Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Secretary-General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Peter Lam Both, had a tough two days explaining himself over remarks he made back in January about the political manoeuvres of First Vice President Riek Machar that were perceived to be whipping ethnic animosity.
It all began with a short video clip posted on YouTube by The Mail on Sunday showing Both addressing his supporters and being quoted as saying: “Riek Machar declared war against [censored]” and any [censored] who declares war against [censored], all [censored] will follow him.”
What followed was a barrage of criticism for Mr Lam Both, as calls mounted for him to recant his utterances, forcing the party’s secretariat to come to his defence.
Addressing journalists at the SPLM Secretariat in Juba yesterday, Bol Makueng, SPLM Secretary for External Relations, alleged the short video clip was a small part of the bigger speech of the SPLM official.
Makueng alleged that Mr Both was a target of malicious enemies out to agitate for hatred and violence among the people.
“This has been taken out of context… don’t again be agitated by these hypocrites because this kind of hypocrisy is the one that is being utilized these days for political gains,” he said. “They will clash our communities to fight and kill each other just because you want to be put as a general, a vice president, or a minister.”
He claimed that the context of Both’s speech was based on stopping party rebellion, which he expounded with examples with no ill intention.
Kuol Atem, SPLM Secretary for Political Affairs and Mobilization, alleged the short clip is being used as propaganda, arguing that it is a misinterpretation of the detailed statement delivered by the secretary-general. According to Atem, he witnessed the occasion and can attest that the party official had no malicious intent when he made the statement.
“It was here (SPLM Secretariat) in front of everybody… why are you escalating it today, and it has taken two good months. Why this day if it is not propaganda? ” he posed, adding that other parties had smelt defeat in the coming elections and were using diversionary tactics to fight SPLM.
‘Must take responsibility
The SPLM leaders spoke after the Deputy Chairman of SPLM/SPLA (IO), Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, condemned the utterances Tuesday morning on his official Facebook page, noting, “The persistent and rampant inter-communal violence in the country has been a political tool and policy objective of elements such as Peter Lam Both and the group to target, kill, maim, deprive, and displace a community under target since 2012.” Makueng characterized this statement as an act of “articulating violence.”
Oyet called on the parties to the agreement, and other stakeholders, including the guarantors, to take note of “such violations of the peace agreement,” particularly the permanent ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, and hold Peter Lam Both accountable.
“I am deeply concerned and disappointed by the growing level of hate speeches and tribal incitement by some senior members of the SPLM party, the latest being genocidal utterances by the Secretary General of the SPLM, Peter Lam Both,” said Oyet.
“It is our belief that such utterances are never accidental slips of the tongue but calculated statements and official policies of a group Peter Lam Both represents. Such statements, both in the near past and now, were used by political and military elements affiliated with the SPLM to divide and incite violence against certain groups and communities in South Sudan” Oyet noted in his statement.
Article 9 subsection (2) of the constitution of SPLM 2008 stipulates that each member of the party shall “commit to combating racism, tribalism, political sectarianism, sexism, religious intolerance, and all other forms of discrimination in Sudan.” However, the party took a stand that he had no case to answer.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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