The Political Issues Facing South Sudan
"A constitution must recognize all the aspects in consideration of the cultural diversity of the people that will own it. It is thus a matter of paramount national importance that requires an inclusive participation of all the political and social spectrum of our country." 09 May 2013 A presentation by Deng Bior Deng to at press conference in Juba on 8th May 2013- (Gurtong)-This gathering is about the same issues we have been talking about since our country became independent and even in the post CPA period. Definitely without change, we the citizens of South Sudan must be obliged to continue complaining about our plight; maybe our Government and the entire World will hear us. I have just arrived from the United States; and having been honoured by the leadership of our Party to act as Secretary General until the National Council is convened to elect the Secretary General, I find it necessary to address myself to the media and the South Sudan people on the recurring issues of concern facing us today. I believe we are all aware of our problems, but a press conference is a venue where we brainstorm in an attempt to find possible solutions that maybe a way forward for our Government to positively address itself to our concerns, and hence minimize opposition against its policies. The issues we are discussing here are some of the achievements by our Government with some linkages of doubts, which I think our Government should continue to address: THE CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT IS A POSITIVE ROAD MAP TO PEACE DESPITE THE SCEPTICISM WE ARE STILL FORESEEING. The unresolved issues of the CPA had had a bad impact on the relations between Sudan and South Sudan; but it had always been expected that the two countries peacefully address all the contentious issues that existed and continue to exist. This Co-operation agreement has provided an atmosphere of understanding between the two countries; this we have always been advising our Government. The then bellicose attitude and rhetoric about war by our Government was just being a political ploy to divert public attention from the existing problems it has created, coupled with bad institutional practices. Not only is this agreement a foundation for future relations between the two countries that definitely need each other, but its implementation will definitely help replace the economic crises facing the two countries as well as pave the way for the outstanding issues to be resolved. For example, the immature decision by our Government to shut down oil had adversely backfired and strained our economy. But seeing is believing; we as opposition had before, yet in vain, advised against this shutdown and we were being seen as Khartoum collaborators. However, despite the destruction that occurred as a result of the decision, we thank the Government for conceding at last although the South had not gained what it had hoped for to gain in the oil shutdown. We also still have to be on alert that without solution to the problems that pose continued rebellions in both countries; this agreement shall continue to be on and off and hence remains to be only a diplomatic gimmick to the enjoyment of all delegations that will always go for a picnic in Addis Ababa. The only hopeful way will be for both countries to negotiate with their rebels. It is good that South Sudan had had an agreement before with its rebels. Although this agreement was hampered by lack of will to implement on the side of our Government, negotiations on the modalities of implementation will not need to be so difficult as the current war and killings between the rebels and the armed forces (SPLA). In case of the Sudan, the CPA protocols remain to be a basis for negotiation with its rebels, no matter what new demands the rebels put forward. Again, the Sudan need to understand that South Sudan will not forgo Abiey and all its Territories for peace; Abiey referendum and border demarcation will be cornerstone for permanent peace in both countries. THE CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW IS A NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY, NOT A ONE PARTY RESPONSIBILITY. This constitution, being the supreme law of the land that will guide the functions of the Government and the people, will be a foundation for stability, good governance, justice, equality and freedom. A constitution must recognize all the aspects in consideration of the cultural diversity of the people that will own it. It is thus a matter of paramount national importance that requires an inclusive participation of all the political and social spectrum of our country. A constitution is a national covenant between the people of the country concerned; hence it must be based on national consensus not on majority view. On this basis, the over representation of the ruling Party in the review commission is not only unfair but is politically unsafe for the future of this country. My party, for example, advocates for a federal and parliamentary system of Government to be the basis of this constitutional review; are there no people of South Sudan we represent sharing this view? Why then has this Government refused our participation? It is upon people of South Sudan to see that this Government is being biased by excluding the main opposition party in the review commission; a people’s Government is expected to be fairly addressing itself to such important issues that may adversely affect the country in the very near future. We do not want this important document to be an instrument of the President but of the people. THE POLITICAL PARTIES ACT was supposedly enacted to provide a sound basis for multiparty democracy leading to unity in diversity and good governance. The rules governing the registration of political parties could not have been therefore intended for deregistration of parties but for helping their registration. There is no doubt that some provisions in this act were intended to obstruct the registration of some parties minus the ruling party. Therefore, one hopes that we the vulnerable parties must struggle very hard not to allow the possibility of our country falling into the pit of one party State; we hope to overcome. However we need to cautiously re-address ourselves to such provisions that are obstructive to the purpose of this act. For example, bringing five hundred delegates from each of eight states to a specific location to be scrutinized by the Political Parties Affairs Council was an intention to deregister other parties and eventually scuttle democracy; because its feasibility in terms of cost can only be in favour of the ruling party unless the Government provides a budget to all political parties. Let us be patient in the hope that the PPAC may soon be formed to seek clarifications on such matters from the government. THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION may be seen as insignificant because of the pessimistic feeling that elections may not take place in 2015 given that the impugned nature our ruling party in assuming executive powers of our Government may impose its will on our Government to stop elections or rig them. But this commission shall remain to be a future corner stone for our democracy; therefore we must give it due strength for the sake of democracy we yearn for. Let us hope that this commission will be independent and fair in future. The first test of the commission was what happened in the Lakes State when the President removed the