The Intra-SPLM Dialogue: Statement by Hon. Deng Aloor Kuol

OPENING STATEMENT BY COMRADE DENG ALOR KUOL FINAL PRINT

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Arusha opening statement-1

The 10th Anniversary: Happy Birthday CPA

The fruition of the CPA

By PaanLuel Wël, Juba

January 9, 2015 (SSB) — Happy Birthday CPA; Shukran President Salva Kiir Mayaardit, ex-VP Riek Machar Teny, ex-Speaker and current VP James Wani Igga and ex-SG Pagan Amum Okiech for ensuring the realization of the central tenet of the CPA: FREEDOM.

Independence day celebration in Juba, South Sudan

Through the amalgamation of your esteemed leaderships, the blood of our martyrs and the long, generational, revolutionary struggle of our people did not go in vain.

The resilient Junubi

Even in the midst of the bleakest time, of the darkest hour, we have always come out much more stronger and united. The current civil war among brothers and sisters pale in contrast to past predicaments.

We are a proud remnants of a victorious generation, yet to figure out the way forward in the post independence South Sudan.

The Late SPLM/A Leader, Dr. John Garang de Mabioor Atem Aruai.

Hopefully, the search won’t be as arduously dangerous as that of FREEDOM. CPA oyeee!!!

celebrating the fruition of the CPA

DR. MAJAK D’ AGOOT: THE ONLY ONE AMONG THOUSAND LEADERS

DR. MAJAK D’ AGOOT, THE ONLY ONE AMONG A THOUSAND: TEN FASCINATING THINGS YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT HIM

By Dut-machine De Mabior, Kenya

Dr. Majak D’agoot Atem in Nakuru, Kenya, Jan 3rd, 2015

January 9, 2015 (SSB) — This is in reply to the article recently published on paanluelwel.com in the title “Why is Dr. Majak Brainwashing South Sudanese”. The writer argued that Dr. Agoot is making a lot of rallies but has no truck records in development in pursuits to his people.

As I write this piece tonight, I take a keen interest of the diverse environment that is involved in our colloquial politics. Anyone interested goes out to read through this piece about what Dr. Majak did for the country while in power.

1. Revival of Malek Secondary.

Dr. Majak, an alumni of the above school thought of nothing first other than rebuilding the school to produce more South Sudanese to serve the nation. The school was revived at $ 8,000,000. Dr. Majak did this through his white friends led by Sir Chalton, a wealthy UK citizen who wanted to assist him in developing his finances upon finishing his PhD studies. He reverted the money into rebuilding the school for the benefit of his people.

2. Hospital in Pakeer payam.

Charity begins at home, indeed in regard to the later, Dr. Majak built a medical facility in Bekmior, Twic Easy County of Jonglei state, this is meant to improving living conditions in the villages. He did this through his personal finances in conjunction with other sources which he himself solicited for. This hospital has provided job opportunities to the locals except the professionals who are employed on the bases of their academic standards.

3. The Network of Communication in Maar.

Dr. Majak in collaboration with network providers brought the boosters in Maar and Paliau to ease the communication in the payams. He did this through personal contribution in monetary terms and other means.

4. Scholarships Opportunities to the Youth

Gen. Agoot is one Man who has educated more South Sudanese at a personal capacity more than any other leader in the country, H. E the president inclusive (statistics to come soon). D’ Agoot did this through, cost sharing with the families of the affected students, full scholarship through his personal funding, solicited for scholarship on behave of other students where necessary. He did this in the light of achieving the best for his people.

5. Corruption Free Profile.

While as the Deputy Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, Dr. Majak squeezed out 79 millions South Sudanese Pounds from the pay masters and took it back to the national treasury. He is one Man in the country who has never been axed to any mischief of corruption. He did this along side many others in the docket.

6. Contributed Heavily to Successful Referendum.

While at the helm of National Security, Dr. Majak appealed to elders of South Sudan, Abel Alier Kuai, Mzee Makur Aliyou and Gen. Joseph Lagu to avoid the SPLM elections of 2008 which should have rocked the autonomous region into what it is currently experiencing. He saw that as a visionary leader and asked the elders to intervene in the SPLM politics and tell President Kiir and Dr. Riek to maintain the status quo of the party. This explains why no party elections were done in 2008. It was meant for peace to prevail so that a successful referendum was conducted. In the same context, Dr. Majak sacrificed his life to go to the bush and talked to the rebels of the day, the likes of George Athor (RIP) and other rebels who were there. He too advocated for the relocation of the NCP convert to Juba to be given some jobs so that none of them could campaign for Unity. This explains why many of the Matamar Wothen did not campaign for Unity. He too appealed to the president to talk to the people who had different feelings in the elections of 2010. He organised a conference at Nyakuron Cultural centre in Juba to allow the president convince the losers of Elections that referendum was to be allowed go through without interference. While at the top of security, the rampant extra judicial killing in the country was not the case. In fact, I hold the record, that no high profiled critic of the government was murdered.

7. A critic from within while in cabinet.

The quest for the rule of law started while Dr. Majak was a member of the ruling body. He had to criticise the government\ where it went wrong. This was well exemplified by the death of Isaiah Abraham when he talked lots of ills against the security apparatus of the country. This shows that his current apposition to the government is based on substance not as a result of unemployment.

