Equatorians advocate for justice and equality in S. Sudan Article Comments (28) Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 15, 2011 (JUBA) - The southern population should strive towards achieving peace, justice and equality ahead of the long-awaited South Sudan independence declaration, officials attending a three-day Equatoria conference in Juba, the regional capital agitated. Delegates attending the three-day Equatoria conference in Juba. April 14, 2011 (ST) The conference brought together government officials, local and traditional authorities and citizens mainly from the greater east, west and central Equatoria states of semi-autonomous South Sudan. An estimated over 600 people will attend the event. In an interview with Sudan Tribune, Lumole Manase, the Central Equatoria deputy governor said the conference is an important milestone towards achieving justice and unity among southern Sudanese, citing some of the differences that emerged out of last year’s general elections. “As you aware, we still have several differences among our people today. Most of them could have been during the election era, while others may exist among the difference neighboring communities. This conference is aimed at overcoming some of these differences through advocating for unity, justice and equality” said Manase, also chairperson of the conference committee. The conference was the initiative of the three governors of the Greater Equatoria region (Central, Eastern and Western) focusing on the future of Equatoria in the new Republic of South Sudan. The governor of Eastern Equatoria state, Louis Lobong Lajore, called upon the South Sudan government to grant the region: Two Positions in supreme Federal Ministries A second vice President Thirty ambassadors and The equal representation in ministries/political appointments and civil service Joseph Bakosoro, the Western Equatoria state governor used the occasion to call for for peaceful co-existence and cooperation among southern leaders. Specifically, Bakosoro urged the greater Equatorian population to view ensure that they are united and not divided on tribal, political or religious aspects. Clement Wani Konga, the Central Equatoria governor further reiterated the importance of unity among the population, but said the management of state affairs should not be interfered with by other external forces. “Over the years, we have experienced a lot of problems in managing state resources. There is a lot of interference in the collection of state-generated revenues and this undermines efforts to offer effective service delivery to our people. We need to unite and move forward,” the softly spoken governor told the delegates. Delegates to the Equatoria conference in Juba. April 14, 2011 (ST) In attendance were officials from both the southern and federal governments, senior presidential advisers, religious leaders, local chiefs, payam [district] administrators and civil society representatives, among others. South Sudan is due to become independent in July after its population overwhelmingly voted for separation during the January self-determination referendum. The plebiscite was a key part of Sudan’s 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended over two decades of a bloody civil war fought between north and south of Africa’s largest country. The conference was officially opened by the presidential adviser for presidential affairs to South Sudan President Telar Ring Deng who congratulated the people of Equatoria for organizing the conference, which he acknowledged for having come at the right time. Deng stated that in the past the South had Northerners as the enemy, now that a new nation has been attained, it requires the unity of purpose of South Sudan prior to July 9, 2011. Former South Sudan rebels the SPLA fought the Khartoum government for over two decades for the right to self-determination and their own government. Since the 2005 peace deal the South has had an autonomous government and will secede from the North in July after a referendum earlier this year. After last year’s elections individuals and groups with grievances have taken up arms against the South Sudan government. Further armed rebellions have emerged since January’s referendum. “For those who have taken arms against the government of southern Sudan, are using their own methodologies of conflict to address grievances instead of dialogue” said Deng. He urged all southern Sudanese to deny the renegade militias saying it is high time to unite and develop the new born nation. Deng disclosed that South Sudan plans “to improve the rural areas so that the meaning of independence is attained for making a difference in the lives of southern Sudanese.” Western Equatoria The governor of Western Equatoria State in his opening remarks said that Equatoria shall not “be used as a platform for insecurity and hatred but we need to trust each other.” Bangasi Joseph Bakoso, governor of Western Equatoria state delivers his keynote speech in Juba. April 14, 2011 (ST) “The administrative boundaries of Equatoria region into three states should not result to divide of rule it is just to transfer towns to villages to achieve services,” he said. “As representatives of the people we shall not protect our own interest but instead protecting the interest of the people who entrusted us with the responsibilities” Bakosoro added. The governor said: “It is time to know that we are able leaders and should be part of every decision making at all levels as it is the genesis of broad-based governance in the making.” Bakosoro called for a change in the policy making Equatoria shall “never be cowards nor be followers of others.” “We have to seek ways how security can be made attractive to harmonize and make peaceful coexistence and love for one another” said Bakosoro. He stated that "Equatorians are known for some qualities that many people may not have. In history Equatorians do not fight among themselves or have never lived a life of hostility we always lead by examples", he said. “Equatorians born in good environment of governances and can be witnessed through the activities, I urge all to spread such good example to others, so that our new nation shall be led by rule of law and humanity” he added. Bakosoro clarified that the gathering should define future directions of Equatoria and responsibility to render services to the people, peace shall never prevail in southern Sudan unless leaders are able to govern effectively. “Our conference should not be misunderstood by the public but should be perceived as a means for bringing peace and harmony amongst South Sudanese more specially as preparing for the new nation.” “It is clear that the three states of Equatoria are not receiving same level of foreign assistance as the rest of seven states of south Sudan, our states are being referred to as being better than other states in south Sudan.” Bakosoro said the state capitals of Equatoria Juba (Central) Yambio (Western) and Torit (Eastern) do not represent the region implying that attention must also be paid to smaller towns and rural areas. He called for equal support of donors’ intervention in southern Sudan to be source of unity and nation building but not hatred. The governor stressed that before announcing the new nation on July 9, 2011 “we Equatorians must organize our selves politically and know what our rights are and ready to lead our new nation in the right direction as it will be painful if a new nation is born in a disorganized house.” Bakosoro said that Equatoria shall not be used as a platform for insecurity and hatred. “We need to trust each other” he said saying that South Sudan has come a long way since the war began in 1983. None of the rebellions in South Sudan are in Equatoria. Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity states are the worst affected. However, hundreds of thousands have been displaced by the presence and attacks carried out by the Ugandan rebel movement the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Western Equatoria. “In any system there is one leader for a time, which is Salva Kiir Mayardit, let us pay allegiance to him and unite as one people and one day leave a bright legacy for the future generation” he said. Eastern Equatoria The governor of Eastern Equatoria state Louis Lobong Lajore, mentioned that this time round Equatoria will not be misled accept to be followers. Louis Lobong Lajore, governor of Eastern Equatoria State delivers his keynote speech in Juba. April 14, 2011 (ST) Lobong said the Equatoria region has vowed to agitate for security. His said that his state remained peaceful throughout the referendum process. “We strongly support the leadership of GOSS and wish to honestly spell out that, Equatorians believe in democracy, freedom, equality and justice.” “Whoever wants political power should use democratic means not force and being one region its people shall never be used for self interest,” decried Lobong. He said that federalism is the type of governance that will address that the SPLA’s late leader John Garang and his vision of taking towns and services to rural areas. Central Equatoria The governor of Central Equatoria State Clement Wani Konga disclosed that decentralization had brought hatred among some Equatorians. Clement Wani Konga, governor of Central Equatoria state delivers his keynote speech in Juba. April 14, 2011 (ST) He called upon the entire Equatoria region to stop such misconducts. “The second challenge in central Equatoria state is land grabbing” which has to be addressed, Wani said. Wani refuted claims that “Central Equatoria citizens are not allocating lands for the people; rather people grab lands before allocation take place.” Cattle raiding has become rampant, according to Wani, who recommended that “people should recall the cultural ways of living, in which a cow cannot be reared in agricultural areas. Concerning the capital city Juba, governor Wani said that land was being allocated for the use of the central government and others. 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