NBGS Supports Kiir’s Decision To Keep Troops In Heglig
Northern Bahr el Ghazal State (NBGS) citizens and the government have held peaceful protests in support of President Salva Kiir’s decision to keep the national army in Heglig as contrary to the call by United Nations Security Council (UNSC). 19 April 2012 Hon. Paul Malong Awan speaking to the media during a past event in Juba [©angokcom] By Agoth Abraham AWEIL, April 19th 2012 [Gurtong] Peaceful demonstrations continue in other parts of South Sudan, after the United Nations and the African Union last week called on Juba to withdraw its troops from the contested oil rich area of Heglig. In NBGS, hundreds of people marched to the offices of the United Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to express their frustration with the UN and AU. Last Monday morning the civil society activists including women, students and government officials marched from Nyamlel secondary school to UNMISS compound at Mathiang (where the UNMISS office is located) in Aweil town. The demonstrators chanted pro-SPLM slogans and sang war songs as they marched. They then handed over a letter expressing their opposition to the UN chief Mr. Ban Ki-moon’s calls for South Sudan to withdraw all forces from Heglig. A Juba University Student Adut Deng Tong who was part of the procession told Gurtong that, “SPLA must not withdraw from Heglig. They should remain there without moving an inch. As youths we will stand firm with the SPLA and give them moral and material support.” Jacob Bol who is also a student expressed that, “we are ready this time round to support the SPLA. We want to tell the whole world that we will support and defend our young state.” After handing over their petition to UNMISS, the demonstrators returned to the Council of Ministers offices to hear from their Governor, Hon. Paul Malong Awan. “Instead of fearing we better die for us to have freedom. We don’t have any problem with Ban Ki-moon but South Sudan must defend its recently won independence,” he said. He continued saying that, "with confidence and belief in one’s nation, no threats are tantamount to giving up your own land." “We all know how independence is achieved everywhere. Independence is not being made by one civilian,” Malong continued. Governor Malong called on the youths in Northern Bahr al Ghazal state to be ready to defend their country’s territorial integrity including the contested areas. He promised that if the aggression continues his entire cabinet will join in defending the state’s territory. Posted in: Home -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" 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/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
