SPLM-Leaders Meets President Museveni in Kampala
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South Sudan is a violent place. Yes. It is also an interesting one.Yes.
Take for instance, the former political detainees of the ruling SPLM party are now calling themselves SPLM Leaders. And you just wonder how about those in Juba, aren’t they SPLM leaders too? How about the rebels?
In fact, there is more clamor for “SPLM” name tag than there is, probably, for “South Sudan” in the animal kingdom of South Sudanese politics.
Bizarrely, the recently appointed chairman of the rebel’s National Committee for Information and Public relation, Mabioor Garang de Mabioor, who is currently embroiled in a bitter quarrel with the rebel military spokesperson, Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, insisted today that they (the rebels) are the SPLM and should not be called SPLM in Opposition.
Then you wonder, how about those in the government, what are they if they are not SPLM too. If the rebels are to be called the SPLM, what would you called the ruling SPLM party in Juba? Of course, you can’t call both of them with the same name without inviting unnecessary confusion.
There has to be a way to differentiate the three contending camps. It has been SPLM in government for those in Juba; SPLM in Opposition for those who have taken up arms against the government and the SPLM political detainees for those who were suspected of having a hand in the proverbial coup of December 15th.
Mabioor is on record that it was Kiir who rebelled against the SPLM on December 15th, not Riek or him. Perhaps, that is why he thinks they are the SPLM and the government is, by implication, the rebel.
Pagan Amum and John Luk and Madam Nyandeng are on records that it is Riek and Kiir that are shedding the blood of South Sudanese. Nyandeng is on record that both Kiir and Riek should not be part of the transitional government. They should rather go and prepare for the forthcoming election while neutral persons executed the necessary sociopolitical reforms in Juba.
Perhaps, that is why the group billed themselves the SPLM leaders—Riek and Kiir, presumably have squandered their chances.
Interestingly too, the SPLM-Leaders, especially the vocal Pagan and fiery Nyandeng have been uncharacteristically quiet about the fashionable debate on federalism. What is their position? Who do THE leaders think?
Riek is for it; Kiirdit prefers the people themselves to decide, possibly in a general referendum. Listen to Wani Kong’a and Bangasi Bakasoro and you would be forgiven to think that they forcing Kiir to decree it today, not tomorrow.
All are for the SPLM; all are for federalism, but none is for South Sudan, and are all against South Sudanese. They are dying, suffering etc.
Well, back to the topic. The SPLM-leaders—former cabinet affairs minister Deng Alor Kuol; former minister of telecommunications and postal services Madut Biar Yel; former youth minister Dr. Chirino Hiteng; former finance minister Kosti Manibe; former roads and transport minister Gier Chuang Aluong; former justice minister John Luk Jok, and former Lakes state governor Chol Tong Mayai; Pagan Amum Okiech, former secretary-general of the ruling SPLM party; Oyai Deng Ajak, former minister for national security; and Majak D’Agoot, former deputy minister of defence–are in Uganda to meet with President.
Uganda has been the most dangerous place for South Sudanese leaders. The pioneering father of South Sudanese liberationary struggle, Father Saturnino Lohure, was killed in Uganda. Dr. John Garang died while oh his way from Uganda. Recently, George Athoor Deng was murdered in Uganda.
What are these leaders doing there, South Sudanese people are asking.
By PaanLuel Wel, Juba, South Sudan.
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