South Sudan president calls for unity in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state Article Comments (22) Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 18, 2011 (JUBA) –The president of the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) on Monday broke his silence and called for peace and unity amongst the people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state. Salva Kiir President Salva Kiir made the remark from his Juba office while hosting a joint executive and parliamentary delegation led by the governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Paul Malong Awan Anei. On Saturday, a 12 member delegation arrived in Juba from Northern Bahr el Ghazal via Wau, capital of Western Bahr el Ghazal from where they flew on a charted plane. The delegation is said to have held a meeting with youth groups from Northern Bahr el Ghazal in Juba, a day after their arrival and met with Kiir on Monday. Governor Anei was appointed by presidential decree in March 2008 and contested the same seat during 2010 general elections as official candidate of the South Sudan’s governing party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) with candidates from other political parties including an independent candidate from SPLM. Amid precipitous competition fraught with accusations and reports of intimidations, the National Elections Commission announced voting results in his favour, leaving some other candidates claiming they were rigged. While several attempts were made to reconcile rival candidates including reinstatement ofGeneral Dau Aturjong Nyuol, who contested as independent candidate, into the regional army by South Sudan president, political differences between the two sides remain unresolved. There have been reports and allegations that individuals that voted against incumbent state administration were either suspended indefinitely or dismissed from their jobs. An independent investigation into these allegations is yet to take place. On 23 March 2011, state security elements collaborating with police arrested nine senior government officials suspected writing a letter bearing no names, which called for a demonstration to take place in all five counties of the state, against its Governor. On the two occasions the case was brought to court, the judge dismissed it. However, relatives and immediate family members in series of regular follow up interviews with Sudan Tribune said the officials were again imprisoned, claiming that the state governor had threatened police and judicial officials with dismissal from their jobs for releasing the suspects without his consent. A police officer on duty was arrested and released after spending two days in prison for accompanying them to the court. The arrested officials include Lieutenant Colonel Garang Joong Akoon, Angelo Machar Akec, Mario Angui Lual, Akol Mayendit, Achuen Rou, Adup Achier, Agiu Garang, Wieu Garang and Reverend Moses Aguer Bol Deng Dau. Kiir responded to reports from influential groups and activists and a fact finding mission by the region’s human rights commission which were critical of the poor conditions in the prison in which the officials were being held. The president summoned the Governor, who, in his meeting with him in March, claimed not to know why the accused were being held. The Governor also claimed he had had no reports from his security on which he would have taken action. On 13 April, South Sudan’s Human Commission Chairperson, Laurent Korbandy, in an interview with Sudan Tribune said his office received information that nine official were arrested in Aweil, capital of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State. He said that he responded to the reports by sending an investigation committee. According to him, the committee compiled reports with legal recommendations to the president. Calls for reconciliation and healing have come from church leaders and activists as well senior members of the South Sudan’s ruling party, SPLM since elections were concluded. "We beg forgiveness for differences that may have been caused by elections. Things that might have happened can be forgiven and people resume normal lives, because nothing can be gained by seeking no reconciliation. We are all the same people. One can lose today and win tomorrow," said Reverend William Mou Deng, who had once tried to contest but quickly decided to drop out of the parliamentary race for a Juba based seat last year. General Aturjong, who lost to incumbent governor Malong Awan has called for reconciliation. He said wants people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal whom said are known for being a peaceful community, to remain living peacefully and solve their difference through dialogue. "Hatred and political retaliation are sources of weaknesses. We must embrace dialogue. All our differences must be resolved peacefully. We have always show a good example to other communities in the south, so we must remain role model,” explained Aturjong an interview with Sudan Tribune from Rumbek on Monday. In an interview with Sudan Tribune from Juba, Deng Thiep Akok, a former member of South Sudan Legislative Assembly, said, "I was with some of the delegates this evening after meeting with the president. They told me that the South Sudan President spoke well. They said he has emphasised on peace and unity of our people." An anonymous, highly placed source in the office of the president also confirmed that the delegation had a meeting with the president and that the president emphasised importance of unity for people of northern Bahr el Ghazal State. "Yes, the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State delegation, led by Governor Malong, met with the president today and discussed issues of significant important to the people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal". They discussed a lot of issues but there were only two important things I consider to be important: the issue of unity among people of Mading Aweil in particular and South Sudan at large". I consider it so because the president dwelled on it and gave a lot of examples of why unity is important this time. He assured the support of the Government of South Sudan to the epeople and government of Northern Bahr el Ghazal. He also assured the delegates that those who were elected would continue their services until the next general elections are held. I think this was one of the smiling political statements for the delegates," explained the official. He said the attendees included: political advisor, Lual Diing Wol; presidential advisor on traditional affairs, Pio Tem Kuac Ngor; and minister of industry and mining, Garang Diing Akuong. (ST) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
