NLA Disagree Over Opposition Party Accusations An over two hours heated debate on an urgent motion to investigate insecurity activities of the country’s leading opposition party, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) sparked off mixed reactions in the National Legislative Assembly of South Sudan (NLA) yesterday. 05 October 2011 NLA Disagree Over Opposition Party Accusations Hon. Agnes Nyoka (wearing a blue dress) presenting the motion before the National Legislative Assembly members [©Gurtong]
By Waakhe Simon Wudu JUBA, 5th October 2011 [Gurtong] – An over two hours heated debate on an urgent motion to investigate insecurity activities of the country’s leading opposition party, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) sparked off mixed reactions in the National Legislative Assembly of South Sudan (NLA) yesterday. The motion entitled, “Urgent motion on the formation of the Committee to study the SPLM-DC activities in Upper Nile State” was read by Hon. Agnes Nyoka before the Speaker ruled off the debate pending further consultations. “We have to terminate this motion pending facts from the two government institutions; Ministries of National Security and Interior,” the Speaker Hon. Wani Igga ruled. Hon. Agnes Nyoka’s motion demanded the House to establish a committee to investigate accusations on SPLM-DC members by a section of the mainstream media. However, some of the Honourable Members critically opposed her points of justification on the matter, saying that her allegations were not factual but from newspapers and some private reports which are not completely reliable. “You might have been aware of the various allegations labelled against the SPLM-DC, that they have been running and harbouring paramilitary groups which aimed at ousting the government of this young nation,” Nyoka said. She also alleged that, the opposition party headed by Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin is in coordination with the other existing rebel groups in the country particularly George Athor’s rebels. She pointed out that, “we in this August House need to understand what the SPLM-DC is all about. Is it a political party that deserves to have political activities in this country or a rebel movement that should be banned?” However, before she read her motion, a parliamentarian had threatened already to oppose the presentation before the Hon. Speaker ordered him to sit down and wait for debate time. After two hours of a heated debate, the former leader of the SPLM Caucus and an outspoken political veteran Hon. Bashir Bandi redirected the debate that later prompted the Speaker to take a motion for termination. Bandi urged that parliament’s decision to set up of a committee to investigate SPLM-DC on insecurity allegations should not be viewed as a plan against the party members but rather a move to restore total peace in the country. “I would like members affiliated to Lam Akol’s party who are present in this August House to take a clear message to him that, we are not against him but what we will not allow is his running in and out,” Bandi said. The parliament’s political row yesterday comes shortly after Dr. Lam’s return to the country last Sunday ever since independence. SPLM-DC is the leading opposition party in the assembly with its member, Mr. Onyoti Adigo elected as the Opposition Chief Whip. Speaking exclusively to Gurtong in his office, Onyoti termed the assembly’s move as a “planed” move. He explained that, according to the parliamentary business code of conduct, article 71, ‘any motion shall come to presentation by any member in not less than seven days.’ However, the motion was signed by the first Deputy Speaker of the House and confirmed by the House’ Clerk on 3rd October 2011 and tabled immediately the following day. Onyoti said that this is contrary to the article. He warned that such planed motions are likely to threaten any move by the President of the Republic to restore peace in the country. Posted in: Home Comments RSS comment feed There are currently no comments, be the first to post one. Add Comment Log in to post a comment. If you are not a Gurtong member yet, register here. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
