Wulu MPs demand governor apologise over comments on Yau Yau support
November 29, 2013 (RUMBEK) – A group of lawmakers representing Lakes state’s Wulu county have condemned military caretaker governor Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol over statements he made on Monday accusing elected MP Moses Taban Manyiel of supporting the insurgency in Jonglei state.
They have threatened to withdraw their support for Dhuol’s military rule unless he apologise for the remarks.
In a press statement issued on Friday, Wulu MP Shadrack Bol Machok said MPs “condemn in the strongest terms the claim and derogatory statement by the caretaker governor that one of us is a part and parcel of the rebellion in Jonglei state, [especially] considering the distance between Pibor of Jonglei state and Wulu of Lakes state”.
Machok said Dhuol’s comments were insulting and were a clear attempt to publicly discredit Manyiel, adding the governor had “no grounds” to make the claims.
“As if that is not enough, none of our sons or daughters ever have a record of rebellion or insurgency since the old Sudan to date, a truth that all South Sudanese know”, the statement said.
Dhuol made the comments while addressing a rally in Wulu county, after Manyiel confronted him over a number of serious issues facing Wulu, including land grabbing and lack of adequate political representation.
The MP complained that cabinet reshuffle announced last month by the governor had left Wulu without a ministerial post.
Dhuol sidestepped questions raised by the independent MP, accusing him of supporting the David Yau Yau-led insurgency in Jonglei state and calling on the public not to vote for Manyiel in the upcoming 2015 elections.
The governor said as a Yau Yau supporter, Manyiel was not entitled to speak on community-related matters.
“We would like to inform all South Sudanese in the 10 states that there is no association with David Yau Yau in Wulu county by [the] honourable member of parliament”, Machok said in the statement, adding that Manyiel is “like any other independent MP elected in the 2010 elections” and does “not have any connection with insurgency in Jonglei state, but [is] a representative of his people”.
Machok rejected the governor’s suggestions that Manyiel, who served in the South Sudanese army (SPLA) in the rank of lieutenant colonel, was not qualified to speak for the community.
He said as an elected MP Manyiel has “a constitutional mandate to speak on behalf of his constituents” and issues that pertain to his constituency.
(ST)