Lakes state parliament adjourns sitting after MPs clash
November 27, 2013 (RUMBEK) – Lakes state’s legislative assembly was forced to adjourn its sitting on Wednesday due to a heated exchange between two MPs after one accused the governor of inciting violence in the state.
The incident involved David Kockedhia Puondak, a member of parliament representing Rumbek Central county, and Kedit Madol Kedit, the chairperson of the Security and Law Enforcement Agency and believed to be a loyalist of the state’s military caretaker Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol
Tensions flared between the two when Puondak detailed a series of alleged constitutional violations by the state which he said has led to an increase in violence across the region.
The claims angered Kedit, who threatened physical violence, and is alleged to have responded by saying “de pozha” in Arabic, meaning, “This is anarchy”.
He dismissed suggestions the governor’s policies were to blame for unrest as “nonsense.
“If these people need, people should fight; people can fight and it is not [the] governor’s failure”, he said.
Lawmakers who witnessed the exchange, accused Kedit of behaving in a manner “offensive to [the] state constitution”.
Meanwhile, Kedit accused Puondak of attempting to publicly distort and damage the governor’s image.
PARLIAMENT DISRUPTED
The incident severely disrupted parliamentary proceedings, with members unable to debate matters of security or the recent 5% pay cut for civil servants. Speaker Baipiath Relpuou adjourned the sitting until Monday.
Relpuou demanded both MPs apologise to the House for the “abusive statements and harsh attitude you displayed in this house”.
Kedit immediately withdrew his statements and offered his apologies to the house. However, Puondak on the other hand refused, saying he had not insulted anyone.
The confrontation between the two MPs occurred when Puoudak rose in the house to outline a report on security threats affecting his constituency. He further criticised the governor for allegedly making a number of inappropriate and disparaging public comments.
On a recent visit to Malek payam (district), Puoudak said Dhuol had insulted the female community by describing Malek women as “ugly”.
Three local chiefs who protested the governor’s comments at the 21 November meeting were subsequently arrested and remain in detention in Langcok military prison.
COMMITTEE FAILING
Puoudak also told parliament that a peace committee setup to settle disputes and normalise inter-clan relations between the Rup and Kuei sections Rumbek Central county is failing.
“I say very clearly to the August house that the peace committee is failing, the committee is not delivering”, he said.
Rumbek Center Peace Committee (RCPC) was setup in February with the aim of building peace and trust between the two communities and comprises of 10 members nominated by their respective communities. It was established just one month after Dhuol took over power from the democratically elected governor, Chol Tong Mayay, who was removed by president Salva Kiir Mayardit.
Tensions reportedly continued parliament when Kedit made insulting comments to Malek Majok, an MP representing the Aberiu area in Cueibet county, calling him a “coward” and a “woman”.
It’s understood the comments were made after Majok backed Puondak’s statements to the parliament. The MP said Puondak had made a number of good points, stressing that it was nothing personal.
(ST)