SPLM cry fault after official placed under house arrest

JUBA – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Jonglei State has criticized the state governor for placing its senior member under house arrest over charges related to violent protests and looting of shops in the state capital, Bor.

Governor Mahjoub Biel Turuk ordered Isaac Mamer Ruk, a senior member of the ruling SPLM and state minister for land and housing, to remain within the confines of his house until further notice, on Thursday.

In the order, seen by Sudans Post, the governor said Ruk had instigated the recent ransacking of the Bor market, when shops and other businesses belonging to Sudanese nationals were targeted by violent rioters.

Marol Maket, the largest commercial center in Bor, was looted following violent protests against Sudanese nationals and businesses after footages merged on social media showing South Sudanese nationals being brutally killed in Sudan during the capturing of Wad Madani town by Sudan Armed Forces.

But the party officials maintained that Ruk detention was unilateral and violated the norm of harmonious working between the peace parties.

“We the SPLM secretariat, hereby condemned in the strongest term possible the un-procedural suspension of Hon. Isaac Mamer Ruk, the Minister of land, housing and public utility,” read in part the statement signed by David Anyang Nyuon, the SPLM acting secretary general.

“We the SPLM secretariat observed serious violation of the principles of R-ARCiSS,” added the statement dated 23^rd January.

According to the governor, the detained minister would face investigation to answer for his alleged involvement “in many Security issues in the state, including recent developments such as the looting of the Marol Market” although Ruk had claimed the charges were baseless and unfounded.

The detention of the minister comes at the backdrop of the ongoing feuds between Governor Turuk, who comes from Lam Akol-led National Democratic Movement (NDM) and his Deputy Atong Kuol Manyang, an SPLM ally, over expenditure of the state’s taxes.

The two top officials presented contradicting statements on the collection and usage of the monthly Personal Income Tax (PIT) in the state.

While the governor said the state receives USD190, 000 a month in taxes, Atong claimed a sum amounting to USD 300,000 comes to the state government coffers every month.

The governor has since ordered for auditing of the state institutions with the exercise expected to begin next month.