Press Release
RE: SPLM CHAPTER MEMBERS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA DEFECTED TO THE SPLM IN OPPOSITION, DEMANDING FEDERALISM & PRESIDENT SALVA KIIR’S RESIGNATION
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” ― Desmond Tutu
Perth, Western Australia, July 13, 2014 (SSNA) — Dear SPLM compatriots, cadres and fellow countrymen/women. The future of our children and the country we so painfully fought for, for more than fifty years and claimed the lives of millions is at stake. Beginning with the repugnant massacre of Nuer civilians by Salva Kiir and his cliques in December 2013, the SPLM government under Kiir continues to commit unimaginable atrocities one after another on a daily basis.
We have seen and heard the cowardice execution of more than 100 innocent Nuer children, women and elderly committed by the SPLA government forces disguised in civilians clothes in Bor IDPs compound on April 17, 2014, the targeted killings of shilluk soldiers allied to Gen Oliny in Malakal who were targeted for protesting the 4 months unfair delays of their salaries, the daily disappearances of prominent Equatoria youth leaders in many parts of Greater Equatorian states killed for being vocal on federalism and recently the execution of two unarmed Equatorian brothers summarily executed in Maridi by the government forces.
As if this is not enough, the government under SPLM of Salva Kiir continues to suppress and detains its own innocent citizens with impunity, refuses to allow them safe movements because they appear to be Nuer in a Dinka dominated Juba or secretly disarm them because “they cannot be trusted” (in the case of Equatoria young men disarmed in SPLA and police units).
These despicable acts committed by the same felonious government who plays victim and aggressor at the same time do not only qualify as war crimes, the criminals, perpetrators and instigators who directly contrived such actions ought to be severely punished and fast in an international court of law in order for justice to return to South Sudan. Entrusting Salva Kiir government who orchestrated the current mess to provide justice for victims of such crimes is an injustice itself. If Salva kiir allowed 100 of the criminals that mercilessly massacred thousands of Nuer in Juba to break free, he cannot be trusted to bring any meaningful justice. A criminal cannot be the judge, prosecutor and executor for his own crimes.
Compatriots, we refused to uphold neutrality in time of despondency, massive loss of lives and destruction caused to our innocent South Sudanese by the government in the name of few desperate and power hungry individuals who have systematically organised the killings of our innocent South Sudanese through fabricated ‘coup d’état.’
South Sudanese suffered long enough under an oppressive regime in Khartoum and to see them suffer again under another wanton killers in Juba is regrettable, inexcusable and condemnable. That’s why, we the undersigned members of our historical movement in Western Australia have decided to no longer be part of the hideous genocidal leadership of comrade Salva Kiir Mayardit. South Sudanese deserve to reap their successive fight for secession instead of being oppressed and killed to keep one serial killer and dictator in power. They deserves to live in peace, harmony and together rather than being divided along tribal lines by few cliques and patronages who think that other owed them something.
Compatriots, our defection to the opposition might not have come quickly enough as many wanted it but there’s no lateness in thwarting a criminal on the course for purging and eliminating particular ethnic groups. Kiir after inheriting SPLM leadership from our hero Dr Garang appeared to be admirable and humble advocate for South Sudan’s secession and forged our national unity for just that. A much needed unity at the time, which he singlehandedly severed in December last year forcing our beloved country into an immature state collapse.
Fellow country men/women, we refused to be silent when our country is dwindling down the drains at rapid speed. At times like this when national agenda should have been about development rather than about bribery and suppression to keep an incompetent leader on the top, we declared to join the opposition to bring about much needed change in the country. This way, the faith of our people on our historic SPLM party will be realised and the national unity forged and restored through grass root reconciliation.
Fellow countrymen/women, its cynical and overly disparaging to often see Salva Kiir boastfully claim to be “the elected president” of South Sudan when the election he contested for was for the government of national unity in which North Sudan was a parcel of, not to mention that the election was held during interim period and not in an independent South Sudan. We’re here to tell the world that Salva Kiir was not elected but mandated to lead the country through an interim constitution. Moreover, being elected doesn’t give one a license to kill people at will and walk unpunished.
Compatriots, the recent index of failed states that ranked our country as number one didn’t surprised anyone at all unless you’re living in the grim world currently Salva Kiir lives. We knew that this crisis was bound to happen through Salva Kiir’s mismanagement of our country when he singlehandedly removed democratically elected Governors, dissolved an entire cabinet and appointed his clansmen into the higher positions without remorse. But it’s not late to reverse the ranking, and that’s why we call on every South Sudanese to distance themselves from Salva Kiir’s repressive, repugnant and tribal leadership to save South Sudan from him and his puppets.
Fellow countrymen/women, had we had a better system of governance, this crisis could have been avoided because Salva Kiir’s dictatorial predispositions that brought us into this mess could’ve been isolated federally. He wouldn’t have a chance to train a personal army with millions of South Sudan resources nor would he have a power to remove democratically elected Governors. We therefore add to the call of SPLM-in-Opposition for a federal system of governance to be embraced and strongly urge all the South Sudanese to do the same. The call for federalism was long overdue given the complexity in ethnicity and regional expansiveness of South Sudan. Moreover, we’re here to clarify to the public that this call for federalism wasn’t initiated by the SPLM-in-Opposition or Equatoria people alone as Salva Kiir’s government attempts to suggest. South Sudanese have been yearning for federalism since the Juba conference of 1947. We, the two communities in Western Australia endorse this renewed call to rescue South Sudan from the wraths of dictators and serial killers like Salva Kiir whom might emerge in the future. Moreover, instituting a federal system of governance will also prevent land grabs by one ethnic group currently witnessed in Juba as people will see their own states as also useful and livable.
In conclusion compatriots, the current South Sudan crisis has regrettably shaken the core of our existence and tough choices are needed to be made in order to pull us back together once again. We the defected chapter members waited long enough to see that Salva Kiir, the leader who led us for 8 years show leadership and do an honorable thing by resigning to save our beloved country. But Kiir continues to refuse to heed to these voices of wisdom and continues to instill violence after another so as to remain in power. He’s still pointing fingers at wrong subjects for his self-destruct, and his recent speech on our 3rd independent anniversary clearly exposed his cloudy mindset. We call on other communities and particularly the Dinka community to take this call for a leadership change to restore unity and trust among ourselves. The crimes that Salva Kiir and his groups committed by justifying a fake coup squarely lie on him and his few cliques and don’t represent his whole tribe. We call on every South Sudanese to join the call to remove Salva Kiir who immersed our once united country into unfathomable bloodbath. The social fabrics that bonded us together to achieve the referendum has been broken. Our abundance resources enshrined on our national anthem have become one man’s (Kiir) properties for use to suppress and kill us and to bend our much-needed unity. We call on all South Sudanese to rise up and tell Salva Kiir that enough is enough, we want our South Sudan back, we want our rights back.
Undersigned: Defected Members