Lily’s Disneyland Surprise!: Cutest Video of the Year

By PaanLuel Wel

Remember when they say ‘joy is overwhelming sometimes?’ This little girl’s surprising reaction to her birthday present in form of a visit to her favorite place–Disneyland, offer us a rare opportunity to see how dazzlingly an overwhelming joy can be!

Still, to make it as more exciting and intriguing as the famous balloon boy, I suggest that the little girl, with the help of a do-gooder lawyer, should sue her parents for “intentionally and willfully subjecting her to an overwhelming joy.”  Enjoy the video, am sure you will; gonna make your day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOpOhlGiRTM

Little girl’s cartoon reaction to Disneyland trip promise

By Nadine Bells | Good News –

Six-year-old (and Disney-obsessed) Lily received an early birthday present from her parents.

After Lily unpacked the contents of a Disney-princess backpack, her mom asked her where they should take her new birthday loot:

“If you could go anywhere, where would you want to go?”

“Disneyland,” Lily replied without hesitation.

“Why don’t we go?”

Watch the priceless reaction.

Sometimes joy is overwhelming.

Dengdit Ayok, the Destiny columnist, has been Arrested in Juba

Written by The New Sudan Vision (NSV),newsudanvision.com

Saturday, 05 November 2011 12:55

Dengdit Ayok was taken away by security agents on Saturday, 11/5/2011. Photo: Courtesy of Al-Misier.net (Juba South Sudan NSV) – Destiny daily columnist Dengdit Ayok has been taken into custodythis afternoon by the National Security, NewSudanVision.com has learned.This afternoon security agents entered premises of  Al-Misier and Destiny newspapers at Hai Kuwait neighbourhood, senior editor of  Al-Misier Abraham Malek told NewSudanVision.com. He said about six armed soldiers forced their way into the newspaper’s compound.  “They said, sit down, sit down,” said Malek. The security agents were looking for Dengdit, who was at the newspaper at the time.  The columnist was taken to custody by the agents. Malek said he didn’t know where they took him. Read more on The New Sudan Vision here: http://newsudanvision.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2483%3Abreaking-south-sudan-arrests-embattled-newspaper-columnist&catid=1%3Asudan-news-stories&Itemid=6

Public Lecture Delivered by Dr. Lam Akol in Nyakuron Cultural Centre in Juba

Dr. Lam Akol: THE ISSUES OF NATIONAL DIALOGUE

The Republic of South Sudan came into being on the 9^th of July 2011 and thus became the newest country in the international community. Naturally, the new state is facing enormous challenges; challenges that require the unity of purpose among its citizens to address them. To achieve this objective, a serious deep dialogue is required on the national level.

The African Experience:

South Sudan has at its disposal the experiences of the countries that became independent before it, whether in Africa or in other developing countries. It must study that wealth of experience in order to build on the positive aspects and avoid the mistakes committed. We do not need to get mired in the same mud!

The African struggle for independence after the Second World War, concentrated on political independence paying little heed to the concomitant economic independence. The battle cry was “seek thee first the political kingdom and other things shall follow”. When the independence was attained, they got stuck with the colonial underdevelopment economics leading them to a cul-de-sac. Hence, it was not by accident that the 1960s and early 1970s of the last century were dominated by military coups in many African countries. It is interesting to note that Communique No. 1 of all these coups were remarkably similar in content promising better life for the people. The few that did not experience a military coup, such as Kenya and Zambia, adopted a one-party system which was in effect a civilian dictatorship.

Economically, almost all the independent African countries were at some stage treated to the Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, which really did sap our meagre resources. SAP presented all countries that sought to benefit from the resources at the disposal of the Britton Woods institutions with the same formula of austerity measures (reduction of the work force, devaluation of the currency, lifting subsidies on commodities, etc.). We now know that if a country is dependent economically on other countries, the political independence becomes nothing more than a national flag and some trappings of power. The adage has it: “you cannot bite the finger that feeds you”.

Closer home, the two parties that ruled Sudan at the democratic intervals since 1954 (the National Unionist Party, NUP (latter transformed into Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, after unity with the People’s Democratic Party, PDP), and the Umma party) did not differ much from their African counterparts. Nothing in their programmes was related to development. To them democracy was just winning elections and running the country the way they wanted. “Al beled beledna, wa nehna asyadah”– the country is ours, and we are its masters- ran the infamous slogan of one of these sectarian parties!  Little wonder that almost all the military coups that took place in Sudan found no resistance from the masses of the people. In fact, the 1958 “coup” was a handing over of power by the Umma party Prime Minister to the leadership of the army.

