By Mabior Philip  www.borglobe.com 

Parliament – Juba (Borglobe)....The Leader of Opposition has appointed the Opposition Chief Whip yesterday to check discipline of the opposition members of the assembly.

Onyoti Adigo Nyikwec of the SPLM-DC appointed Andrew Okuny Ayom the opposition chief whip, granting him the status of a chairperson of a Standing Specialized Committee, in a step that confirms two members of the SPLM-DC in the Assembly Business Conduct, the highest decision making organ of the assembly.

The appointment is days after the Speaker James Wani Igga announced nomination of the Opposition Leader in a hailed democratic manner.

“You can see our assembly is totally democratic”, Igga said. The government Chief Whip, who disciplnes members on behalf of the rulling, is yet to be appointed

Okuny was one of the SPLM-DC members suspected of taking part in a horrendous killing of seven persons including a paramount chief in Panyikang in Upper Nile state last May.

The immunity of the members was waived and they were subsequently arrested. The legislative House restored the immunity after the Minister for Legal Affairs, John Luk Jok, said that the investigation found insufficient evidence implicating the members in the alleged murder.

Recognition of the long-rejected opposition has seemingly smoothen the path to the referendum after the Opposition Leader said upon his nomination that, since the government recognizes the opposition and the opposition itself recognizes the government, the task is to direct collective efforts towards the independence of the region. Okuny was not reached for comments by press time.