SPLM divisions widen as Kiir accuses Machar of “disrespect”
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Elisabeth Janaina
Aug 1, 2013, 1:09:23 AM8/1/13
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SPLM divisions widen as Kiir accuses Machar of “disrespect”
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July 30, 2013 (JUBA) - Cracks within the leadership of South Sudan’s
ruling Sudan’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) appear to be widening as its
leader, Salva Kiir Mayardit, broke his silence on Tuesday, accusing
his former deputy, Riek Machar, of disrespect and insubordination to
the party leadership.
JPEG - 11.7 kb
South Sudan president Salva Kiir (Reuters)
It’s the first time Kiir has spoken publicly since issuing a series of
decrees on 23 July effectively removing the vice-president and
dissolving the entire cabinet. In a separate order, Pagan Amum, the
ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement’s (SPLM) secretary-general
was suspended pending an investigation into his conduct.
Speaking at an event marking the eighth anniversary of the martyrs,
Kiir said he made the decision in response to calls from the people of
South Sudan.
He accused Machar and Amum of showing disrespect and publicly
discrediting the achievements of his administration in the media,
rather than addressing their grievances through the correct channels
and structures.
“I removed the former vice-president because he decided to go astray.
He used the public media to discredit the government in which he was a
party before the international community. This was an act of
disrespect and [shows an] intention to hurt the image of this
country”, Kiir told the audience.
SPLM BIGGER THAN ONE PERSON
Kiir stressed internal discussions on the state of affairs are
administrative issues and thus should be dealt with privately by the
leadership, not in the public arena.
“I have never issued any statement, and from my office, those who work
with me, there is not a single person who has made a statement. There
is only one side that is making statements”, Kiir said.
“Let me tell you something, SPLM is not about one person. It is bigger
than all of us. We have a lot of people. SPLM is all of us and it is
going to clean itself and those who will not be found fit in the SPLM
formula should leave on their own or SPLM will throw them out. That is
all because at the end of the day our people want services. They need
roads; they need schools; they need hospitals; clean drinking water”,
the president stressed.
Kiir also made reference to Machar’s media address last week in which
he warned that inciting violence would not solve the problems the
party is facing.
Machar has also objected to Amum’s suspension, criticising Kiir’s
decision to block the secretary-general from making public statements
and travelling abroad.
“When you bake a piece of cake and it does not come out nicely, even
if you put decorations, icing and whatever, you are wasting your time.
The cake is not good. SPLM is still a popular party. Everywhere you
go, they will tell you, SPLM is very strong, but you must look at your
leadership and me as a president, I have received so many calls from
everywhere”, Kiir said.
He said it was unfortunate that his former long-serving deputy seemed
unaware of the internal rules and regulations of that party which he
seeks to lead, accusing him and other colleagues of creating political
divisions.
Kiir added he would decide the way forward in a mature and orderly manner.
TIME TO MOVE FORWARD
Deng Mawien, a member of the SPLM from Warrap state, said the party
should move involve itself in petty issues.
“These are supposed to be senior leaders of the party, so if they are
senior leaders of the party, they are supposed to discuss those issues
with the president. They have access to the president. There is nobody
who can say the president is shielded from them”, he said.
“Vice-president Riek Machar is immediate to the president. Have you
ever heard the president say anything or comment on anything on this
matter?” he added.
Mawien called on the president and his team to focus on organising the
party and not on petty issues.
“If the party chooses that is the way to go, it’s their choice. If
there is any issue that arises within or outside the party, there is
no problem that is insurmountable for the party, even in this
situation. There is no need for the leaders to panic, all they need is
to use the same courage, to take the step they are reported to have
taken - to also have the courage, in a mature and orderly manner, and
focus on what they want to resolve because they are saying all that
[is] in the interest of the party”, he said.
MISTREATMENT OF WIDOWS
Speaking on a separate matter, president Kiir decried the mistreatment
of widows, accusing some officials in his administration of chasing
away widows and orphans who had approached their offices seeking
assistance.
“There is this developing bad culture which is unacceptable at all. It
must stop or I will intervene and take action if I prove widows are
[being] chased from the offices when they go to look for assistance.
People rudely tell them ‘Go away. It was not me who killed your
husband or your father. Was it my making?’ This is not the spirit of
revolutionists and must desist”, he said.
