NCP STOOGE BONA MALWAL: SPLM IS UNDERMINING THE CASE FOR

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002016 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, AF S/E NATSIOS, S/CRS ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: NCP STOOGE BONA MALWAL: SPLM IS UNDERMINING THE CASE FOR SOUTHERN SEPARATATION ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Southern turncoat and longtime supporter of an independent southern state, GNU Presidential advisor and National Congress Party (NCP) member Bona Malwal organized a rally of the Southern Sudan Democratic Forum to criticize the recent actions of the SPLM. He alleged SPLM financial misconduct over oil revenues, inability to deliver security and services to the south, and accused the SPLM of stifling dissent and democracy. He warned that the SPLM's poor record on delivering services might cause voters in 2009 to vote against separation and vote for unity. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) In an hour-long speech before an estimated audience of 200 plus Southern Sudan Democratic Forum (SSDF) supporters on December 12, Presidential advisor and long- time John Garang opponent Bona Malwal criticized the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) on a number of issues. Reading from a prepared text entitled "The Future of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) under the Current Political Crisis," Malwal, often seen as the "Benedict Arnold of South Sudan" charged that the SPLM: -neglected its responsibilities under the CPA by suspending its participation in the Government of National Unity and urged the SPLM to implement the CPA without further boycotts; -acted contrary to Sudanese national interests by seeking to internationalize the NCP-SPLM impasse, in which these outside "friends" would likely use such an opportunity for their own interests; -exaggerated the impasse over the Abyei Protocol by threatening to go to war over the issue; -advertised southern incompetence by nominating only Northern Sudanese to replace SPLM member and Foreign Minister Lam Akol (Malwal also vigorously defended Lam Akol's performance as Foreign Minister); -falsely claimed that is was not receiving its full share of oil revenues; -failed to deliver promised services and security to the people of the South with those oil revenues; -favored SPLM party members over those of other political parties, and muzzled dissent from other parties; -refused to appoint other-party members to Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) government offices (unlike the NCP, which has offered some of its share of positions to the DUP); -stifled democracy and free speech and warned that there can be no free elections in 2009 "while the SPLM is in charge." ¶3. (SBU) Malwal said that unless the performance of the GOSS improves drastically, "many Southern Sudanese are likely to ask themselves whether to vote for an independent South Sudan that may be worse than what they have endured under the North." Malwal warned that the SPLM's poor record on delivering services might cause southerners to vote for unity in the 2011 referendum. At the same time, he urged the SPLM to make unity attractive to the people of southern Sudan. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: It comes as no surprise that Malwal would take advantage of the recent NCP-SPLM political impasse to sling some mud at the SPLM. Allegations of GoSS corruption and lack of political openness in the South are well-founded and the NCP seeks every opportunity to have southern politicians on its payroll point this out (without ever talking about NCP corruption and pressure on political opposition and civil society in the North, of course). Although Malwal's own views on separation differ from the NCP party line supporting unity, it is highly likely that the NCP supported Malwal in organizing the event, given the NCP's stranglehold on political activity. The NCP can only gain from pointing out the SPLM mismanagement, especially if it supports an argument for unity. FERNANDEZ