Tuesday, December 08, 2009

SPLM-DC chair Lam Akol has accused the Government of Southern Sudan of issuing instructions to restrict the party’s activities in the south

Reportedly, the chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC), Dr Lam Akol, says SPLM-DC is not allowed to operate in southern Sudan.  It seems Dr Akol thinks the constitutional court will summon the president of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) to appear before the court.  Dr Akol is quoted as saying "we went to court because the Government of Southern Sudan issued directives to all the ten governors of southern Sudan telling them that the SPLM-DC is not allowed to operate in the South".

On November 9, 2009 the SPLM-DC claimed that they possessed a letter written by the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Dr Luka Monoja, which contained instructions from Salva Kiir, vice-president of Sudan and president of the south, demanding that all the state governors allow political parties to exercise their constitutional rights - except the SPLM-DC.

The SPLM secretary-general, Pagan Amum, speaking to Sudan Radio Service on Thursday, denied any involvement of the SPLM leadership in the affair, said "if he [Akol] is accusing the SPLM, then the SPLM is ready to defend itself. We are ready to go to court to prove that he has no case against us. And definitely, it will also be an opportunity for the SPLM to expose him and the designs of the National Congress Party to destabilize southern Sudan.”

Source:  Before reading the following news report from Sudan Radio Service, it is worth noting that SPLM-DC chairman Lam Akol recently said that he is ready to run for the GOSS presidency if he is nominated. For further details, click on Lam Akol label at the end of this report.

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 7 December 2009:
[Khartoum] – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change has applied to the constitutional court to present a case against the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.

The SPLM-DC has accused the Government of Southern Sudan of issuing instructions to restrict the party’s activities in the south.

The SPLM-DC’s chairman, Doctor Lam Akol, speaking on Thursday, said the court will summon the president of the Government of Southern Sudan to appear before the court.

[Dr. Lam Akol]: “We haven’t won the case yet. But we presented a case to the constitutional court and they are saying that it is a strong case and therefore they will look into it. We went to court because the Government of Southern Sudan issued directives to all the ten governors of southern Sudan telling them that the SPLM-DC is not allowed to operate in the South. And of course, that is a violation of the constitution, especially articles 29, 30, 39, 41 and it’s against basic human rights. Furthermore, any violation of the constitution is a violation of the CPA.”

The SPLM secretary-general, Pagan Amum, also speaking on Thursday, denied any involvement of the SPLM leadership in the affair.

[Pagan Amum]: “If it is from the Government of Southern Sudan, why would it be against the SPLM? And if it is an order from a government minister to government governors, then I don’t see the SPLM involved in it, even if the SPLM is the ruling party. But if he is accusing the SPLM, then the SPLM is ready to defend itself. We are ready to go to court to prove that he has no case against us. And definitely, it will also be an opportunity for the SPLM to expose him and the designs of the National Congress Party to destabilize southern Sudan.”

On November 9, the SPLM-DC claimed that they possessed a letter written by the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Dr. Luka Monoja, which contained instructions from Salva Kiir demanding that all the state governors allow political parties to exercise their constitutional rights - except the SPLM-DC.
Lam Akol

Photo from Sudan Watch archives:  Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol, seen here in October 2005, gave the cold shoulder to a UN proposal to take over from African Union peacekeepers in Darfur and urged the world to prop up the African body with more funds. (AFP/File/Salah Omar/Sudan Watch archive Friday, March 24, 2006 - Interview: Sudan FM Lam Akol says Sudanese government calls for strengthening of AU mission in Darfur)

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