By Dhieu Dok Minyang Calgary AB, Canada
Just a day before a deadly attack on SPLA barrack in Doleib Hills, SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum called upon all independent candidates to return to SPLM so that Southerners can push ahead and prepare for a referendum. In the same week, George Athor was reached by sudantribune to give his views on the contested elections. He promised to get back to reporters with a formal statement detailing his stance on the concluded elections. Surprisingly, the general attacked one of the SPLA barracks.
Personally, attacking a base was a formal statement that he was talking about. When contacted by Reuters, General Athor distanced himself and claimed that he did not order any attack on SPLA forces. In the same interview, he acknowledged that a fight in his name has occurred. The following days, Gen. Athor came up with demands that the elected Governor of Jonglei State, Lt. General Kuol Manyang must be sacked to pave way for reconciliation. He also demanded integration of his forces back to SPLA without questions. These are tough conditions of which the commander-in-chief might have limited choices.
Everybody knew that former SPLM members who contested as independents have a right to return to SPLM without questions. They didn’t choose to leave SPLM but were force to resign from the party because SPLM can not have two candidates running at the same time. It could be a big confusion to voters. Even Gen. Athor promised to return to SPLM once elected. Unfortunately, the general did not tell us that he will rebelled against SPLM if not elected!
When George Athor launched his campaign in Bor Town Freedom Square, the main priority in his manifesto was to ensure Jonglei citizens will live in peace. Athor even cited some statistics that put the death toll of 2009 to 3,000 people although a local organization says about 1,800 people were killed in 2009. What we have seen in the last few days is the opposite of his manifesto. He is now fuelling insecurity that he knew was a bigger problem in Jonglei State.
Here are some quotes from General Athor himself:
"I left the SPLA (Sudan People’s Liberation Army) to help in building a democratic SPLM," he says. "Nobody have a power to dismiss anyone in the SPLM because we joined the SPLM/A, in 1983, to-date voluntarily." "I am a SPLM member and I will return [after elections to] reform it," he added.
So, the general is returning to reform SPLM through bullets? Sorry!
General Athor even talked about youth empowerment as one of the platforms that Jonglei citizens should vote for him. However, a statement from Pigi County traditional leaders claimed that Athor recruited youth by force to join his newly gathered army through victimization and intimidation. Is that a youth empowerment?
Monyluak Mijok recommendation that Athor deserves a political accommodation is unjustifiable and out of equation. First, Athor has ordered an attack on one of the SPLA barracks killing and injuring dozens of people. It is a crime that he must answer in a military court. Secondly, rewarding Athor for rebelling and killing his fellow comrades in arms is an incentive for others to do the same.
It is better to accommodate Gen. Dau and other independent candidates who are contesting elections in court because they have hearts to serve the public.
Thirdly, it will be an act of tribalism to be soft on Gen. Athor considering the case of General Mamur who was placed under arrest and remained unassigned for years just to be reappointed to SPLA without charges.
I suggest SPLM to do the following:
1. Reimburse Gen. Athor the amount of money that was spent on campaigns. Campaigns were funded through individual savings. Now that he has not been elected the governor, there is no any means he will recoup that lump sum spent on the campaigns. He is only calculating his time value in money and that has driven him crazy to an extent of declaring war against SPLM.
Other independent candidates must be reimbursed as well because SPLM was using national resources to campaign. Most of SPLM candidates did not spend from their pockets. Independent candidates by virtue of being SPLM members are entitled to reimbursement. That will reduce chances of defecting from the party. This is equated to Monyluak’s recommendation that Dr. Garang used to keep some folks busy with assignments so that they don’t cause problems. I think that will lessen the double loss experienced by many independent candidates. Independents that lost must also be assigned in GoSS or at States’ Governments.
2. I recommend that he is arrested and taken to a military court to answer charges against him.
3. If he is cleared of any wrong doings, the president will either reinstate him into the army or assign him elsewhere.
The writer is SPLM Extremist. He can be reached at dhieudokminyang@gmail.com.