is not good. SPLM is still a popular party. Everywhere you go, they will tell you, SPLM is very strong, but you must look at your leadership and me as a president, I have received so many calls from everywhere”, Kiir said.
He said it was unfortunate that his former long-serving deputy seemed unaware of the internal rules and regulations of that party which he seeks to lead, accusing him and other colleagues of creating political divisions.
Kiir added he would decide the way forward in a mature and orderly manner.
TIME TO MOVE FORWARD
Deng Mawien, a member of the SPLM from Warrap state, said the party should move involve itself in petty issues.
“These are supposed to be senior leaders of the party, so if they are senior leaders of the party, they are supposed to discuss those issues with the president. They have access to the president. There is nobody who can say the president is shielded from them”, he said.
“Vice-president Riek Machar is immediate to the president. Have you ever heard the president say anything or comment on anything on this matter?” he added.
Mawien called on the president and his team to focus on organising the party and not on petty issues.
“If the party chooses that is the way to go, it’s their choice. If there is any issue that arises within or outside the party, there is no problem that is insurmountable for the party, even in this situation. There is no need for the leaders to panic, all they need is to use the same courage, to take the step they are reported to have taken – to also have the courage, in a mature and orderly manner, and focus on what they want to resolve because they are saying all that [is] in the interest of the party”, he said.
MISTREATMENT OF WIDOWS
Speaking on a separate matter, president Kiir decried the mistreatment of widows, accusing some officials in his administration of chasing away widows and orphans who had approached their offices seeking assistance.
“There is this developing bad culture which is unacceptable at all. It must stop or I will intervene and take action if I prove widows are [being] chased from the offices when they go to look for assistance. People rudely tell them ‘Go away. It was not me who killed your husband or your father. Was it my making?’ This is not the spirit of revolutionists and must desist”, he said.
(ST)