Claimed SPLM Supporters Disrupt Debate on Political Freedom at El Nilein University

(03/08/2009, SPLM-DC) Continuing with the actions of undermining democracy in Sudan and in Southern Sudan in particular some claimed supporters of SPLM distrusted a debate which was organized by El Nilein University students in Khartoum,yesterday, the 2nd August 2009, under the theme: Political freedom in Southern Sudan. Most political parties in Sudan had been invited to the debate concerning political freedom in Southern Sudan.

All seemed to go well until a representative of SPLM-DC student's - comrade Pascal spoke and elaborated on the arrest and mistreatment of our party activists in Southern Sudan. Because the message was well received by the audience a disgruntled claimed old SPLM supporter shouted SPLM Oyee --- and pulled out a knife and charged towards comrade Pascal.
The SPLM supporter  was restrained by our security guards and the police intervened. But other SPLM thugs joined in to attack and scuffles broke out which led to some minor injuries to some of our security guards and members.

The intervention of the police brought the debate to cancellation and the claimed supporters of the old SPLM ran away to avoid apprehension by the police.

The Deputy Chairman and Acting Secretary General of SPLM-DC condemn condemns such barbaric action by the so called SPLM die hard supporters. The SPLM as a movement
since its inception in 1983 was fighting for freedom, justice and equality. All these ideals are embodied in democracy because when people are free to make a choice of their leaders then they can guarantee the services and development they yearn for. One cannot be against marginalization and at the same time be against political freedom and democracy. Only parties or movements which fail to deliver turn to dictatorship and repression as a way of staying in power. The Southern Sudanese people are far more political mature today and they will not allow themselves to be led by undemocratic one party system in the twenty first century when people all witnessed the sort of failures associated with corrupt one party regimes which characterized post colonial Africa from the nineteen sixties. Hence Southern Sudan yearns for true democracy with freedom of political activities for all parties and it is only the masses to choose the party which they believe can deliver services, development and change.

Hence the Deputy Chairman and Acting Secretary General of SPLM-DC calls on SPLM leadership to exert control on its fanatic supporters and members and also try to put effort to educate them the essence of democracy because true democracy is for development and it is the only tested option to allow services and development to reach the whole population of the country.

Eng Charles Kisanga

Deputy Chairman
and Acting Secretary General
SPLM-DC