The Chairman of SPLM-DC Names a Date for the NDC

(01/08/2009, SPLM-DC) The SPLM-DC, today Saturday , the 1st of August, marked the 4th anniversary of the death of Dr John Garang, the former Chairman of the SPLM/A, and celebrated the joining of the party by new groups of Sudanese ( Murle, Unity State, Greater Bahr el Ghazal and Messeriya). On this occasion, the Chairman of the SPLM-DC, Dr Lam Akol, delivered a keynote speech in which he dealt with a number of important issues.

On the National Delegates’ Congress (NDC), the Chairman declared that it will take place on the 31st instant in Khartoum. He explained that the leadership of the SPLM-DC had originally planned to hold the NDC in Juba since the Movement started in the South, but this became untenable due to the hostility shown by the SPLM-controlled Government of Southern Sudan against members of the SPLM-DC in many places in Southern Sudan, some of whom are still under arrest and undergoing torture. He pointed out that the office of the party was closed down and its properties seized by the authorities in Wau on the 25th of July, and gave several other examples of harassment and obstructions. “If we insist on holding our NDC in Juba we would be heading for a physical confrontation, which we do not want as a civil party”, said the Chairman.

He disclosed that the directives on the NDC have been sent to the States and the Offices abroad and that all of them are required to complete the process of electing their delegates to the NDC by the 12th instant. He explained that apart from its main function of adopting party policies, Congresses are opportunities for parties to display “political show of force” and urged all members of the party to work hard to make this important occasion a success.

[The speech was in Arabic and is being translated].