Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


South Sudan Official Denies Split in SPLM Ranks Following Attack on Military
Base

   Minister   for   regional   cooperation  Oyay  Deng  Ajak  says  those
   responsible  for  the  attack  will be brought to book and if possible
   banned from the SPLA

   James Butty | Washington, D.C. 04 May 2010

   Authorities  in  South Sudan have confirmed that one of their military
   bases was attacked last Friday apparently by one of their own.

   The  South  Sudan Peopleās Liberation Army accused one of its officers
   -- George Athor or his supporters -- of masterminding the attack after
   he lost the race to become governor of the oil-producing Jonglei state
   in Sudanās recent elections.

   South Sudan Map

   Oyay  Deng  Ajak, south Sudanās minister for regional cooperation said
   those  responsible  for  the  attack  will be brought to book and even
   banned from the SPLA.

   āOn  Friday,  there  was  an  attack on a place called Doleib Hill, 12
   miles  south  of  Malakal,  and  the  attack  was on the SPLA military
   base.Ā   Honestly,  we  do  not  know why they attacked that location.
   Ā The  information  we  are getting is that they are supporters of one
   SPLA  officer,  George  Athor,  who  contested for the position of the
   governor  of  Jonglei State, and, of course, he could not make it,ā he
   said.

   Athor,  who denied he carried out the attack, told Reuters news agency
   the  Sudan Peopleās Liberation Movement (SPLM) harassed his supporters
   and rigged the elections.

   Ajak  said  no  election defeat should justify the killing of innocent
   people.

   āI  think  there  were  three people who contested for the governor of
   Jonglei  State,  and  of course if we are to go by the elections, Kuol
   Manyang  (incumbent  Jonglei  governor)  won the election and the rest
   should  abide  by the decision of the electoral commission. Ā I really
   donāt  think  that  somebody  will  pick  up arms and fight because he
   didnāt win an election,ā Ajak said.

   He  said  Athorās reported demand for Jonglei state incumbent governor
   Kuol Manyang to step down is a waste of time.

   āTo be very honest with you, as a minister for regional cooperation, I
   really  think  that those who are responsible for the attack at Doleib
   Hill the SPLA should keep them banned and of course we will bring them
   to  book. Ā As for the governor to step down, I think this is too far.
   Ā The  governor  has  been elected and the results had been announced,
   and  if he (Athor) has any case against the governor he must go to the
   courts,ā he said.

   Ajak  rejected  any  suggestion  that the dispute with Athor signals a
   split in the ranks of the SPLM, south Sudanās dominant party.

   āI  think  the SPLM is very much united and very strong and solid, and
   we  are,  of  course, celebrating the victory that has been won by the
   SPLM.  Ā We  hope we will take the people of south Sudan to the end of
   the  interim  period, which is 6 or 7 months left for the referendum,ā
   Ajak said.

   He  said  Athor  is  welcome to come before south Sudan authorities to
   defend  himself  against  the allegations he carried out the attack on
   the military base.

.