By William Madouk
Lawmakers belonging to Machar’s party, SPLM-IO have declared their intentions to boycott the reopening sitting for Jonglei State legislative assembly, unless former Speaker Amer Ateny Alier is reinstated.
SPLM-IO chief whip in the State Assembly, Abel Nyuot Lok stated that SPLM-IO members would boycott all parliamentary sittings due to the unilateral removal of the speaker by the president which is a violation of the peace agreement.
“We the SPLM-IO caucus in Jonglei State Legislative Assembly do hereby declare our position to boycott the reopening of the Jonglei State Legislative Assembly which is in the process to be reopened, for the following reasons,” Lok said in a statement seen by this paper.
“The unilateral revocation of Rt. Hon. Amer Ateny, the speaker of the Jonglei State Assembly is a violation of Article 1.13.1 of R-ARCSS which indicate the removal and replacement procedures, which called for a spirit of collegial (collaboration) among parties,” he continued.
According to him, the deputy speaker has no right to preside over reopening sittings, citing that Art: 7.3 code of business conduct of the august house dictates that no parliament business shall be transacted besides the speaker when the post is vacant.
MP Lok said they shall not participate in sittings if the previous resolutions that led to the impeachment of the state minister of Finance in a majority vote are not addressed by the governor.
He added that SPLM-IO lawmakers will continue to stage walkouts until illegal intimidation by the governor against constitutional post holders stopped and all civil servants received their salaries including arrears.
“We shall not participate in reopening of the parliament when revenues collected or generated at the state level are not part of state budget allocation,” he echoed.
SPLM-IO chief whip stressed that for the boycott to be called off, the unilateral removal of Amer Ateny’s appointment is lifted, urging the presidency to speed up the reinstatement process.
He added that “the impeached state minister of finance is to be removed from office in accordance with the rule of the constitution.”
Lawmaker Lok also noted that above all outstanding issues should be urgently resolved before calling off the boycott, he reiterated their commitment to the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.
In January 2023, the First Vice President, Dr Riek Machar, protested the ouster of Jonglei State Assembly Speaker, Amer Ateny Alier, terming her dismissal as a violation of the peace agreement.
The Press Secretary in the Office of the First Vice President Puok Baluang described the decree issued by President Salva Kiir, relieving Alier, as a “unilateral decision and a violation of the peace agreement.”
He said the leadership of the SPLM-IO was shocked by the decree when they only learnt about it being read out in the state-run television and radio, SSBC. He called on President Kiir to rescind the decision and have Alier reinstated as the assembly speaker.
Mr Baluang argued that the president cannot relieve any member of the SPLM-IO from the positions granted in accordance with the revitalized peace agreement without a recommendation from the party.
However, the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARSS) anticipates such situations and spells out the protocols for relieving the officers. Chapter one, part 9.6.1.1, notes that “decision-making in the presidency shall be in a spirit of collegial collaboration.”
Chapter one part 9.6.1.2 states: “The President, the First Vice President, and the Vice Presidents shall seek to reach agreement on matters of Executive Administration and failure of which by agreement of at least four of them”.