Pangak County Commissioner Accused of Incitement, Favouritism, and Systematic Displacement .
"MPs of Pangak county: Peter Kuon Yak (Left), Tuoung Majok Deng (Right)" (Sudan Tribune) . The Republic of South Sudan Jonglei State, Fangak County From: Thiang Community in Phom El Zeraf - Fangak County To: the office of the Minister of Local Government, Jonglei State Subject: Petitioning the commissioner: The case of Old Fangak Payam! Pangak, August 10, 2012 (SSNA) -- Reference to the meeting held on 24/07/2012 between the commissioner of Fangak County and the members of Thiang community in Phom El Zeraf, against the rumours that were going on for some time, below are the excerpts and points discussed with the commissioner during the aforementioned meeting that took place in Phom. The said meeting was precipitated by the rumours that were heard by the Mareang community members regarding Old Fangak Payam and its surrounding bomas, with the commissioner allegedly saying that Thiang should no longer be considered inhabitants of Old Fangak Payam. As a result, the Thiang community sent a five-member committee to meet with the commissioner so as to ascertain facts as opposed to relying on rumours and ear-says. The committee from Thiang community met with the commissioner on 24th of July, 2012, and the commissioner bluntly told the five-member committee that Old Fangak Payam is not your Payam and you should keep your hands off from claiming it. He mentioned in the meeting that the Payam, which was previously in Old Fangak, will now be shifted to Toch Boma; which will change its status from Boma to Payam. When the committee inquired about the fate of those people from Thiang community residing in the surrounding Bomas at Old Fangak and the school that was built in Wangchot Boma with the CDF funds, he literally told the members that if you want, you can remove the school located at Wangchot and go with it. He went as far as suggesting the removal of the tomb of late head chief, Duol Riik Tutroal from Wangchot. The Thiang community committee members were outraged and alarmed by these words coming out from the commissioner, who was supposed to maintain peace and unity amongst the people of Fangak instead of dividing the people by causing havoc and friction by making these outrageous remarks. When the committee heard this, they disagreed outright with the commissioner about the issue of Old Fangak Payam being shifted to Toch Boma. We told him that we were fully aware of the local government records that only recognize Old Fangak Payam as being for Thiang community in addition to Mareang Payam. Therefore, we only know Old Fangak Payam to be our Payam; and not Toch, as being preached by the commissioner and his cohorts. When H.E. the minister of local government, government of Jonglei State, went to Fangak County in early June, 2012, there were only five Payams in his records. They are as follow: Old Fangak Payam, Mareang Payam, Pullita Payam, Paguir Payam and Manajang Payam, respectively. But when the commissioner came back from the US where he visited his family, he decided to act contrary to the minister's order/list by adding some non-existent, blanket Payams to the list. In the minister's list, Toch is only recognized as a Boma - not as a Payam - as being claimed by the commissioner now. In light with this development, some facts justifying the ownership of Old Fangak by Thiang may be necessary at this juncture. It's a common knowledge that the inhabitants of Old Fangak and its surrounding Bomas are from Thiang community. For instance, out of the four Bomas under Old Fangak Payam, Three (3) Bomas are exclusively occupied by Thiang Community. Namely, Wangchot Boma, PulPam Boma and Pultutni Boma are for Thiang, whereas, the fourth Boma; which is for Ciengkuacboar is Chotbora Boma. According to the 2008 fifth Sudan Population census, Old Fangak Payam had a total population of 16,000 people, under the three Bomas for Thiang. Chotbora Boma was counted under Paguir Payam during the census. Mareang Payam's total population was 23,000 people, according to the 2008 census. Therefore, if you add 16,000 to 23,000, it becomes 39,000 people. Even historical facts alone speak volumes since the reign of Bar Khan and his Son, Chief Madhir Bar Khan. Also, the local revenues being generated, only Thiang in these three Bomas do remit their local revenues to the county through Old Fangak Payam; Chotbora Boma does remit local revenues but through Paguir Payam. Conclusion/way forward: We urge the commissioner to stop making such remarks that have the potential for inciting violence between Thiang community on one hand, and his ciengkuacbor community or those supporting him on the other. We believe the scheme being orchestrated by the commissioner is ill-intentioned and is aimed at giving the ownership of Old Fangak Payam to his ciengkuacbor community behind the scene - and particularly his ciengduongrial sub-clan. It's a known fact the commissioner is surrounded by cohorts from ciengduongrial sub-clan who ill-advise him on some of these issues. We believe the commissioner is driving a wedge between his community and Thiang community by trying to settle old scores. We should not be hoodwinked by the commissioner's fallacious statement that Old Fangak will be a municipal town council because of its metropolitan nature. We urge the state government to intervene swiftly in order to avoid the worst case scenario in the looming situation. The recommendations to the state government: 1. We appeal to the Jongei State government to send an independent, non-partisan fact finding committee in order to ascertain facts on the ground and to meet with local chiefs from Thiang community. 2. We urge the state government to stick to the original list of Payams that is in possession of the minister of Local government. 3. The state government should give the final say on this matter to be decided by the Thiang local chiefs and Youth at the county/other levels. 4. We urge the state government to give a stern warning to the commissioner to desist from making these unilateral decisions that would have serious ramifications, and to stop causing friction between the people of Fangak County. Names of the committee members, who met the commissioner on the 24th of July, 2012; 1. Abraham Gatluak Mot - Chairperson of Thiang community in Phom 2. Jacob Riek Khan - Member 3. Stephen Gai Muon - Member 4. James Dolek Gatpan - Member 5. John Gor Top - member Signed by: The chairperson of Thiang community Association in Phom Abraham Gatluak Mot Annex: Bomas and Villages inhabited by Thiang community under Old Fangak Payam. The Bomas under Old Fangak Payam: 1. Pulpam Boma 2. Pultutni Boma 3. Wangchot Boma The villages under these Bomas: 1. Malieth 2. Pulnyal 3. Guachewer 4. Kuerdiel 5. Patiap 6. Koatbuny 7. Wangchuol 8. Thowchuol 9. Banytoach 10. Pulriey 11. Koat 12. Puldin 13. Puljoakni 14. Thorgeah 15. Rotkur 16. Kuerlual 17. Juol 18. Rupguor 19. Buorkow 20. Heal 21. Galam 22. Nonimac 23. Nuaiwiel 24. Pulthoak 25. Bhan 26. Pullieth 27. Paguan (1) 28. Paguan (2) 29. Nyarkuach 30. Puljang CC: Governor's office CC: GOSS, Office of the president CC: Fangak Community Chairperson CC: File Comment : Riek D*5 hours ago- The commissioner has lost the legitimacy and must be shown the exit door if we are to choose peace over prolonged conflict and crisis after crisis. He must resign or the government being sensitive to people's feelings and demands must remove him by decree. Thanks -- 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
