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