Machar warns against anti-unity Statements from Elijah Malok, the former head of South Sudan Central Bank
December 17, 2011 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s Vice President, Riek Machar Teny, intervened at a wedding in Juba accusing the former governor of South Sudan’s central bank of making anti-unity statements.
- Reik Machar (Reuters)
Machar made the remarks on Saturday at the wedding ceremony of the daughter of the Chief of General Staff of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), James Hoth Mai.
Ms Nyathon Hoth Mai who hails from the Nuer ethnic community from Ulang county in Upper Nile state, on Saturday got married to Mr. Peter Biar Ajak, a Dinka Bor from Twic East county in Jonglei state.
Witnesses saw a serious exchange of political statements following remarks made by a senior politician from Twic East county and elder of the bride groom’s family, Elijah Malok Aleng.
Malok, the former Governor of the Central Bank of South Sudan, while publicly addressing the gathering described the father of the bride, James Hoth Mai, as somebody who stood with the mainstream of the former rebel movement when it split in 1991.
The division of the SPLA, although along ideological lines, resulted in a split along mainly tribal lines.
He further explained that Hoth’s decision to marry his daughter to a Dinka Bor man from from Jonglei state was an extension of his past stance, siding with the late John Garang de Mabior, when Machar led a breakaway movement.
Vice President Machar, however, rejected the statement as “provocative” warning that the marriage should not be politicised but be based on the mutual love between the two people. He advised the two couples not to succumb to any pressure from political differences and focus on their love that led to their inter-community marriage.
Machar, who said he was “provoked”, challenged Malok’s statements about the 1991 split, saying people should first understand the causes for the split and how its national agenda has brought independence to South Sudan.
The Nasir faction, as it was known, argued that the SPLA’s declared aim should be self-determination rather than Garang’s vision of a united “new Sudan”.
Machar said he felt regret over the Dinka Bor civilians killed when his forces attacked Bor in August 1991. He said this was not his intention and not part of his agenda.
Malok also said he was “ashamed” to see the people of greater Bahr el Ghazal celebrating and claiming that independence was achieved simply because the people of Greater Upper Nile were divided. He urged the Vice President to unite the people of Greater Upper Nile, adding that Machar would become the next President after the incumbent Salva Kiir.
The Vice President rejected Malok’s remarks, saying that even if the next President is to come from Greater Upper Nile, such a decision would not be made without the input of the Greater Bhar el Ghazal and Greater Equatoria regions.
South Sudan’s ten states, were formerly divided into three regions. Machar argued that Upper Nile region should not be groomed into political power outside of the common interest with the other two regions.
Two months ago President Kiir removed Malok from his position as the governor of Central Bank of South Sudan.
The wedding ceremony itself was very colourful with thousands of guests attending the evening occasion at Juba’s Independence Square including the Vice President, senior members of various organs of the government and the army in addition to a number of foreign dignitaries from Asia, Europe and Africa.
(ST)
http://www.sudantribune.com/Machar-warns-against-anti-unity,41019
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