W. Equatoria governor calls for southern unity on return from US Article Comments (8) Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 12, 2011 (TOMBURA) - The state governor of Western Equatoria State Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro has returned to Yambio the state capital after spending 16 days in the United States, to discuss South Sudan’s independence and the insurgency of Ugandan rebels in the state. Upon arrival at Yambio airstrip, the governor was warmly welcomed by groups of traditional dancers, government officials, and citizens. Bakosoro said, his visit was response to an invitation by Western Equatoria communities in USA and to extend appreciations to the American government for the support given to South Sudan. “The American government deserve our thanks, more especially now that the south is soon to be declared an independent state”, he said. The governor said he held series of meetings on the insecurity caused by the northern armies occupation of the contested region of Abyei and the fighting in South Kordofan State, which borders the south. He said he urged the "US government to put more pressure on Khartoum ... to respect the rights of the people of Abyei" and let them "hold their referendum to decide their fate". Abyei was due to decide whether it was to remain in the north or join the south but failure to agree on who could vote has derailed the process. Bakosoro revealed that he also called for support to the president of new Republic of South Sudan Salva Kirr in order for him to lead the nation until the next election in four years time. “With the ongoing insurgencies of the Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army I also urged the US government to intervene into LRA problem in the state which has become a regional threat as the US government promised to do something about it,” disclosed Bakosoro. The governor further said he asked southern Sudanese in US to come back to South Sudan to help the development of the new nation. “I am asking everyone to be united and avoid any thing that will separate us from each other” he said. He said that he had used the trip to try to get investors in the US to invest in agriculture in Western Equatoria. Bakosoro called upon people of South Sudan to invest in agriculture in order to fight food insecurity. The governor said everyone he had met on his tour was eager to support South Sudan. As the days countdown until South Sudan’s independence Bakosoro said the state is ready to host the celebrations. “To celebrate that is history in making; all south Sudanese can realize themselves in their own country and we are calling upon everybody who wants to distort the celebrations to stop in any form,” noted governor. He stated that the trip has been fruitful, having learnt the importance of taxation in America. “America is developing because of taxations therefore the south Sudan government should learn and impose taxation in order to foster development," stressed Bakosoro. Over 90 percent of South Sudan’s budget comes from oil. (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.