elected Governor from office; Article 101(s) of the Transitional Constitution demands that election of a new Governor takes place within sixty days; i.e. not later than the 21st of March 2013. Nothing happened and we did not hear the voice of the commission on this matter. I don’t want to go into the details of what I want this commission to do except to say that we the democratic parties must have to struggle to see that its independence is asserted. RECONCILIATION OF OUR PEOPLE IS A WAY FORWARD TO BUILD OUR UNITY as a young country that had emerged out of serious circumstances that tends to make us fall apart. What needs to be absolutely clear in this reconciliation initiative is how to define it: who are those to be reconciled, with whom, about what and how? If we cannot answer such questions, we cannot formulate a genuine agenda to start the process of our initiative; the result shall be a de-conciliation. A genuine reconciliation follows the resolution of the problems that caused the conflict in the first place. For example, government needs to embark on policy reforms to deal with this endemic corruption, tribalism and insecurity as a result of on- going insurgencies as well as inter and intra-communal violence. However, with his recent decree, our President has a good heart and wish for us; but are the civil societies and faith-based groups responsible for the problems of this country to be charged with the responsibility for this initiative and can they really solve political disagreements that cause us problems in this country? I am still in a position to ask my President. Yet, reconciliation is a way forward if we know what we are to reconcile about. And as a good gesture for reconciliation at the bottom heart of our President, I would wish our President to take a bold decision to release all alleged political detainees or take them to court for fair trial. Our President should also desist from manufactured street charges against some important politicians who can help him on how to make this country go forward. The reconciliation must start with the President himself. <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--> <!--[endif]-->NOTHING IN THE WAY OF OUR LIVES CAN BE TALKED ABOUT WITHOUT SECURITY. I had talked many times in the media about security concerns in our country. Our innocent citizens want to live in their country without fear of today or tomorrow about their life or the life of their children. Our Government knows and understands our security concerns about the existence of armed groups (referred to as militia), cattle rustlers, land grabbers, tribal disputes, and rampant killing in and around Juba and other towns of every state in South Sudan. Issues like cattle rustling, land disputes etc. are within the administrative power of our Government to resolve; but one cannot understand why our Government could not make headway on that. In relation to the armed groups, the government should implement previous agreements it had made with them. I believe there is no better way forward than negotiations with the rebel groups; otherwise, intransigence is a loss to the country with nobody’s benefit. The recent amnesty issued by the President is a right step in the right direction and is highly commendable. However, it must be followed by serious dialogue with the concerned rebels. OUR PARTY, THE SPLM-DC, IS NOT AN OPPOSITION TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT but to advocate democracy as the only way to freedom, justice, equality and peace in our country. We are therefore not opposed to the leadership of the President but to the policies of the Government. We therefore appeal to all political parties, including the ruling party, for co-operation so that it will be possible for all of us to chart a way forward for our Government to handle our national issues in a fair democratic manner. Our party was founded with a declared objective to reform and transform the Movement’s vision into a true democratic vision for which our people fought and died; hence, we do not see the ruling SPLM as our enemy; we expect the co-operation of our comrades within this SPLM because we know we are right and definitely we shall meet somewhere. Politics need the co-operation of and with all, being political parties, civil societies, the media etc. In my assignment as acting Secretary General of SPLM-DC, I shall co-operate with all towards the achievement of democracy, justice, and freedom for all. I hope the media community will always be in contact with my office on any issue of national concern. Thanks, Deng Bior Deng, SPLM-DC ’s Secretary-General. CONTACT: [email protected] Posted in: Opinions, Press Releases Comments 11/05/2013, 2:04 PM - Posted by Jackson Sebit RECENT REBEL’S VICTORY REVEALS HOW BADLY WEAK THE SPLA IS. In recent weeks rebels forces led by David Yau Yau has surprisingly continued to make a steady military advancement and ground-gains from the government forces, “SPLA” in its endeavor to overthrow the government of President Salva Kirr Mayardith. Last Sunday, the rebel forces easily over-ran strategic Town of Jebel Boma from the SPLA army; it is to be noted that, Jebel Boma is the second Town to fall under the rebel forces after the rebel retook control of Marua airstrip from the SPLA forces earlier this month. Government military action against rebel forces seems to have provoked the rebels who have constantly in recent months staged military activities including laying a number of ambushes against government soldiers in Jongole state including one in which five Indian soldiers serving for UN peacekeeping force in south Sudan were killed. The question one may ask, why all of sudden? What really is happening that the SPLA is unable to stand to defend and protect itself against ill-trained and ill-equipped rebels being led by a self-decorated civilian general? Perhaps, the primacy of tribal and local loyalty among the soldiers impaired the army’s commitment to the government cause. The SPLA army is massively subjugated by the elements of the militia warlords, crudely organized and led, inadequately armed, poorly trained, irregularly and meagerly paid, and badly fed. Such challenges being faced by the SPLA forces render low morale in the army. Thus such an army is hardly capable of standing firm in the face of a determined foe. However, the same soldiers would fight with utmost determination with their kinsmen in their own space under the leadership of their local chiefs. “The SPLA army does not lack native courage, and in hill or jungle warfare they are unrivaled, so long as it takes the shape of guerrilla fighting…thus, I think fighting to defend Jebel Boma town shouldn’t be a problem for the SPLA soldiers had they been treated well, centralized under a common command with national objectives to utilize that courage and determination to do so. But unfortunately lack of morale couple with lack of centralized command and tribal sectionalism within the SPLA army at the expense of strategic general national security interests have sunk common characteristics of patriotism and nationalistic principles and to become merely a unit in a battalion, the army loses all self-confidence and is apt to think more of getting away than of stubbornly holding the ground when they should as it’s their primary duty to defend and protect territorial integrity against any force of doom that is intending to cause attrition against the state. By Jackson L. Eneriko -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