Also, the war in South Sudan and the heavy toll it exacted on the economy lay behind the 1964, 1985 and 1989 regime changes. In fact, the Southern Problem was effectively used by the Northern political parties in their power struggle. As an example, the release by the 1958 government of the well-researched Cotran report on the “Torit disturbances” was motivated by the desire to embarrass Ismail Al Azhari more than to lay the facts bare.

The Exigency of National Dialogue

The national dialogue is urgent and important because as a new state we need to develop a consensus on matters of national concern to us all so that all the political parties and the civil society organizations commit themselves totally to them.  Having accepted democracy as the way to govern ourselves, governments change as different parties win elections. However, if we have all agreed on certain principles and policies, these will not change when power changes hands among political parties. This is the time to develop that consensus. We have successfully convened and concluded the “All Southern Sudanese Political Parties Conference” in October 2010. We can build on that as we debate issues in the national dialogue.

 

What are the Issues?

South Sudan has diverse cultures, ethnic groups, languages and religious beliefs. Hence, National Unity comes at the top of our agenda on national dialogue. As a people, we fought the war together and faced the difficulties engendered by it together. However, there is no denying of the fact that we were more cemented together by our dislike of the common enemy. The experience of the regional government of South Sudan (1972-1983) opened our eyes in a glaring manner to this reality. Therefore, we need to develop a common purpose to which we should give undivided allegiance as a people. In this respect, we must turn our diversity into an asset; something Sudan has miserably failed to do since independence. We must scratch beyond the surface to dig out how we can manage our diversity to the benefit of all. National Unity must embrace all; big or small, minority or majority.

Of utmost urgency in our march to consummate national unity is to quickly bring to an end the insecurity caused by inter and intra-communal violence and the rebels fighting our government.

National Unity must be predicated on good governance that rests on six pillars: provision of security, supremacy of the rule of law, multi-party democracy, a conducive environment for economic growth and prosperity, service delivery and a vibrant civil society.

Multi-party democracy as a system of government is the only guarantee of sustainable peace in our country. It is the only means that there can be a level field for all. Therefore, all must internalize it. Democracy is not just a seasonal process but a way of life that permeates all our actions in the political sphere. In our national dialogue, the principle of democracy is not subject to debate, rather, we need to discuss how to improve our ways and give equal opportunity to all to express themselves and to organize themselves into political parties and civil society organizations. The lead role here lies with the party(ies) wielding power. Democracy can never be complete if there is no strong opposition to the government of the day. The government should not see the opposition as an enemy, and the opposition should be presenting constructive criticism to government policies, not to the government as an institution. Both are different faces of the same coin.

South Sudan needs to set in place stringent fiscal and monetary policies and measures to control inflation and induce the revival and expansion of the economy. There is no way we can realize our ambition to achieve progress without paying heed to this important aspect. Without real growth in the economy, the lot of our people will remain pathetic: unemployment will continue to rise and other social and economic indices will continue to register poor performance. We must look critically at the tax regime operating now in South Sudan with a view of making the businesses pay the requisite taxes. It is also a must to diversify the sources of national income instead of relying solely on oil revenue which is a non-renewable source of energy characterized by instability in prices. The axe must also decisively fall on the current high government expenditure.

Development is our gateway to social advancement, economic growth and prosperity in our country. Our people have suffered immensely during the war and the attainment of peace was for them “payback time”. They have great expectations in terms of service delivery and better times ahead. Such expectations cannot be met without a coherent and realistic long-term socio-economic development plan (call it SP 2020, SP 2025, etc.) that taps our natural resources and takes into consideration the complexities of the world economic situation around us. This plan is to be agreed upon and worked out by all the active sections of our society. We live in a world where the boundaries are disappearing as regions and the world at large, as the case may be, turn into one huge market. In the case of South Sudan, we may join the East African Community, COMESA, etc. with large populations (more than 400 and 100 million, respectively, for COMESA and EAC) forming one market without custom duties on their products. Hence, a country that does not produce competitive goods and services turns into a consumer and cannot enjoy the benefits of such an association. We are a country endowed with agriculture, both plant and animal.

