June 30, 2016(Nyamilepedia) —– South Sudan’s cheerleader, Mr. Salva Kiir Mayardit, a hero of retelling his own legacy has spilt it again.
Speaking to his SPLM faction in Juba yesterday, President Salva Kiir reaffirms his fear of unknown that more than a third of his SPLM members of parliaments could defect to Dr. Riek’s SPLM faction if the parliament elects the speaker as agreed in the Peace Agreement.
“Our members of the parliament who are here should go and talk among themselves. Because we are told now that why don’t you put [the selection of the speaker] to elections? And you have the majority. I said no, I don’t want it, and even I don’t trust your majority. Yes, you have two-thirds in the parliament but if one-third goes and defects, what will happen? Well, they will just give it to the other side. This is what we don’t want. I want you really to be clear about this. And most of the adopted children are in the parliament,” President Kiir, in a speech to his supporters in Juba
Time and again, President Salva Kiir has openly shown a phobia for “democratic election” both in the party and also nationwide, a major obstacle that dived the young nation into a bloody civil war.
Prior to the outbreak of the civil war in December 2013, President Kiir delayed SPLM convention to elect the party chairman as Kiir argued that the convention would vote “by the show of hands” or he would otherwise be allowed to appoint 5% of the delegates outside SPLM constitution.
For the last two years, President Salva Kiir has been warning his SPLM faction that his main rival, Machar, who now commands less than a third of the parliament, would come with a lot of US dollars to bribe some of his “internal front”.
It is this fear that now delays the formation of the Transitional Parliament and the overall performance of the Transitional Government of National Unity.
According to Dr. Lam Akol, who leads a minority opposition in the country, Salva Kiir’s SPLM faction wants to select the speaker in another violation of the Peace agreement.
“The problem is with the SPLM faction in the government, because it wants to interpret the provisions of the agreement in its own way contrary to the agreement,” said Dr. Lam Akol.
“So they say, no, what is mentioned in the agreement does not mean election, but rather selection, so it isan argument which is meaningless,” Akol added.
According to President Kiir’s spokesman, Ateny Wek Ateny, the position of speaker should be rewarded to SPLM-IG for accepting a peace agreement that installed the armed Opposition leader as the country’s First Vice President.
“Its interpretation is very clear, the speaker of the parliament was given to Equatorians because Wani Igga decided to step down from his position as first vice president, so the speaker was given to them because they loss this position in the government,” said Ateny.
Although Ateny believes that the position of the speaker should be given to Equatorians, the Military harden President sees risk in an Equatorian on his side running against an Equatorian on Dr. Machar side in a free and fair parliamentary election.
The Compromised Peace Agreement favored Mr. Kiir’s side to maintain 350 MPs and Dr. Machar to appoint 50 MPs to expand the parliament to 400 members, however, to president Kiir 350 is just a number, and a ratio of 7:1 is not enough to win him the 4th powerful position in the country.
4 comments
Dos anyone still listen to Ateny?
The duly signed peace agreement is crystal clear. Stick to it.
11.4. The selection of the Speaker of the TNLA, who hails from Equatoria, shall be conducted once
the expansion of the membership of the Assembly is complete;
Nothing to question or debate.
Has Salva Kiir forgotten that he serves at the pleasure of the people as represented by the Parliament.
The members of the Parliament represents the electorate. The Parliament has the ultimate power, even to remove a president. What the president wants and what the president gets depends on the proposals he puts forth to the Parliament.
It is amusing that Salva Kiir now fears that the leader of the opposition will deploy the very same tactic which he himself has used for years, namely to “purchase” people. Salva Kiir has done this with militia groups, army generals, rebels. It has become a modus operandi, and caused a lot of the problems which the Peace Agreement now is set to resolve.
Us this precious window of opportunity to cement peace, fear not that there are people with other opinions and priorities. An open debate would be welcomed across the political spectrum. A debate with one focus, and one only – the prosperity and safety for all South Sudanese.
There is no majority at this time. People are tired for the failure of the SPLM. you must be fearing for the spring looming in the few days to come
kiir mi wi we I bi wä in3 ci lay kä mi wi we I bi wä in3 kä ci lay Tedi täm3 k3cj3 ki3 lim3?
There is absolutely nothing of national importance will ever be implemented in killer nyankiir’s and the lunatic–fanatic jenges council of evils’ watch in south Sudan. All their agenda are geared towards the traitorous jenges’ interests and benefits period