Gov’t, private institutions asked to boycott controversially elected Leek community leader in Juba

JUBA – South Sudan’s Leek community in Juba and Bentiu is asking government and private institutions to suspend any dealings with the community’s newly controversially elected leader, Lam Tungwar Kueiguong, who previously served as information minister for the defunct Northern Liech state.

Lam was elected in a controversial elections that sparked debates among community members in Juba in December last year.

Following the election, Leek community associations in South Sudan and around the world issued several statements disowning Lam’s election as chairperson, calling him at some point an agent of foreign intruders who seek to cause disunity among the people of Rubkona county.

In a statement this afternoon, a spokesman for a Leek community alliance opposed to Lam’s election said any dealings with Lam’s leadership would amount to violation of the law urging government and private institutions to boycott him.

“This noteserves to inform and urge private and national government institutions in Juba in general and Unity State leadership in particular under the leadership of Hon. Dr. Joseph Manytwil Wejang not to cooperate with Mr. Lam Tunguar as Leek Community Association Chairman. So conducting meetings with the disgruntled candidate whose main objective is the disunity and confusion of Leek Community is illegal by law, as there was no election conducted for him to get such valuable recognition,” Matut Maliah Gatdet, the spokesman for the Coalition of Leek Unity and Reconciliation, said in a statement also signed by prominent members of the community.

“The only legitimate person who was elected as the Electoral Commitee Chairman after Hon. John Dor Majok and his secretariats read their duration report, passed by the General Assembly and stepped down in the General Assembly meeting in Star Hotel on 13 December 2020 isMr. Mathor James Dak.  So, Hon. John Dor Majok has no constitutional mandate again to call the General Assembly Meeting after he officially left office and therefore the General Assembly Meeting he called on 22 December 2020 with the title Chairperson of Leek Community Association was very unfortunate, unconstitutional and for these valid reasons, the outcomes of all those subsequent illegal meetings under illegal chairmen are baseless.

“The Leek Community members would further inform our highly respected governor, Hon. Dr. Joseph Manytwil Wejang that the illegal one-sided endorsement of Mr. Lam Tunguar has created major division among the Leek Community. Then Such unneccessary divisions shall have negative implications within the community and your state leadership at large becausethe dialogue you inititated on 15 December 2020, by bringing together the two conflicting groups to resolve the matter amicably, has been violated, disregarded and dishonoured by Mr. Lam’s group with the help of Hon. John Dor Majok.

“The Leek Community members will issue press statement in the next few days condemning those seen to be collaborating with Mr. Lam Tunguar Kueiguong, as they will all be called  ‘the advocates of Leek disunity’ for their personal interests.

“In conclusion, we urge the disgruntled candidate to reconsider his unnecessary activities and do real calculations for his future aspirations and for the sake of Leek Community cohesivesness, as what one does today matter because it always dictates one’s tomorrows. We also urge once more South Sudan government institutionsincluding private institutions and Unity State leadership not to cooperate with  Mr. Lam Tunguar as the Leek Community Chairman,and to work hard by encouraging all Leek Community members to go for credible, free, fair and inclusive elections that can re-energize, consolidate and build Leek Community confidence and leadership structures regardless of their political affiliations for the interest of the country, state, and Leek Community. The disgruntled candidate is not our chairman and therefore he should not be allowed to conduct meetings on behalf of Leek Community Association in Juba and Bentiu.

“The coalition of law-abiding members of leek Community will do whatever it takes to defend the constitution and to ensure that credible, free, and fair elections characterized by inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, and competitiveness are done.”