July 31, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has denied allegations that its armed struggle against Sudan’s army in South Kordofan state has created rifts within its ranks.

In a press release seen by Sudan Tribune, the SPLM in South Kordofan, which has been racked by fighting between the SPLM and Sudan army since 6 June, stressed that its decision to fight a war against Sudan army and calls for overthrowing the government are broadly supported by nearly all ethnic components of South Kordofan.

“However, and despite this support, a handful of power-seeking opportunists in Khartoum…started to blur the position of the SPLM and create a negative public opinion against the leader of the change revolution Abdul Aziz Adam Al-Hilu, those include Maj-Gen Daniel Kodi and [former SPLM’s health minister] Tabita Petrus.”

Kodi, who was the deputy governor of South Kordofan and a senior commander in the SPLM’s military wing, Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) said in an interview on Sunday with the subtly pro-government daily Al-Ra’y al-Amm that Al-Hilu’s rebellion in South Kordofan had created divisions within the SPLA.

The former deputy governor accused Al-Hilu of taking a unilateral decision to engage in war without consulting Nuba leaders. He further said that there were no justifications or objective reasons to take up arms in South Kordofan unless the war is justified by “agendas concerning Al-Hilu as an indifvdiual and not South Kordofan as a state.”

The SPLM slammed the talk on Al-Hilu’s personal agendas, and called on the state’s people not to heed “lies and rumors” propagated by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

It went on to announce that the SPLM’s organs in the state would hold a meeting in the coming days to issue a punitive decision against anyone who was involved in collaboration and coordination with the NCP.

(ST)