(ST)
Article
Comments (116)
email Email
print Print
pdfSave
separation
increase
decrease
separation
separation
myspace
buzzyahoo
July 30, 2013 (JUBA) - Cracks within the leadership of South Sudan’s
ruling Sudan’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) appear to be widening as its
leader, Salva Kiir Mayardit, broke his silence on Tuesday, accusing
his former deputy, Riek Machar, of disrespect and insubordination to
the party leadership.
JPEG - 11.7 kb
South Sudan president Salva Kiir (Reuters)
It’s the first time Kiir has spoken publicly since issuing a series of
decrees on 23 July effectively removing the vice-president and
dissolving the entire cabinet. In a separate order, Pagan Amum, the
ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement’s (SPLM) secretary-general
was suspended pending an investigation into his conduct.
Speaking at an event marking the eighth anniversary of the martyrs,
Kiir said he made the decision in response to calls from the people of
South Sudan.
He accused Machar and Amum of showing disrespect and publicly
discrediting the achievements of his administration in the media,
rather than addressing their grievances through the correct channels
and structures.
“I removed the former vice-president because he decided to go astray.
He used the public media to discredit the government in which he was a
party before the international community. This was an act of
disrespect and [shows an] intention to hurt the image of this
country”, Kiir told the audience.
SPLM BIGGER THAN ONE PERSON
Kiir stressed internal discussions on the state of affairs are
administrative issues and thus should be dealt with privately by the
leadership, not in the public arena.
“I have never issued any statement, and from my office, those who work
with me, there is not a single person who has made a statement. There
is only one side that is making statements”, Kiir said.
“Let me tell you something, SPLM is not about one person. It is bigger
than all of us. We have a lot of people. SPLM is all of us and it is
going to clean itself and those who will not be found fit in the SPLM
formula should leave on their own or SPLM will throw them out. That is
all because at the end of the day our people want services. They need
roads; they need schools; they need hospitals; clean drinking water”,
the president stressed.
Kiir also made reference to Machar’s media address last week in which
he warned that inciting violence would not solve the problems the
party is facing.
Machar has also objected to Amum’s suspension, criticising Kiir’s
decision to block the secretary-general from making public statements
and travelling abroad.
“When you bake a piece of cake and it does not come out nicely, even
if you put decorations, icing and whatever, you are wasting your time.
The cake is not good. SPLM is still a popular party. Everywhere you
go, they will tell you, SPLM is very strong, but you must look at your
leadership and me as a president, I have received so many calls from
everywhere”, Kiir said.
He said it was unfortunate that his former long-serving deputy seemed
unaware of the internal rules and regulations of that party which he
seeks to lead, accusing him and other colleagues of creating political
divisions.
Kiir added he would decide the way forward in a mature and orderly manner.
TIME TO MOVE FORWARD
Deng Mawien, a member of the SPLM from Warrap state, said the party
should move involve itself in petty issues.
“These are supposed to be senior leaders of the party, so if they are
senior leaders of the party, they are supposed to discuss those issues
with the president. They have access to the president. There is nobody
who can say the president is shielded from them”, he said.
“Vice-president Riek Machar is immediate to the president. Have you
ever heard the president say anything or comment on anything on this
matter?” he added.
Mawien called on the president and his team to focus on organising the
party and not on petty issues.
“If the party chooses that is the way to go, it’s their choice. If
there is any issue that arises within or outside the party, there is
no problem that is insurmountable for the party, even in this
situation. There is no need for the leaders to panic, all they need is
to use the same courage, to take the step they are reported to have
taken - to also have the courage, in a mature and orderly manner, and
focus on what they want to resolve because they are saying all that
[is] in the interest of the party”, he said.
MISTREATMENT OF WIDOWS
Speaking on a separate matter, president Kiir decried the mistreatment
of widows, accusing some officials in his administration of chasing
away widows and orphans who had approached their offices seeking
assistance.
“There is this developing bad culture which is unacceptable at all. It
must stop or I will intervene and take action if I prove widows are
[being] chased from the offices when they go to look for assistance.
People rudely tell them ‘Go away. It was not me who killed your
husband or your father. Was it my making?’ This is not the spirit of
revolutionists and must desist”, he said.
(ST)
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