PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd – South Sudan

"We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing" By Konstantin Josef Jireček, a Czech historian, diplomat and slavist.

Two term limit in Arusha Agreement is the milestone in the SPLM history

By David Aoloch Bion

January 24, 2015 (SSB) — Although the Arusha agreement is fullest of inconsistent, unworkable resolutions, the two term limits for the chairman of the SPLM party is the best milestone in the history of SPLM and here I quoted the draft  ‘’The term limit for the SPLM National and State Chairpersons of the party shall be two terms of 5 years each only’’ This is the biggest step ever taken by the SPLM  toward  democracy . This will eliminate the spirit of impatience which is the root causes of the conflict in South Sudan.

Here, we shall know  Mr . X has become the chairman of SPLM from this date to  this date and we shall wait for his term to finish patiently . if he is  popular he will rule for 10 years , if he is unpopular he will rule only for 5 years . Two term limit  will allow  4 generations of SPLM cadres  to rule in their life time . This idea of two term limit must also be  enshrined  in Constitution  of Republic of South Sudan so if the president is popular he will rule for 10 years , he is unpopular he will rule for 5 years  , this will be beginning of democracy and the end of conflict.. if he abuse his power ,  we shall hang him  after his 10 years in office .

On the other hand , the Arusha Document is fullest of inconsistent , unworkable resolution , for example article  12 says   ‘’Any individual SPLM member convicted by a competent court or tribunal of crimes against humanity, war crimes, crimes against peace or gross human rights violations and abuses during the crisis that erupted in the country since 15th December 2013 shall not be eligible to hold public office in the Party and the Governments ‘’   This is unworkable resolution because President Kiir and Riek Machar  are convicted under the law which  says you are guilty until you are proven innocent . All who committed so-called war crimes were acting at the orders of Kiir and Riek and I doubt both men will surrender themselves  to the court with their  popular support among their constituencies .

Again Article 16 says    . ‘’SPLM commits to and supports the establishment of a comprehensive system of transitional justice, (the core elements of which are truth and reconciliation, criminal prosecution, reparations and institutional reforms), to look into the issues of atrocities, human rights violations and abuses in the country’’ This is also another contradictory , unworkable resolution, it is talking about truth and reconciliation and at the same time it is talking about  criminal prosecution, these are incompatible.

You  will have truth and reconciliation without  criminal prosecution  or you will have criminal prosecution without  truth and reconciliation . it is always  say ‘’war crimes are determined by the winners  of war  and war criminals are always losers in the war . in this conflict there are no losers , all are winners and therefore who will be prosecuted?’’

For example in Rwanda , it is only the defeated government members who were tried in Arusha , there is no single member of  Rwanda Patriotic Front , who won war is tried in Arusha . In former Yugoslavia , only the members of  defeated regime were tried . no single member of the West back government was tried in the Hague .  in Germany , only members of defeated Hitler regime were tried  in Nuremberg. .

How are you going to disarm  President Kiir and put him on trial ? How are going to disarm Riek Machar and put him on trial ? How are you going to disarm those Generals  like Marial , Gatdet and put them on trial ? these are all impossible !!!!!!!!!!!!!

The criminal prosecution will lead to another rebellion, mark my words.  .

The Best solution is to give  amnesty to all criminals.

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