SPLM-DC Unity State Chairman Dismisses Defection Allegations

As an SPLM-DC Unity State Chairman, I want to issue this statement to dismiss misleading allegations that Unity State members of the SPLM-DC have all defected and rejoined the Old SPLM.

Those who defected are only three individuals, namely Hassan Chuol Met, Malek Cook, and Jiech Chol. So the rest of the state committed members of the party for a true democratic change are with me. Since the media and those who yearn for the destabilisation of the SPLM-DC have made the news a big deal, let me assure you that this is only a defection of only three (3) persons, whose personal interests contrary to public interests have not been fulfilled. This is due to the fact that the party doesn´t entertain tribalism, nepotism, and corruption.

They claimed that SPLM-DC objectives and vision (1) lack clarity and direction, and that is the chairman who knows them; (2) 2.5 millions souls lost in war should not be sold out when future (freedom) they died for is near; (3) party has hidden agenda contrary to "my vision" (Malek asserted); and (4) finally the alliance forged by SPLM-DC and NCP student leagues during Juba University Students´ Union (JUSU) general elections made SPLM-DC objectives and principles and their implementations parallel. These are the accusations they made and accused SPLM-DC and party chairman for.

1) Like them, we individually came to SPLM-DC because its objectives and vision appeal to us, before we joined it. And we joined because of problems caused by SPLM leadership. If my brothers are going back to where they were, did SPLM resolve the problems which compelled us to defect from it? If SPLM-DC objectives and vision are not clear, as intellectuals, why didn´t they ask for clarity before joining or during the National Delegates Congress convened on August 29-September 4, 2009 when every single article in the Basic Rules of the party was debated, amended and later adopted?

2) Indeed, we lost 2.5 million people in our struggle. This is the price of freedom and therefore those fallen heroes and heroines did not die in vain. But brothers who defected and supporters, what have our leaders done for their relatives who remained behind-for example, poor orphans, widows, disabled, elderly, etc? The betrayal and neglect of these good people was the reason we formed SPLM-DC. Late Dr. John Garang had plans for them, but unfortunately his plans sadly died with him. But we in the SPLM-DC will relive the vision of Dr. John Garang.

3) Hidden agenda. No hidden agenda that our chairman has. Our chairman is accessible 24/7 and he is very humble and considerate to everyone´s idea, opinion, and suggestion. These are the qualities which make him a man of people. Mr. Hassan knows this better than anyone because he never spent a day without going to chairman´s office and house.

4) Forming political alliance or coalition in politics is natural. It´s like that, that was why SPLM-Student league forged alliances with Ummah Party of Sadiq el Mahdi and People´s Congress Party of Hassan Turabi.

In conclusion, as a party chairman in the Unity State, Southern Sudan, and an elder in the community, I will not talk ill of those three (3) persons who defected. They massively contributed in the running of the SPLM-DC affairs, especially two gentlemen (Malek Cook and Jiech Chol). These young men have bright future politically and intellectually; but I regret their defections simply because they were misled by some individuals outside. So I wish them good luck in their future endeavours but I can only caution them to have patience and exercise restraint next time because politics requires those qualities; and finally in future don´t ever say "WE" when it´s only "YOU" who defected. The SPLM-DC is still strong and expanding in Unity State in particular and Southern Sudan in general and it has not closed doors behind you. You can still come back, if you wish.

Thanks,

Ustaz Peter Gatkuoth Biel
SPLM-DC Unity State Chairman
Khartoum, Sudan
Phone: +249913314721