SPLM Claims 125 Defectors from SPLM-DC Return to Party Fold

26 March 2010 – [Bor]: – The SPLM claims that more than a hundred SPLM-DC members defected to the party in Jonglei state this week.

Deng Piok Awai, who claims that he is the chairman of a section of SPLM-DC members in Jonglei state, told SRS on Friday from Bor that he led his group back to the SPLM.

[Deng Piok Awai]: “I have returned to the SPLM. Me and a hundred and twenty-five people from the SPLM-DC in Jonglei state. Doctor Lam wants to keep the southern Sudanese with the north, he supports unity. But we the southerners do not want that. So I, together with my team, we decided to come back and follow the same course as our fellow southerners.”

SRS contacted the secretary of the SPLM in Bor, Both Chuol Ngot and he confirmed that the SPLM received SPLM-DC members this week.

[Both Chuol Ngot]:“It’s good news and we are proud. It is our joy that they came and joined the SPLM. We need our people to stand firm behind the SPLM because it is the party that can guarantee their rights. We will assign them the task of campaigning for our candidates, then we will come and welcome them officially. DC is not popular in Jonglei state. Most of its members are the ones who have joined the SPLM now and I don’t think many people will be supporting the DC party.”

However, the SPLM-DC chairman, Dr. Lam Akol, denied the claims from both Deng Piok and Both Chuol that some of his members have left the party. Lam spoke to SRS from Juba on Friday.

[Dr. Lam Akol]:“We don’t know such a person in Jonglei State. Our chairperson in Jonglei state is called John Michael. This is just meant to detract from our impending visit to Bor which will take place in 48 hours. These people want to create stories that will cause confusion and think that it will affect the numbers of people coming to meet us. My message is very clear, we are very firm. The members of the party are increasing every day rather than decreasing, and we know that the other side will always pretend that there are people leaving the party but nobody is leaving the party. This will be very clear when we come to the capital of the state.”

Dr Lam Akol added that he will be taking his campaign to all the counties of Jonglei state.