Speech delivered by Dr. Lam Akol at SPLM-DC NDC

(07/09/2009, SPLM-DC) Distinguished Guests,
Comrades the Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Ramadhan Karim!

I welcome you warmly to this opening session of the Founding National Delegates’ Congress of the Sudan people’s Liberation Movement- Democratic Change (SPLM-DC).
I welcome in a special way the distinguished guests who undertook great effort to come this far to be with us today. I salute my comrades the delegates who came from every corner of our great country to prove to the world that this party is a giant and can accommodate everybody. We are honoured by your presence, all of you. I must also acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of the Higher Preparatory Committee for Holding the National Delegates’ Congress which worked hard so that the Congress is held today. I extend my thanks and gratitude, as well, to all those individuals and groups who contributed towards the success of this endeavour.

I also seize this opportunity to salute all the fallen heroes and heroines of our struggle for peace, justice and democracy. Their sacrifices watered the tree of peace that gives us shade today.

I will attempt in this speech to be brief without doing injustice to the core issues that require explanation and those before your Congress. It is also necessary and important on this occasion to answer some queries about the reasons behind the formation of this new leadership of the SPLM-DC.

Distinguished Guests,
Comrades the Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Around this time in 1991 the historic Nasir Declaration was made announcing the necessity to effect a democratic change in the way the Movement was run. This was the second call for Change. The first was made by Dr John Garang himself when he called for the restructuring of the Sudanese State as a whole. Although the Nasir Move was accompanied by some military excesses that cost lives of innocent citizens and comrades; the responsibility of which fall on the shoulders of both sides, the political message of the Nasir Declaration shaped the road map of the North-South relations and the political discourse thereafter. This was acknowledged by foe before friend.

The Nasir Declaration called for internal democracy within the Movement, the right of elf-determination of the people of Southern Sudan, respect of human rights and initiating steps towards building civil administration in liberated areas. Only a diehard demagogue will deny the fact that it is those principles that governed the political agreements and disagreements between the Sudanese political forces since then. Examples are many, such as the Frankfurt Agreement, the Joint Statement of the two SPLM delegations to Abuja 1992, the Washington Declaration between the two SPLM factions 1993, Chukudum Agreement 1994, Asmara Declaration 1995, Khartoum Peace Agreement, Fashoda Peace Agreement, the Home Call in Djibouti, the various agreements between the different SPLM factions in 2001, 2003 and 2005 culminating in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005.

The dawn of the new Millennium saw historic reconciliations between the different factions of the SPLM which was an opportunity for the new body to benefit from the mistakes of the past and face the future in an esprit de corps in order to grapple with the challenges of the future. However, a tiny clique within one faction of the reunited factions of the Movement misunderstood reconciliation and unity to mean defeat to the other factions and submission to their authority. They embarked on excluding the leaders of the other factions as was evidenced by the developments that took place in the last General Congress of the SPLM in May/June 2008, and decided not to include anybody outside their group in the organs of the Movement except those who have turned their backs on their past.

It is an indisputable fact that, the SPLM after 2001 is not the same as it was before 1991. Today, the SPLM/A is composed of united groups, dealing with which requires far-sightedness, justice and inclusiveness. Sadly, the Movement lost its leader under critical conditions. At that time, it was faced with enormous challenges that competed for attention. It was the beginning of the transformation of the Movement from the military into a political organization capable of competing with the others. At the same time, the CPA has thrust upon the SPLM the responsibility to administer the South wholly, 30% participation in the Government of National Unity and 10% in the Northern States. This is in addition to joint responsibilities to implement the CPA. All these challenges and responsibilities demand a conscious and strong leadership that enjoys far-sightedness and self-confidence.

The new leadership did not measure up to the challenge, things were left to drift and a few misguided fellows took control of SPLM affairs. They expended the energies of the party in uncalled for internal squabbling and continuous confrontations with its partner in the CPA. Thus, it was hardly surprising when this clique failed to build the party in order to play its expected role in the running of the country, especially Southern Sudan which government is controlled by the SPLM.

It was necessary to correct the course the Movement was taking when it reneged on its basic principles on which our democratic Movement was founded; the principles of democracy and progressive programme aiming at building a united democratic decentralized nation-state in which every Sudanese feels part of.

This leadership has failed while we are close to the general elections to build a national movement capable of embracing all the Sudanese with their different ethnicities and cultures. The most obvious example to this is the clear downsliding of the popularity of the Movement all over the Sudan.

Nobody will fail to see the deterioration of all aspects of life in Southern Sudan which led the common man in the South look with lamentation at the old days and describe with extreme pain the days of war as being better in terms of personal security and conditions of life compared with their present state of affairs under the present leadership of the SPLM and of the Government of Southern Sudan.

