Kitab Unango
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The First Vice President and leader of the opposition, Riek Machar, and Pagan Amom will be subjected to party disciplinary should they wish to rejoin Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the party has stated.
The duo was expelled from the leadership hierarchy of the party on October 20, by the top decision-making organ – the Political Bureau.
But the ruling party said Wednesday, October 26, that the two embattled leaders still have a chance to be re-admitted, but only if they agree to face the disciplinary committee.
“First, we have a constitution which is associated with rules and regulations on membership and we have disciplinary procedures,” SPLM Secretary of International Affairs Bol Makueng said.
After falling out with the party in 2013, Machar formed a splinter winger – SPLM-IO, a move that the mother party terms as going against the party’s rules.
“There are certain red lines. Once you leave SPLM and go for another party, you automatically lose your membership.”
According to Makueng, Machar and Pagam dismissal was prompted by ‘deserting’ and straddling positions in the party, which the SPLM deemed as ‘violence’ of its constitution.
“if you create deadly violence that results in the death of many people, men, orphans, and widows, it is a serious issue, it is a crime. You also go and de-campaign sovereignty of the country, collaborate, and conspire with foreigners, which is a big problem.”
“[So], if these people (Machar and Pagan) think of coming back [to SPLM], they will be subjected to the disciplinary procedures and how they will be reviewed [that will determine] their readmission],” Makueng told the press in Juba on Wednesday.
Machar’s officer termed his dismissal as the deputy chair of SPLM a ‘violation’ of the 2015 SPLM reunification Arush Agreement. Amun was the party’s, Secretary General.
“We want to categorically state that none of these factions {SPLM-IG, SPLM-IO, and Real SPLM) can claim to be the SPLM, as such no faction can dismiss any member of the other factions from SPLM,” Machier’s office stated Monday.
But, according to Kuol Atem Bol SPLM Secretary for Political Affairs, Organization, and Mobilization, Machar and Pagan violated the Arusha Agreement, refusing to unify SPLM, and rendering the party seven years without filling their vacant positions.
“Automatically the Arusha Agreement has already been implemented by announcing the desolation of the SPLM-IO by comrade Taban Deng Gai on May 3, 2018, and joining the SPLM. Finished!
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