8. Not Power Greedy.

Dr. Majak refused his appointment to the cabinet. Here he justifies that H. E had not consulted him and he was not briefed on the goals of the government. He accepted his appointment as a matter of public opinion in which many of his close associates convinced him to take the job. Despite being a Lt. Gen. in the army and a PhD holder in financial economics, he was humble enough to serve the country at the small capacity given to him. Dr. D’ Agoot was approached by many personalities in Twic East county including a candidate (Chol Biowei ) in the 2010 elections who had offered to step down for him. “I will serve the country in this capacity rather than look for bigger posts” Dr. Majak told him in a meeting attended by some community leaders.

9. Peace Loving

Dr. Majak upon release from prison, he and his colleagues formed a neutral group G-10 plus, that must solicits for peace instead to join the front line. This is why he has been travelling all round talking to people to preach peace. He has done this in Juba, U.S.A and Kenya.

10. Democratic and listening, too forgiving

Dr. Majak is one Man who allows his audience to ask critical questions and give appropriate answers. He says this is meant to allow for the freedom of speech enshrined in the constitution. “I hold no grudge with the government of South Sudan and the president in person, we must forgive as leaders so that South Sudanese can forgive each.” Dr. Majak said this while addressing a peace rally of 4,000 plus south Sudanese in Nakuru, Kenya..This statement states his forgiving nature. Looking closely at the above track records and many more, Dr. Majak has done his best in the SPLM vision of taking town to the people. If all his political class mates did the same, we would be by far well off now. We hope to have peace restored to the Country Soon

The Author, Dut Mabior, is a Student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Kenyatta University, Nairobi Kenya

South Sudan: June 2015 Election is an ill-fated Decision

By Dhor-Abun Aher, USA

January 9, 2015 (SSB) — The recent South Sudan’s government decision to hold an election comes 30 June 2015 is an ill-fated decision. The government’s argument in the context of fulfilling stipulation in the constitution; holding election after every four years is legitimate, and not debatable. Right now, the country is in the midst of a brutal civil war that has claimed many lives, destroyed properties, disrupted way of lives, and forced many citizens out of the country. This sorry state of the affairs in the country is what leaves many people skeptical of the prospect of an election in the country.

Let me start with the obvious reason, the entire upper Nile region literally one-third of the country is a battlefield at the moment. Security for the citizens is a nightmare leave alone holding election in that region. Supposedly we put an optimistic face, there is a possibility we might have a “peaceful” election in the major cities like Malakal, Bentiu, Pibor, and Bor, but most of the citizens in the rural areas, seeking shelters in the United Nations compounds, displaced to the neighboring countries, and obviously those with the rebels will not partake in this election.

Democracy is not necessarily in holding election, it is about building credible institution of good governance. After four years, we haven’t been able to have a permanent constitution that establishes the structure of the government, separation of powers, and what kind of government is suited for the country. In addition, census exercise to prove an exact population of the country, determines the number of constituencies haven’t been done so far. Throwing in an election which is a single part of a democratic process in this unfinished business is not feasible.

Participation and legitimacy:

Election is a civil duty of the citizens of a particular country to voice their concerns in the affairs and direction of the country. This ongoing civil war inhibited the citizens to take part in this exercise as we have already seen statements from the major opposition party, the SPLM/DC objections to the election without achieving peace process in the country. The opposition parties, civil society groups, although they are not party in the government, still are stakeholders in the affairs of the country. The government needs to partner with them in steering the country out of this civil war towards peace and paves the way for national healing and reconciliation process. That’s the goal of the government at the moment while pursuing IGAD’s sponsored negotiation with the rebels.

The government can unilaterally hold election, but without an involvement of the stakeholders in the exercise, it will diminish the legitimacy of the election. Legitimacy is not in the election per se, but in the process of holding a credible election respected by the citizens and the international community. Holding an election that we will ironical forced to sell its legitimacy to neighboring countries like Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, the African Unions, United Nations, and our friendly allies in the west will complicate our relationship. The prevailing conditions in the country will not allow them to support South Sudan in this exercise; hence many will choose not to recognize the legitimacy of the election. Furthermore, the current conflict has an element of power struggle, and only holding credible election will mitigate it.

Way forward:

We can waste all these resources, but at the end of the day, proves futile efforts. Note the government has allocated $517 million for this exercise. I know the government is under pressure to legitimize the tenure of the current government because the mandate ends in July 2015. Legitimacy of the government is very important for stability of the country, and without a doubt it is imperative upon the government to do it in a cooperative approach with other stakeholders in the country.

I believe an election is not the only way the government can get legitimacy. My suggestion is the SPLM led government can address this question through South Sudan’s parliament. The lifespan of the country government needs an extension for one year to allow breathing space for the ongoing peace negotiation between the government, and the rebels to continue. Members of the Parliament are people’s representatives, and they can use that mandate to deliberate, and mandate the government until July 2016. Choosing this path will be more convincing to the international community and citizens of the South Sudan than the election process we are about to embark on.

This is the kind of compromise the government can strikes with the political stakeholders in the country to focus political capital, and resources for the taunting task of resettling refugees, rebuilding the war-ravaged states, and many other reforms after the peaceful settlement of the current civil war in the country.

Dhor-abun Aher is a south Sudanese citizen currently living in the United States of America, and you can contact him at dhorabun@yahoo.com