Sorrowful events which unfold in Lakes State under the leadership of Eng. Chol Tong
Open Letter to President Kiir Mayardit, President of South Sudan, AUG. 7/2011, SSN; The mood of people of Lakes State is vastly full of contempt and anger generated by current rampant insecurity and soaring of local market prices. This has also triggered public anger simply because of built-up frustrations with the lawmakers politically who favor economic woes and rampant corruption. We the youth of this state have been saddened by sorrowful news of death of innocence people- placing children, women and elderly people in the lead. We stand on the opposite side and blame the government for turning a blind eye on the issue. Resultantly, anger and contempt is brewing publicly under every tree and in every office because the unemployed are the ones grieving while the employed gave a plain look at these problems. When you look at media issues and the pervading sense that pervades the recent ailing security in our state, one gets the impression that both the ‘Governor’ and ‘the Parliament’ have lost their iconic gleam and their acts of omission or commission of the current death of children, women and elderly is being questioned. Political gimmick backed by corruption is very much evident from the fact that everyday corruption scams keep cascading out of the State Legislative Assembly open with no break in sight. Open Parliament is in a questioning mood as to how all this massive corruption could flourish under the very noses of the governor or his aides and some ministers who swore that insecurity and corruption would be wiped out. The governor has not taken any lead to take drastic actions through the legislative assembly for demonstrable drastic actions against corruption at high political levels. Was the Governor passing the buck to the Legislative Assembly? Or would this imply that the general public is now perpetually condemned to suffer political corruption because coalition politics would no longer be the exception? It is abundantly clear that insecurity has worsened since 2010 elections that brought the incumbent to power. With this reason, Open Parliament sets up daily debates to put the insecurity under public scrutiny and to expose the shortcomings uncovered under the leadership of Eng. Chol. Mr. President, the repose of check and balance (in Lakes State) which is a simple leadership tool to any prosperous government have been made dead in Rumbek that Eng. Rules simple because those who advise him either do not have weight in politics or are mere cousins chasing after riches only. The live example is that one of the Taxation department where cousins head it and are the engineers of Chol's government instead of his advisors. It is also our ultimate responsibility to render the damages caused by the government that people imperfectly elected democratically. The government hid its face in shame for failing to address the following problems in Lakes State:- 1. The previous clans fighting between Gony and Thuyith clans of Rumbek East County should have not claimed 26 people if drastic security measures were taken by the state government to be vigilant and deploy police, wildlife, prison and elements from fire brigade to area suspected for this fighting. The information was heard earlier in the day but the governor kept quiet until the fighting broke out the other day. 2. People are being killed in town on frequent basis and no measures are taken by the government headed by Eng. Chol Tong Mayay. Up to today, the public have not heard a word from him when 71 people died in one day. We the members of open parliament expect the governor to announce a day of mourning or two in remembrance to the tragedy that claimed the lives of these people. Prices also are soaring because insecurity is a tangible threat. Even people from our neighboring states traveling to their respective homes are attacked on the way and get killed. How can such a young nation prosper like this? Last week, a young man from Aweil was killed on the way at Akot by unknown gunmen. And then a day later another one from the same state was killed. What is the response from the rulers? 3. Lakes State became a state where corruption rules than the rulers. For instant, the Taxation Department is headed by governor’s cousin who is deputized by another cousin. It has been nicknamed as ‘Manyiel Dut & Sons Enterprise.’ Does it make any sense or does it mean that their capabilities in taxation are not equal to anyone else in the entire state? 4. We always hear constant refrains from Eng. Tong that ‘the current insecurity cannot be maintained by any body’ or we do not have sufficient soldiers to quell down the insecurity and to hunt down the culprits. We also heard from the governor that ‘the new nation’s flag will be raised in Rumbek’ this statement is also in question here in open parliament. 5. Every month, a tragedy resulting into death of innocence people unfolds in Lakes State but the security measure known internationally is the decreeing of night curfew which was actually done in May by deputy governor Lt Gen. Ayual Makoi when Eng. Chol was in Juba. Upon his return, the governor cancelled the curfew indefinitely. 6. Mr. Governor has also sponsored his cousin and another one whom he believes to have brought him to power because the guy was in the Electoral College where electoral frauds were reported. Resignation of Mr. Phillip Marol, the former Minister of Finance is a clear example which supports this. 7. Mr. Governor, if you may remember the campaign days, you promised protection of venerable groups, security and increment of teachers pay among other priorities, but at the victory day it was like the mission accomplished and different stages thereof developed. 