Democracy In South Sudan: Where Did The SPLM Go Wrong? "Interestingly, why do democratic countries such as the USA (Linda Thomas Greenfield & Princeton Lyman) think that Salva kiir is against democratic transformation in the SPLM?" 01 February 2014
By Bol Makueng The Interim Constitution of South Sudan has a Preamble:" ... Committed to establishing a multiparty democratic decentralised system of governance...etc". This preamble and other articles of the Interim Constitution of South Sudan entail that there are many political parties in South Sudan. There is a freedom for anyone to establish his/her political party and can nominate members to contest elections to any position including that of the presidency. If there were to be restrictions of any kind, it would be justifiable for the political aspirants to take up arms to fight for their rights. But that restriction is not there. Is the SPLM against any democratic transformation here? Within the SPLM, one can reach the top position through a democratic process as laid down by its constitution. The process entails registration by an individual (not tribe) as a member. During the congresses, one can contest elections at all levels starting from Boma, Payam, county, state to national. At the national convention, the presidential aspirant can contest to become the SPLM Chairman. On becoming the SPLM Chairman, the person in turn becomes the SPLM Presidential candidate to contest during general elections. The current President of the Republic of South Sudan, H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit, underwent this process. In the 2008 SPLM National Convention, it was dr. Riak Machar who nominated Salva Kiir to contest as SPLM Chairman. The other candidate who also wanted to contest for the same position withdrew and Kiir remained alone. In the 2010 general elections, Salva Kiir won a landslide victory with over 90% of the country votes. His adversary was Dr. Lam Akol from the SPLM DC. There were no restrictions for any more interested aspirants from any political party in contesting for the presidency. Which democracy is better than this one from South Sudan? Why can't Riak Machar and his group either follow the SPLM Party democratic practice or establish his own political party like other political parties in South Sudan? Why does he choose a non-democratic, violent and bloody means of access to power? Is this the kind of change the people of South Sudan want? Interestingly, why do democratic countries such as the USA (Linda Thomas Greenfield & Princeton Lyman) think that Salva kiir is against democratic transformation in the SPLM? What kind of democratic transformation are they talking about? Who informs them that there is no democracy in South Sudan? One thing that the masquerading as humanitarian workers, the UN and the so called independent scholars need to know is that South Sudan has been very democratic from the time it was a Movement fighting for freedom, justice and equality. In the first time elections in South Sudan, women did not only have the right to vote, but were also candidates with a percentage for them as an affirmative action policy. Many parties participated in the elections. We are just three years old as an independent country. If one takes the USA as an example with regard to political and historical development, it got independence in 1776, but still kept its own citizens as slaves until after the civil war (1861 - 1865). This was after 89 years of independence. Moreover, women were allowed to vote in 1920s (after 144 years of independence). There are many examples to mention about the USA and other European nations regarding the development of democracy in those countries. Again, linking the failed coup attempt by Riak Machar and his supporters (South Sudanese & foreigners) with SPLM National Liberation Council (NLC) meeting (14th - 15th December) is another shallow alibi. The NLC met to discuss documents that have been prepared since 2012. What the people of South Sudan and those who believe in reasoning should know is this. After South Sudan became independent in 2011, the SPLM had to work on its Manifesto and Constitution to adjust to the new dispensation. This was because the SPLM was for the whole Sudan. These two documents needed to change to meet the requirements of the new nation in line with political paradigm shift. The process was led by the SPLM Secretary General. Due to many reasons the work on the documents was slow and therefore took time until 2013. In addition, two other documents were developed (the Code of Conduct and the Rules and Regulations). When these four documents were complete, they were taken to the SPLM grassroots to make their contribution. So, all the SPLM State Secretariats, Youth and women leagues, and the State Liberation Councils made their input into the documents. The documents were later on discussed by the SPLM Political Bureau and were passed. For the purpose of registering as a political party under the new laws of South Sudan and to prepare for the 2015 general elections, the NLC was called by the SPLM Chairman to meet and to finally approve/pass the two documents: the Constitution and Manifesto. This was the meeting that took place at Nyakuron Cultural Centre from 14th - 15th December 2013. The procedure adopted to discuss the documents was that each article was read out, discussed and voted with majority views prevailing. Dr. Riak Machar and others were there. The procedure adopted was most democratic (discussion & voting to accept the majority views) and the meeting finally ended well in the afternoon of 15th December 2013. Where did the SPLM go wrong here? Riak Machar and group did not attend the NLC meeting on Sunday the 15th Decembers and it was on that night that he launched his attempted coup, unleashing bloody violence within South Sudanese, situation that quickly reminded everybody about the 1991 similar actions by the same man - Dr. Riak Machar. Reading from this document, why does the international community want to explain things on behalf of the people of South Sudan? These masquerading people should stop planting seeds of hatred among South Sudanese. They should also stop misleading their governments and the United Nations on many counts that have proved as fabrications by them. To finalise this, one would like to advise that the South Sudanese should not behave like zombies and allow their thinking to be filled with negative agitation, hatred of one another and a sense of hopelessness and dependency. What had happened on 15th December was an attempted coup against a democratically elected government. The failed coup was led by Dr. Riak and Supporters (South Sudanese, not Nuers). The conflict is therefore between those who are defending the constitution and democracy on one hand against the anarchist led by Riak Machar on the other side. South Sudan should not be treated as current Democratic Republic (Congo in 1960s) and the current situation in Libya and Iraq. The forces supporting Riak Machar (both locally and internationally) are anarchists who want South Sudan to disintegrate and ungovernable so that they plunder resources at will. People of South Sudan and gallant SPLA forces: defend the constitution and democracy of your country. Bol Makueng - [email protected] Posted in: Opinions<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/24/Opinions.aspx> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. 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