Unity state: MPs deny backing calls to reinstate sacked governor
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July 15, 2013 (BENTIU) - A section of lawmakers from the Unity state
assembly on Monday denied ever asking South Sudan President Salva Kiir
to reverse a recent decision to sack elected governor, Taban Deng Gai.
JPEG - 12.8 kb
The newly appointed caretaker governor of Unity State Joseph Montuil
(Photo credit: L.Lomoyat)
Kiir, on 7 July, issued a surprise decree firing Gai, but gave no
reason for his decision. He immediately appointed Joseph Nguen
Monytuil as the new caretaker governor.
The president, under article 101(r) of South Sudan’s constitution, is
allowed remove a state governor and/or dissolve a state Legislative
Assembly in the event of threats to national security or territorial
integrity.
It, however, stipulates that fresh elections be organised within 60
days from the time a caretaker governor comes into office.
The lawmakers, in a position paper obtained by Sudan Tribune
acknowledged the president’s decision, while welcoming the newly
appointed caretaker governor, Joseph Monytuil.
In the letter, the MPs say Unity state has largely been stable and
wonder if political instability and insecurity is what prompted Kiir
to sack the elected governor.
“But your Excellency, Unity state had never experienced any political
instability and insecurity, which might have led to the removal of the
governor elect. For we are here to oversee the state general
performance, and save national interest that may threaten the state
and national security”, partly reads the MPs’ letter addressed to the
president.
DIVERGENT VIEWS
“We [MPs] are not against anyone neither the former governor nor the
new caretaker governor just we support them to collaborate with us
toward running the state affairs”, John Kaway chairperson of
information committee said Monday.
He further stressed that both ex-governor and his successor were sons
of the state and warned against practicing the "spirit of hatred".
Peter Dak Khan, another lawmaker told Sudan Tribune they will
carefully study the speaker’s letter, also copied to the country’s
vice-president and ruling party (SPLM) Secretary General.
“If the letter that was sent by the speaker was only the resolution of
our meeting [then] it is well and good because we welcome the decree
and we congratulate the president," he said.
"We also congratulated the new caretaker governor that is what we said
in our resolution", Khan added.
Until now, however, Unity state legislators remain divided on the
recent presidential decree. For instance, while some seem to support
calls to have Gai reinstated, others back the president’s decree that
saw him removed from office.
The lawmakers’ position, comes less than a week after the country’s
vice-president, Riek Machar wrote a similar letter asking Kiir to
reverse his decision to sack the Unity state governor, suggesting it
was done in violation of the country’s constitution.
Machar disclosed that he was not consulted, but heard of Kiir’s
decision on television and challenged his boss’s assessment of the
current security situation in the Unity state.
“I was in Unity state on June 29th, 2013, there is no insecurity that
threatens national security and territorial integrity in Unity state,
instead Governor Taban Deng Gai and his government was very
instrumental in bringing about peace and stability to the state,"
Machar said in the 7 July letter, also seen by Sudan Tribune.
"He [Deng] was solely responsible for the coming and acceptance of
your timely pardon by the armed group of General Bapiny Monytuel
Wicjang who abandoned opposition against the government of the
Republic of South Sudan last May”, the letter reads in part.
The vice-president, in his letter, also reminded the president that
Gai had won the 2010 general elections and thus had the same
legitimacy as Kiir before the constitution and his people of Unity
state.
Ironically, during the April 2010 elections Machar’s wife, Angelina
Teny ran against Deng who was also the incumbent governor, but the
latter ended up winning by a small margin.
The now appointed caretaker was in Teny’s camp during these elections.
Machar also expressed “deep” concern that dismissal of the elected
governor “might heighten tension and aggravate prevailing state of
insecurity in the country that may lead to political instability”.
The country’s vice-president implored Kiir to reverse his decision,
warning that in the absence of any objective reasons the move will be
seen as politically motivated.
It is, however, unlikely that president Kiir will heed to the advice
carried in the letter from his deputy as he has already proceeded with
the swearing in of the new governor.
Machar’s letter is the latest sign of growing rift between Kiir and
senior officials in his government and ruling Sudan People Liberation
Movement.
The VP has stepped up his criticism of president Kiir accusing him of
incompetence and failure to lead the state which became independent,
exactly two years ago.
Meanwhile, Unity state’s ex-governor insisted that his removal by the
president was “unconstitutional”.
"Recently when I went to America, the President was suspicious that I
had meetings with American government that I’m pushing for Riek Machar
election”, Gai told a congregation in Unity state last week.
He, however, said Machar is free to contest for the leadership of
South Sudan, if he wanted.
(ST)
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Kind regards,
The Sudan Tribune editorial team.
16 July 11:00, by Michael Angelo
I knew it was a lie because those MPs are tired of following Riak
always. Riak is a cancer that need to be treated as soon as possible
otherwise South Sudan will not be a stable State. Failing president
Kiir indirectly and put all the problems that are facing the country
on him alone is very pathetic. Every body know the game Pagan and Riak
are playing in this country.
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