8. The killing of innocent people in cool blood (children, women and elderly people) something that we have never experienced in this state. 9. The shooting of innocent people traveling to or from their states on random manner not knowing who might be in fact on the vehicle. 10. The number of the dead has never raised to more than 70 people under one sun in what we correctly call a no cause fight. On Sunday of June, 2011 over 71 people got killed in two separate incidents in no cause than just a pure negligence and inability or lack of program to meet the protection that our people needed most. 11. The taxing procedures applied are not in accordance with the taxation laws. 12. Unemployment is another problem widely noted. We the youth of Lakes State are extremely angry and contemptible of the current ailing security situation especially the frequent remarks from the governor that ‘No government will succeed this insecurity’ The insecurity has been internationally acknowledged that it is unfolding in the new nation because Rumbek is in the heart of South Sudan and the people dying are not from the state itself. This has brought the current breaking inflation and unending rise in prices of daily needs of the common man. This is so simply because the investors have been discouraged by the insecurity, no law or government is protecting them and if they think that they are not being protected then they will not bring the commodities that will revive the market. Or is it that rising inflation of agricultural pricings and food grains exports and imports are also captives of coalition politics? Thousands of tons of food grains rot every year in Government warehouses and which the Supreme Court observed could be distributed to the poor, continue to rot away, as the government conceded to his failures and expresses his government/cabinet’s inability to organize such distribution. We the members of open parliament are also in mood of questioning the political misuse of investigating whether from law enforcement agencies or judiciary The government under Ministry of Local government indulges in selective investigations prompted by political considerations that same party members should not be tried before the court. This has increasingly been perceived as an exception tool of the current government. For instance, the problem which heightened tribal clashes today throughout the entire state was the case in which a government official from Wulu County was slain on his way home. The assailants were from Wulu too but the government did not intervene with proper investigation and advise the public on the matter. On the contrary, the same people that killed Sebit happen also to make a revenge attack on Rumbek East youth killing several of them. Unfortunately, the public with help from Nhialic, (God) used their intelligence and trapped the perpetrators among whom Wulu former County Commissioner went behind bars on charges of murder and defamation. Now instead of giving the law a chance, the Minister of Local Government, Mr. Mabor Meen Wol, deliberately went in person to the court and withdrew the papers in front of the judges saying that there is scrutiny needed to be done by his ministry – this is a total shame and it has been acknowledged by the governor himself. We were enraged by this act and blamed the governor for paying least attention. For all practical purposes outlined in this text, we believe that the government has today lost the public’s confidence that it can provide good political governance with sound and effective management of Lakes State’s economy which could ensure a decent life for the average citizen of this state, free from economic miseries. We have been infuriated when the constitutional post holders rise in their own salaries and never debate any concern to the insecurity and economic woes of the common people because it favors them. During the last elections which brought the incumbent governor to power, the public was thrilled with very sorrowful news that electoral votes in the college were got in exchange of cash not through public opinions. This is a gross violation to electoral ethics and it is our obligation to heighten our infuriation to the government. We are deeply protesting this act, it has caused total demise and contempt for the current governor of Lakes State that it has no healthy sign of accountability and transparency to lead a ruling government. As concerned citizens of this state, we request the state governor and his cabinet to enlighten the public by calling a press conference and answering the questions stipulated in this text. We also appeal to our traditional chiefs and community leaders not to be divided along political lines which will hinder the norms and traditions of the general public. Last but not least, we request our governor Eng. Tong to resign so that tranquility, good governance and transparency revive the lives of the people. Signed-- Comrades:------ 1. Mr. Matur Mapuor Deng 2. Mr. Malir Akol Yol 3. Buot Manyiel Buot 4. Yit Abuong Matur 5. Gar Adel Gar 6. John Majak Nhial 7. James Mabor Kon 8. Mr. Santino Aliap 9. Mr. James Ted 10. Mr. Thon Malual 11. Paul Marial Mon 12. Mr. Majak Cawul 13. Mr. Puondak Benjamin 14. Mr. Antipas Lueth -- 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.
