N. Bahr el Ghazal deputy speaker objects to parliamentary summons
September 30, 2013 (WAU) – The deputy speaker of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal parliament says he will ignore a summons to explain recent deemed by some MPs to be negative about negative remarks about South Sudan’s National Legislative Assembly.
He said the plot to remove him from the position should not be linked to the statement because he has no case against state legislative assembly or the government administration.
“There must be a hidden agenda” Athiang told Sudan Tribune on Monday.
“Why are they in hurry? They should wait until there is a case that require me to appear to be court.”
Ernest Mangok, a state minister for parliamentary affairs confirmed on Monday that the house had asked the deputy speaker to make personal explanation about what happened that drew the attention of the national legislative Assembly to the extent that it convened a special session to discuss and formed a committee to investigate the conduct of the legislator.
“It is in the conduct of business of the state constitution that a member of the assembly is required to make explanation when something like this has happened to any member of the house. The reason is to educate the members so that the house gets to know what transpired, Mangok told Sudan Tribune during an exclusive interview from Aweil town, capital of the state.
Minister Mangok said Athiang had attended the leadership meeting during he was informed about the need to make explanation about what happened to the house so that they have clear information about transpired and how it could be handled to avoid misunderstanding.
He also denied reports claiming he was leading campaigns and intensive lobbying aimed at seeking majority decision to support a motion to remove the deputy speaker from his post.
“It is not true that I and honourable Akoon Diing had approached some members of parliament. This is incorrect and those who said this did not provide the right information. What I know is that deputy speaker was asked to make personal explanation. There is no plan to remove him”, said Mangok. But critics and multiple sources, some of whom are members of the house, maintained there was a plot to remove the deputy speaker from his position.
“They are denying it to divert the public attention. The governor himself when he came from Juba asked Athiang why he made the statements negative of the national legislative assembly in his capacity as the deputy speaker. He was not even happy with him and decided to isolate him. He treated him exactly the same way he treated former speaker, Aguer Wol Aguer. He was not accorded treatment he used to get when there is an official gathering. The protocol was not observed whenever he appears. He was treated like ordinary member”, a legislator who did not want to be identified told Sudan tribune on Monday from Aweil town, capital of the state.
He claimed that deputy speaker has been denied a leave request and considered absent from the house effect Monday.
“The speaker did not sign his leave request so that it becomes official. They have now marked him absent from the assembly today and they want to keep recording until it reaches 18 points of absent then it becomes a violation of the constitution, according to the conduct of business. If a member fails to attend 18 sessions without permission then a decision of the house can be sought to terminate the membership of the member”, the lawmaker explains.
But Athiang argued that he was given permission by the speaker when he left for Juba on Friday. “I was given permission by the speaker. I did not leave without approval. I have requested the leave and it was approved. So I do not understand what is happening”, he said
He said the plot to remove him from the position should not be linked to the statement because he has no case against state legislative assembly or the government administration.
“There must be a hidden agenda otherwise what will they say if the national legislative assembly says they have no case against me. Why are they in hurry? They should wait until there is a case that require me to appear to be court”, Athiang told Sudan Tribune on Monday.
Ernest Mangok, a state minister for parliamentary affairs confirmed on Monday that the house had asked the deputy speaker to make personal explanation about what happened that drew the attention of the national legislative Assembly to the extent that it convened a special session to discuss and formed a committee to investigate the conduct of the legislator.
“It is in the conduct of business of the state constitution that a member of the assembly is required to make explanation when something like this has happened to any member of the house. The reason is to educate the members so that the house gets to know what transpired, Mangok told Sudan Tribune during an exclusive interview from Aweil town, capital of the state.
Minister Mangok said Athiang had attended the leadership meeting during he was informed about the need to make explanation about what happened to the house so that they have clear information about transpired and how it could be handled to avoid misunderstanding.
He also denied reports claiming he was leading campaigns and intensive lobbying aimed at seeking majority decision to support a motion to remove the deputy speaker from his post.
“It is not true that I and honourable Akoon Diing had approached some members of parliament. This is incorrect and those who said this did not provide the right information. What I know is that deputy speaker was asked to make personal explanation. There is no plan to remove him”, said Mangok. But critics and multiple sources, some of whom are members of the house, maintained there was a plot to remove the deputy speaker from his position.
“They are denying it to divert the public attention. The governor himself when he came from Juba asked Athiang why he made the statements negative of the national legislative assembly in his capacity as the deputy speaker. He was not even happy with him and decided to isolate him. He treated him exactly the same way he treated former speaker, Aguer Wol Aguer. He was not accorded treatment he used to get when there is an official gathering. The protocol was not observed whenever he appears. He was treated like ordinary member”, a legislator who did not want to be identified told Sudan tribune on Monday from Aweil town, capital of the state.
He claimed that deputy speaker has been denied a leave request and considered absent from the house effect Monday.
“The speaker did not sign his leave request so that it becomes official. They have now marked him absent from the assembly today and they want to keep recording until it reaches 18 points of absent then it becomes a violation of the constitution, according to the conduct of business. If a member fails to attend 18 sessions without permission then a decision of the house can be sought to terminate the membership of the member”, the lawmaker explains.
But Athiang argued that he was given permission by the speaker when he left for Juba on Friday. “I was given permission by the speaker. I did not leave without approval. I have requested the leave and it was approved. So I do not understand what is happening”, he said
“What will I go and tell them. There is no document from the court and there is no document from the National Legislative Assembly. Also, I did not use my position as the deputy speaker. I was not speaking as [a] government official. I was speaking as a citizen expressing my own opinion. And if there is any issue, I will have to take full responsibility” said Athiang Manok Athiang.
He wondered whether a killing or a committing adultery by an individual would be considered an act committed by the government of a given state in the country. I do not really understand the connection.
“Maybe some people are not reading from the constitution. I did say I was speaking for anybody. I was speaking as individual citizen expressing my opinion because I was trying to actually protect the interest of the SPLM as our party. I was trying to tell the national legislative assembly and the state legislative assembly that what they did was wrong because they challenged decision of the president”, he said.
(ST)