In the North, a few opportunists took control of the affairs of the Movement and succeeded to turn it into a milking cow to satisfy their self-interest leading to general frustration among members of the Movement in the North as evidenced by the widespread desertion of thousands from the Movement.

On the implementation of the CPA, it is sad to note that the leaders of the SPLM have become pawns in the hands of the forces that inimical to the stability and peace in Sudan; a situation that threatens the agreement itself and a return to civil war. Such attitude was reflected by the vacillation in the Movement’s positions on the decision of the ICC, the deployment of UN troops in Darfur and the continuation of the imposition of economic sanctions on Sudan by the US Government. This clique that controls the leadership of the Movement lacks institutional planning and well thought out opinions and always expresses its stand on hurried and half-baked reactions which are wrongly labeled as “the official position of the Movement”. It is not an exaggeration to say that the Movement under this group has become a rudderless ship. It has therefore become incumbent on us to expose them because they have failed to carry the banner of the message whose first words and steps were inscribed by our comrade the late Dr John Garang (may the Almighty rest his soul in peace). I am extremely honoured that I was one of his first comrades who were active in the call for a revolution to bring about a democratic and decentralized Sudan in which all the historical injustices that have caused untold sufferings to wide sections of our people in the peripheries, vanish.

Distinguished Guests,
Comrades the Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

I with others have tried to correct the mistakes of this misguided clique that has controlled the leadership of the SPLM under exceptional and emotional conditions that took all everybody by surprise. But all the advices fell on deaf ears for the group lacks political and cultural consciousness and is only driven by its parochial self-interest. It is a group that characterized by heaping all blame resulting from their mistakes and failures on others. Everybody except themselves is blameworthy!
Given this sad and unfortunate situation we had no option but to part ways and take an objective and bold stand towards this failed leadership. This was by declaring our public activities and the leadership of SPLM party by adding the two words “Democratic Change” as a distinction.

Our gallant People

This is an opportunity to speak out truthfully and transparently that our country is currently witnessing a revolution in all areas of life. The CPA has transformed our dear country from a stage where only civil wars and poverty prevailed to an open stage characterized by political stability and economic growth acknowledged by the regional and international financing institutions. Where it not for what is happening in Darfur our situation would have today been an example to be emulated in the group of Third World countries.
By signing the CPA, the people of Sudan have managed to end the longest civil war in the African continent and closed once and for all a bloody and dark page in the recent history of our people.
On signing the CPA, we in the Sudan have managed to surpass historical failure that has been with us since independence up to the time of signing the CPA when we acknowledged the ethnic, religious and cultural diversity of our country to replace unrealistic ethnic superiority and blind and uncalled for religious and cultural oppression.
Through the CPA, the Sudanese people managed for the first time in their recent history to achieve their dream that each region rules itself by itself to replace an oppressive centralized rule that extended from the Turkish rule in Sudan, the fruits of which were the three levels of rule currently in the country.
Through the CPA the people of Sudan have done away with the political and economic injustice that was sustained by some regions historically. The principle of wealth and power sharing that we agreed upon in the agreement is today a reality enjoyed by the levels of government in Southern Sudan, the East, the West and the North.

Distinguished Guests,
Comrades the Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

No doubt that a smooth and successful implementation of the CPA is the only way that will lead us to the attainment of the aspirations of our people and establishing a modern state. We in the SPLM-DC are committed to achieving this dream and we shall exert all we can in brain and brawn to arrive at this noble objective.

Comrades the Delegates,

We meet today after less than three months from the launching of the public activities of the party; this party that was born a giant with teeth. Within this period we were able to establish our presence on the political landscape. No day passes without newspaper and magazine comments on the party. Within this period we established offices in nearly all the States, and it gives us pleasure to announce before you that the popular rush to join the party was enormous surpassing all our expectations. Now, the registered membership of the party stands at hundreds of thousands. In less than 90 days, the word “CHANGE” has become a household word.

Distinguished Guests,
Comrades the Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

These successes have alarmed some quarters, especially in Southern Sudan causing them to harass our members as evidenced by arrests and physical and mental torture in Wadakona in Upper Nile State and Damazin in the Blue Nile State, the closure of our offices as was the case in Wau in Western Bahr el Ghazal State and creating difficulties for our members in other areas in Southern Sudan. Even some of those who came here were subjected to harassment as well. Others were asked to resign their government positions in order to take part in this Congress; a condition that runs counter to the Constitution and the Political Parties Act 2007. Curiously enough, it is only members of SPLM-DC who are required to meet this condition!

The birth of our party, dear Comrades, has exposed the veil from faces of those who were pretending to be for democracy and upholding freedoms, those who were shouting at roof tops about democratic transformation. They failed the first test when the prospect of a real democratic challenge was in the offing. I would want to assure you here that we are capable of protecting our membership. In this, we shall pursue all legal and constitutional measures. We shall marsh forward steadfastly and with confidence with our political activities according to the Law. We shall not be detracted by the provocations of failures. We shall not be intimidated because we trust the masses of our people.

