Machar advises against infringement on rights and freedoms
August 7, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s former vice-president, Riek Machar Teny, has criticized voices that speak in violation of rights and freedoms of citizens in the country.
Lojore was quoted by the Sudan Tribune as saying that the party would investigate the deputy chairperson for publicly enumerating the challenges faced by the government and party instead of using the existing structures to express his views.
While in government, Machar pointed out the challenges of rampant corruption, tribalism, insecurity, lack of economic growth and poor international relations, which were also picked by private and state-owned media.
He also echoed the party’s final report from an assessment carried out in the ten states of the country which suggested that the ruling party had lost vision and direction.
On 5th March, most members of the politburo, which is the highest executive organ of the SPLM chaired by the party chairperson, Salva Kiir Mayardit, met in Juba during which they discussed and acknowledged the challenges of corruption and tribalism.
The meeting also touched on the need for transformation in the party in order to tackle the challenges.
During that meeting Machar also expressed his desire to contest for the party chairpersonship in a national convention which is supposed to convene this year, as well as contest for the presidential seat in 2015.
The statement by governor Lojore, he said, was a desperate attempt to infringe on one’s freedoms and encourage dictatorship in the party.
Machar also said another governor in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, Paul Malong Awan, is violating the constitution by declaring in the state parliament to ban activities of political parties in his state.
Malong, a member of the ruling SPLM, on Monday told his state parliament that he would not tolerate activities of other political parties in the state.
The party deputy chairperson criticized Malong’s statement, saying the state governor was trying to groom himself as a dictator and called on the president of the republic, Salva Kiir Mayardit, to protect the provisions in the transitional constitution of the republic as well as those of the states.
He also decried the statement by the caretaker governor of Lakes state, Matur Chut, who announced to shoot anybody seen to be carrying a gun in his state.
Machar said the order to shoot anyone carrying a rifle is another violation of the constitution which infringes on the right of people who legally possess registered rifles.
On the contrary he said the caretaker governor himself issued an order a few months ago allowing the state residents to register and legally own rifles.
The former vice-president who made the general comments on Wednesday commended the resignation of Kuol Manyang Juuk, Jonglei state governor, in the state parliament, acknowledging that things were difficult in the state, which is the most affected by insecurity.
He however strongly advised that legal processes should be followed in Juuk’s replacement, saying it is the current deputy governor that should act and call for a fresh gubernatorial election within 60 days as provided for in the transitional constitution.
Machar further advised against appointing a caretaker governor to replace Juuk, saying the president of the republic has no room in the process to appoint a replacement.
(ST)