N. Bahr el Ghazal officials express concern over divisions within SPLM
January 7, 2015 (JUBA) – Members of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Northern Bahr el Ghazal who are divided over the manner in which recent changes were made in the party structure have called for intervention from the national government, warning that failure to pay attention could have repercussion on the party.
“I think it is a high time for our leadership at the higher level to wake up and make appropriate decision to correct the developing situation before getting the party get into another serious situation. It is a time the leadership should come out clearly and tell some people who are working against the ideals for which the SPLM was founded that it is unacceptable to operate outside the basic rules and regulations of the SPLM,” Diing said.
The official said the arrest of the senior officials on the order and directives of the chief of general staff of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, who doubles up as the chairperson of the SPLM in the state, General Paul Malong Awan was “a clear slapped” in the face of democracy and the guiding principles of the governing party.
“The chief of Staff repeatedly had to utter insulting words against me in the meeting when I said it is not right for him to participate in the partisan politics again because he is already a senior military officer and as far as I know, those in the military as supposed to be nonpartisan” he said.
“I said this because it would seems that the SPLA has two code of conduct and policies and it would set bad precedent for the national institution to operate with two codes of conduct. Recently the general command of SPLA itself punished some soldiers for alleged participation in politics, yet senior officers are doing the opposite,” Diing added.
He said the appointment of the new secretary general and the deputy were unconstitutional and it would encourage division within the party at the time when peace and unity are paramount.
“The way the deputy chairperson, comrade Arkanjelo Athian Teng was removed and replaced was unconstitutional. Some members who are not members of the state liberation council were allowed to participate in the meeting in which the orders were made,” said Diing.
“The new deputy chairperson himself was not a member of the liberation council and this goes against not only the SPLM constitutions, rules and regulations but a clear slap in the face of democracy and the guiding principles and vision of our party,” he added.
According to the official, any decision against the party structure can never be and failure by the senior leadership to correct the situation would mean nothing, but an endorsement of the rule of the guns and placement of individual desire above the law.
Diing described former deputy chairperson as an “outstanding, upright” citizen and someone whom he further said was a well-respected in the border state.
(ST)