This is the field in which more than 80% of our population are engaged for their living. We have millions of hectares of virgin land, huge water resources and enough capital to invest in plant agriculture. In the field of animal resources and fisheries, we need to transform our huge cattle wealth into the economic value they should be and establish fishing areas and ponds. Poultry is essential to our food requirements and needs to be taken care of.  Our oil resources must be directed to bring about an agricultural revolution to produce enough food for ourselves (food security) and for export. Rather than being a basket case, we can be the bread basket of the region and beyond. Remember that some countries of the Gulf import sheep and meat from Australia!

The purpose and means of development is the human being. Hence, our human resources need to be classified and trained in a way that will make them competitive in this rapidly changing world. Therefore, quality education and continuous training must be meticulously planned and implemented at all levels. In this respect, it is to be stressed that bad policies and negative social attitudes towards certain types of education in Sudan, have disturbed the necessary ratio between the technicians and the professionals. To address this imbalance, we need to establish technical and technological education from primary to tertiary levels separate and parallel to the academic stream.

Our industrial development must begin with agro-industry. This is where we command a clear competitive edge. Sugar industry; food canning; vegetable oils and associated industries of soaps, detergents, animal meals; fish canning and preservation; forestry products with due regard to afforestation; paper and fuel from plants; herbs;     etc. The list is long. Industry needs energy to drive it. In this regard, we need to develop hydro-electric power from our falls and other renewable forms of energy, such as solar and wind. Of course, for some time to come we may not be able to dispense with thermal energy while our oil lasts.

The oil we produce is a very important source of export revenue. However, South Sudan needs to build at least one refinery not only to supply our needs of fuels and asphalt, but also to form the basis of petrochemical industry to supply our needs in plastics and related products.

Tourism is another promising field for South Sudan. A good blend of wildlife conservation practices and commercial investment in parks, hotels, inns, etc, is very likely to give excellent results and good income. Care must, however, be taken to avoid aspects of the tourist industry that impact negatively on our values.

The area of transport and communications infrastructure deserves special attention, so that we link the areas of production with the markets, connect the rural areas with the towns and improve security as access to previously remote areas would be possible. In the transport sector, river transport should be given priority not only as the least expensive mode of transport but additionally because most parts of South Sudan are connected by water arteries that are navigable either seasonally or, as in most cases,  all-year round. This was the case during the colonial period and there is no reason why it shouldn’t be the case now with more sophisticated technology available. A number of friends of South Sudan, such as Norway and Holland, have helped before and can help us now develop river transport efficiently.

Another pressing area in the transport sector is the construction of all-seasons roads with priority given to those connecting areas not accessible by river or to highways linking us with neighbouring countries. When we were young, we used to hear about the Juba-Lodwar road. It is about time it becomes a reality, as it is an important link to connect us to the continental highway, the dream of Sir Cecil Rhodes two centuries ago to build a highway from Cairo to the Cape!  Kenya has already constructed their part to Lokichogio and beyond, it is incumbent on South Sudan to complete the remaining part from Juba to the border. The other trunk is that from Nimule to Uganda. The railway project will have to wait for the simple reason that the bulk quantities, to and fro, needed to render its operation economical will not be available for the near future given the current state of our economy.

A lot of lip-service is given to the encouragement of investment in our country. There are a number of matters that need to be straightened for a meaningful and desirable investment to take place. First and foremost, the government must have an investment map for the country as a whole. Second, given the difficult infrastructural status of South Sudan, there need to be real incentives for the investors to come in, unless we want them to invest in towns only where facilities are better. Third, there are other impediments that need to be overcome, such as security, multiple taxation, employment policies, etc.

Foreign affairs is the area that demands consensus among all the stakeholders in the country more than the rest. We need to agree on the principles that guide our foreign policy that cannot change with the change of governments. Our diplomacy must serve our common interest in political, economic and social fields. In joining the international and regional bodies we have thus entered into commitments we must be prepared to respect, abide by and implement. We need to prepare ourselves for the new situation.

Corruption is a disease that eats into our meagre resources and it seems to have reached a cancerous stage. We must marshal all our energies to stamp it out. The President has time and again declared his intention to fight corruption. We should join him and support him fully in this national endeavour. Fighting corruption is not an easy task, and if we are lax in carrying out the fight or if we do not get to its roots, it can defeat us.  Therefore, it is a responsibility for all citizens to root out this disease.