Distinguished Guests,
Comrades the Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

After all this exposition, some may still ask: what does the SPLM-DC stand for?
This is a valid and legitimate question and I will try in a briefly to provide an answer to it.

The SPLM-DC is committed to the full and transparent implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). It is satisfied with what has been achieved so far but believes that more is to be done. In this respect, the party insists on the running of the General Election in the country in April 2010 as scheduled by the National Elections Commission (NEC). Apart from being a necessary condition for democratic transformation, these elections are an important prelude for creating a democratic environment so essential for the conduct of the referendum on self-determination in Southern Sudan a year later.

The SPLM-DC has developed an integrated plan for the transformation of the current situation in Southern Sudan. The most salient elements of the plan are to put in place policies aimed at creating a democratic space for all, eliminating insecurity, stamping out corruption in all its forms, fighting tribalism and embarking on a serious socio-economic development. Southern Sudan can only survive (whether as part of Sudan or as an independent state) if and only if its citizens share a common sense of belonging to the entity called “Southern Sudan”. This is why we attach great importance to Southern Unity of Purpose brought about by a genuine and selfless South-South Dialogue. Also, the Government of Southern Sudan must function on the basis of good governance in a democratic atmosphere.

The SPLM-DC as a national party aims for an effective participation in the national affairs. We are for a balanced foreign policy that pays more attention to our neighbours and the region without prejudice to Sudan’s interest in the other parts of the world. The party that has fought for national liberation for decades cannot be an extension of the foreign policy of others.

We remain grateful to the IGAD countries for having brokered the peace Sudan enjoys today and to all IGAD partners that contributed in many different ways for the success of the process.

Darfur remains the single most pressing problem facing Sudan at the moment. Unhappily, it has become an area for manoevring by the two partners, armed movements in Darfur and the influential countries in the international community and has thus become quite complicated. The SPLM-DC believes that the problem can only be resolved by addressing its root causes, involving Darfurians in the search for solution and soliciting positive contribution to the solution from friends of Sudan. We are satisfied with the current mediation spearheaded by the State of Qatar and we wish it success. The suffering of our people in Darfur must be brought to a speedy end.

The global financial and economic crisis has affected our growing economy in no small way. Remedial steps must be taken to ward off the negative effects. Some steps in this direction will be discussed in this Congress.

On the political alliances of our party, we state it clearly and unequivocally that this will be dictated by the position of others on the CPA. Naturally, we are strategic allies to the forces that support the CPA and the contrary is true for those bent on undermining it.

Distinguished Guests,
Comrades the Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Before this Congress are issues of great importance to the present and future of Sudan. Your Congress shall deliberate on the fundamental issues confronting our country, chief among them the issues of change in the party and the country, general elections, the economy, combating poverty and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, the Darfur conflict, the Abyei problem and the fifth population and household census.

I will briefly touch on some of them which find unanimity in the party. On the issue of the Census, we have a lot of reservations on its results in Southern Sudan. The vacillation of the Government of Southern Sudan between conducting the census and stopping it, disoriented those charged with carrying it out resulting in the low numbers obtained for Southern Sudan. For instance, Northen Bahr El Ghazal State which is known to be the most numerous in Southern Sudan, came out as number six in population! But we all know to whose door the blame must be laid. We believe that the parties that took part in this process including the United Nations and some Western countries should speak out against the concerted campaign to discredit the census. We fear that such a campaign is another excuse among other flimsy reasons advanced by some to delay the general elections which, as we have already stated, should be carried out on time. But quite objectively, we call for a political agreement on the representation of the South in the civil service and executive organs of Government in proportions higher than that provided by the census result in Southern Sudan which is defective as mentioned earlier.

On Abyei area, we sincerely hope all sides will respect the decision of the PCA in The Hague. We should support it and implement it on the ground. Those who occasionally call for the rejection of that award and on other occasions interpret it according to their whims have hidden agendas and are not in anyway concerned about the stability of the area. It is time Abyei area enjoys the fruits of peace.

Distinguished Guests,
Comrades the Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Your party will leave no stone unturned to see that the CPA is implemented, will work with the other forces to bring an end to bloodletting in Darfur and will play its national role in transforming the situation in Sudan. We must prove to the Sudanese people that we really are a democratic party bent on achieving a genuine democratic change in the country. The expectations of our people for change are high as evidenced by the hundreds of thousands who have joined us within three months.
I now declare the Founding National Delegates’ Congress open. I wish you success in your deliberations in this historic Congress and hope that it will come out with strong resolutions that address the issues dear to our people and country.

Thank you very much.