Nov 04, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — Briefing the National Dialogue Conference in the capital, Juba, the Co-Chair of the National Dialogue Angela Beda alleged that the grassroots population is saying that it is tired of Dr. Riek Machar and Dr. Lam Akol, and that they should “go away”.
“Talking to Riek Machar and Lam Akol in Unity state, the people at the grassroot [say], we are tired of you, go away” Angela Beda told the gathering of the National Dialogue on Novemeber 3, 2020 during his opening speech.
The outspokesman co-chair added that the grassroot population in Unity State reminds the opposition leaders that they should have been dismissed or harassed by now but the president has kept his promises.
“You would have been dismissed or arrested” Beda stressed.
The co-chair, who has visited Dr. Machar a few times in attempt to persuade him to join the National Dialogue but turned down, said people are not being harassed or arrested for speaking negatively about the National Dialogue, something he gives president Kiir credit for.
“Upto this point no body has been arrested or harrassed for speaking at the National Dialogue event. People talk the worse things. No body has been arrested and I must report this to you as a co-chair” Beda continued.
“I hope this remains the case until the end of the process which is today. Today is the end of the process” He further claimed.
This came just a few days after Dr. Riek Machar and Dr. Lam Akol refused to attend the dialogue citing poor timing and lack of political will to implement the peace agreement.
Thank Mr. President
On the other hand, Mr. Angela Beda thanks president Kiir for providing funding for the National Dialogue and for respecting their independence.
“You have provided the resources needed to sustain this process and we thank you and your ministers of finance for your cooperation” Agela Beda said.
“To our president and all the government of South Sudan must thank and honor you Mr. President through the person of Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi” He continued.
“We want to thank you because you have kept your words. When you launched this process in December 2016 you said and I quote “I’m throwing the full weight of the government behind you, the National Dialogue but the government will not lead or control this process” He explains.
Beda believes that this was the statement that recognized the independence of his committee and since then they continued to work freely.
“This is a good statement to make us independent. We have been independent to the extend that we were surprise that the president could keep his words to that extend” Beda said.
“You have kept your words Mr. President and that is a demonstration of leadership.” He added.
“This process has been critical of your government. Your security forces, your ruling party and your person as a leader of this country, you are critical of the government, the people of the grassroot” He continued.
“But you have kept your composer, your promise and you have kept faith in this process.” Beda said.
He further explained that “the people at the grassroots” are calling for president Kiir’s resignation adding that “for Riek Machar and Lam Akol to step aside because they are suffering from war”
Beda went on to praise President Kiir for outstanding support he accords them.
“You still kept faith in the process and the process will go down in history as one of the wise decisions and it is a legacy that no one can take away from you” Beda added.
The National Dialogue was established with hopes that it would generate resources and revenue to sustain itself; however, they didn’t succeed and therefore it is being funded by the president
The co-chair acknowledged that they received a little in-kind support from Japan but the rest of its funding comes from the president’s office.
Angela stressed that Japan has been told not to fund the National Dialogue and as such they had to send their charitable donation though the UNDP.
The National Dialogue also acknowledged Egypt for funding its operation by giving them equipments they need to operate.
The National Dialogue committee has tried to travel to East African countries which shelter South Sudanese refugees to involve them in the national dialogue but some see them as president Kiir’s allies.
