S. Sudan minister mocks warning against attacking western countries
April 2, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese information minister has vehemently rejected caution against attacking western countries, equating it to compromising standing of the government and nationalism.
Akol was speaking at a news conference on Monday during which he said president Kiir’s government tried to avoid addressing real issues which plunged the country into war by resorting to blaming others for pointing out areas where improvement is required to further cooperation and support.
He said the president was on more than one occasion threatened the western world, cautioning the government not to choose to confront western countries.
The SPLM-DC chairman called on the government to cooperate with the western nations and to learn from the experience of the many past third world leaders who did not survive after making recklessly statements against western powers and their allies.
However, minister of information, Michael Makuei Lueth, in a statement announced by the state owned South Sudan Television (SSTV) on Wednesday called for an urgent press conference which was held at the headquarters of the ministry of on Thursday, specifically to respond to a statement by leader of the main opposition party in government.
Lueth, who speaks for the government as official spokesperson, questioned the patriotism and loyalty of the opposition leader, Lam Akol, to the country, saying he was not sufficient nationalist and consequently “not a South Sudanese and he is not an African.”
“Is he a leader of the people of South Sudan? Does he deserve to be a leader in South Sudan? Is he a genuine South Sudanese nationalist? These types of people are not even fit to be talked to,” Lueth said.
“Because he is not a South Sudanese and he is not an African, otherwise you cannot just talk like this,” he added.
Lueth mockingly posed a question querying the essence of the warning during which he asked: “why we should not call a spade a spade if it is western countries?”
“Don’t touch the Western world because they are our lords.’ Or what, why should we not touch them?” Lueth said.
The government official said such a public statement from Akol threatened South Sudan’s national security.
“An opposition which is not concerned on the security of the nation is not an opposition. This could be body that is alien to the people of South Sudan,” he said.
He added that the opposition leader wanted South Sudanese to believe that the western world were lords.
“He [Akol] is saying ‘don’t touch the western world because they are our lords.’ For what? Why should we not touch them? Should we not call a spade a spade if it is western,” he said.
Earlier, the minister said his government would now allow Troika countries of the United States of America, United Kingdom and Norway to participate in the mediation body of the peace process between the warring parties in South Sudan, arguing that they were not impartial.
Juba was reacting to Troika countries’ threat of sanctions if president Kiir’s government and the rebel faction of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) led by former vice-president, Riek Machar, failed to sign a peace agreement and end the 15-month long war.
The government is not also happy with the recent criticism from the US envoy Donald Booth who expressed rejection to the extension of president Kiir’s tenure for three more years.
JUBA ESCAPED ANARCHY
The government spokesman applauded national parliament for extending the lifespan of the office of the president by three years. He said the opposition objection to this move was uncalled for.
The government was concerned that it would lose legitimacy by 9 July when the term of the elected officials should have ended if an extension was not made.
“This is a clear case of anarchy and this is not acceptable. The opposition should be obstructive but constructive,” he said.
Lueth challenged that if the opposition were nationalists, they should work for national interest, adding “They are supposed to have clear position but not just to oppose for the sake of opposing.”
The parliament also extended its own tenure to July 2018.
(ST)