PDM RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT SALVA KIRR’s CALL FOR NATIONAL DIALOGUE
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THE PROPLE’S DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT
Republic of South Sudan
PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
By Dr. Hakim Dario
President Salva Kiir wiping his face with no handkerchief during a
hard talk on Al Jazeera in Juba, South Sudan(Photo: extracted from
youtube)
President Salva Kiir wiping his face with no handkerchief during a
hard talk on Al Jazeera in Juba, South Sudan(Photo: extracted from
youtube)
20th December 2016(Nyamilepedia) —— As the world comes together to
avert a genocide in the making in South Sudan, that has come about by
the direct actions and poor decisions of President Salva Kirr Mayardit
and his kleptocratic regime, it is outrageous and disrespectful to the
people of South Sudan that the President calls for a National dialogue
while the country is slipping into a genocide and innocent lives
continue to be murdered.
PDM supports dialogue as part of a well thought through comprehensive
peace building approach for a much needed healing and reconciliation
process in the country, however, PDM takes the position that the
problems the country is now facing cannot be resolved by President
Kiir’s regime same level of thinking that created the problems, in
consideration of:
The current situation that is characterised by continued armed
conflict, rape, harassment, torture, displacement, unlawful detainment
and massacres of innocent unarmed citizens across the country, which
does not encourage the spirit or provide a free environment necessary
for an honest and genuine National Dialogue while the President issues
shoot to kill statements without due legal process, that his army will
not differentiate between civilians and rebels.
A genuine National Dialogue where all stakeholders to the conflict
participate as equal partners, requires a credible convener who is
respected by the majority of stakeholders and has no political
aspirations. As the President meets neither of these qualities, and is
rather better known for his role in the establishment and command of
the illegal Anyoor Mathiang militia that are engaged in massacres of
innocent unarmed civilians across the country, his divisive policy of
pitting one ethnic group against another, his hate speeches inciting
ethnic violence and publicly declaring war on Equatorians; his
attempts to convene a National Dialogue are at best a farce and
misguided.
A National Dialogue can only maintain legitimacy if it is
undertaken in a free and fair space with the participation of the
broader population. However given the common knowledge that over 1.87
million[1] South Sudanese (including 212,000 people in UNMIS
Protection of Civilian sites sheltering from the regime’s brutality)
are internally displaced, and another 1.3 million people[2] have fled
to neighbouring countries, it is inconceivable that the President
continues his National Dialogue monologue. Furthermore, the
President’s consistent clamp down on free speech and persistent policy
of censoring media houses, including murdering journalists, defeats
the important role of the media vital to the success of such a
Dialogue.
An honest and genuine National Dialogue that seeks to address the
underlying causes of conflict in the country and requires a broad
consensus on the issues to be resolved, an important factor the
President chooses to evade. The President’s intent is obvious in
disguising the fact that the main underlying cause of the conflict is
this kleptocratic regime’s history of nepotism, corruption, violation
of human rights and rule of law, unconstitutional executive orders,
unconstitutional firing and hiring of elected positions, misuse of
public resources for individual gains, lack of development,
restriction of free speech and political space, illegitimate
authority, and illegal recruitment and use of militia groups to
terrorise any voices of dissent, leading to the failed state
characterised by wide spread conflict across the country, a failed
economy, a genocide in the making and a people in flight.
PDM reminds the President and his kleptocratic regime that their
continued hold on to power is illegitimate now that ARCISS has
collapsed. In the absence of any other mandate by the people or any
ongoing legitimate peace process, the Transitional Government of
National Unity is null and void. The people of South Sudan see through
his deflective attempts of a National Dialogue to disguise:
His prominent role in the ‘genocide in the making’, and the
ongoing international efforts to evoke an arms embargo and personal
sanctions on prominent individuals in his government, including
himself.
The economic collapse under his leadership that limits his ability
to continue pursuing a military solution, and is depleting the
remaining internal human resource capacity.
The increasing lack of confidence amongst his Senior Servants who
continue to resign from his government, including the recent
resignation after his call for National Dialogue.
His illegitimate hold on to power, in the absence of ARCISS or any
other mandate from the people.
PDM, therefore, calls on the International Community not to be
diverted by this latest scheme of President Salva Kirr, from their
critical efforts to avert a genocide in South Sudan, mindful that they
‘can and must act’ with urgency. In this regard we welcome the
solidarity of the ‘Holocaust and genocide memorials’ with the people
of South Sudan, in particular, the reminder of Ellie Wiesel’s words
that “We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the
victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”[3]
PDM urges UN Security Council, the African Union and the TROIKA
members to double their efforts towards (i) an arms embargo and
sanctions on spoilers of Peace/ARCISS including President Salva Kiir,
for his role in derailing ARCISS, and the ‘genocide in the making’;
(ii) a speedy establishment of the hybrid court, as justice comes
before Dialogue; (iii) expedite deployment of the approved 4,000 UN
protection force, where necessary, seeking alternatives to regional
contributions from members that have shown partial tendencies in the
peace process lately and continue to delay the process of deployment.
PDM appeals to the people of South Sudan, to reject the divisive
policies of President Salva Kirr, and instead join us in calling for
his immediate resignation. Understanding that without a neutral and
peaceful environment where the guns are silent, the internally
displaced and refugees have returned home, the hybrid court is running
its course and all stake holders, including the wider population, are
fully engaged, there can be no honest and genuine National Dialogue.
PDM stands with the suffering and tormented people of South Sudan who
continue to endure unimaginable violations, and applauds the
resilience and hope they continue to demonstrate in the face of
adversity. We appeal to the international community to continue
supporting the increasing humanitarian needs both inside the country
and among refugees in neighbouring countries, and support us in
finding a sustainable solution as soon as possible.
We call on the people of South Sudan to stand in solidarity with each
other during this difficult time, and together continue to seek a
conducive environment for reconciliation, healing and reconstruction
of our social fabric. United we stand.
Dr. Hakim Dario
Signed: ____________________
PDM Chair
CC: UNSC, AU, TROIKA, IGAD, SS Community Leaders, Media Houses
For all comments, queries and opinions please communicate to: [email protected]
“The degree of liberty or tyranny in any government is in large degree
a reflection of the relative determination
of the subjects to be free and their willingness and ability to resist
efforts to enslave them.”
― Gene Sharp, From Dictatorship to Democracy
ABOUT PDM: The People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) is a popular
grassroots Movement formed by concerned South Sudanese in the country
and the Diaspora; in response to the political crisis and fast
deteriorating economic, humanitarian and security situation in the
Republic of South Sudan. It seeks to offer the way forward amid
heightened ethnic polarisation and devastating conflict in the
country, encouraged and abated primarily by President Salva Kiir’s
divisive Government policy, incompetent, oppressive and corrupt
leadership.
[1]http://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/south-sudan-humanitarian-bulletin-issue-19-6-december-2016
[2]http://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/under-secretary-general-humanitarian-affairs-and-emergency-relief-coordinator-9
[3]http://allafrica.com/stories/201612150437.html
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