Conclusion:

The birth of the Republic of South Sudan has placed upon our shoulders the responsibility to set it on the right path of development. As a people, we need at this stage to carry out a deep wide-ranging dialogue among ourselves to develop a common approach to our future.  We must develop a national consensus on issues that transcend party lines, so that all of us pay undivided allegiance to these issues. The management of our diversity is central to this dialogue. Thus, National Unity, a sound socio-economic development plan and good governance are the hallmark of the national discourse.

First Statement from Dr. James Okuk after Released from Detention

Dear All,

Thanks a lot for the solidarity you have shown when I was under arrest in Juba for almost two weeks. Though any citizen has a right to sue another matured citizen, I think that the due process of the law has not been followed in my case, and perhaps, in many other cases. There is nothing in the civilized world called a case from the office of the president should be treated above the law itself.

If some of my writings are seen to be against the former president of the government of Southern Sudan, H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir, I expected to have been approached for an apology as it is known in the media world. The funny part of it is that the selected five articles (collected by the director of the protection unit of the president and send to the CIDs) were written before South Sudan became an independent country with Mr. Salva Kiir as its first president. Since South Sudan became an Independent state I have never written any article on the president nor against South Sudan as being said by those running after me.

Now, I am out but with condition that I should remain a prisoner inside Juba town. The Prosecutor-General of the Government of South Sudan has instructed that I should be banned from travelling outside Juba. Upto now my mobile phone and passport are being detained by the security authorities. I don’t know what mixes the security with a police case if people are really sincere in South Sudan?

All in all, what has happened and what is still being awaited to happen is part of the challenges of the building of the new nation. I will consider it a sacrifice worthpaying for for the sake of genuine reform in our beloved South Sudan. South Sudan is my country and I will remain and work for its betterment whatsoever.

Be assured that I am fine and healthy in Juba here, and ready for any tougher time ahead. I will never get intimidated even if humiliated. It is a commitment.

Sincererly Yours,

Dr. James Okuk

How, Who and Why of My Arbitrary Arrest in Juba

Dr. James Okuk. Photo credits: anyuakmedia.com

By Dr. James Okuk

“No civil servant shall be favoured or victimized because of his or her political opinion.” {RSS Interim Constitution, 2011 article 139(l)}.

I – INTRODUCTION:

November 6, 2011 (SSNA) — In the first place I would like to thank all those who have expressed their solidarity with me when I was arrested, detained and imprisoned in Juba for almost two weeks without due legal process as enshrined in the Interim Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan (2011). I also appreciate the views of those who wished me bad situation of carrying my own cross and rotting in the oppressors’ detention cells and prisons for ever.

It was a very difficult moment not worth forgettable, but thank God and my courageous soul that I didn’t break down in those inhumane places that I was locked in. Of course those terrible places are known as “Factories for Manufacturing Manhood” (Masna Elrujal in Arabic) as I read it on one of the colonial detention cell walls still being used by the so-called liberators ruling in South Sudan now. What a continuation of the bad and unfortunate past! God save us from the evil of ourselves and adoption of colonial inhumane practices in the new Republic of South Sudan!

Reading from the comments and articles written in reaction to my case, I couldn’t imagine that I have many supporters and lovers in South Sudan and abroad. I deeply thank all of them from the bottom of my good heart. Thank God that I am alive and kicking normally now as before, though I am still a prisoner inside Juba till further notice. Perhaps, it is high time for me to request naturalization to Bari community man with permanent resident in Juba. Right now I am feeling as if I have risen from among the dead with a new discovery of what I couldn’t have known among the living rational animals in this human world.

With this epigrammatic preamble I have now the pleasure to tell in brief what has happened to me regarding how I was arrested, who did it and why it was done to me arbitrarily with a motive of humiliation and criminal-like mistreatment in Juba.

II – WHAT HAS HAPPENED REALLY?

In the afternoon of October 21, 2011 (Five Hours after my arrival in Juba), some men who verbally called themselves CIDs and Security agents came to the premise of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of South Sudan in a hunt for diplomat called James Okuk. They first got hold of a wrong young man who happened to be tall like me and from the same ethnic community as myself.

When I came to ask about what is happening as I was hearing my name being pronounced as the most wanted one, they immediately rushed at me and one of them snatched my diplomatic passport from my chemise pocket. They ordered me and the diplomat with the mistaken identity to get into a private car parked at the door of the Ministry.

I refused to get into the dark car till they show me their IDs and Warrant of Arrest with official information to the ministry before I could get kidnapped. Immediately pistols were out and cocked with a strict order that I get inside the dark care or else face the consequence of a pulled trigger. Many friends around me advised me to comply with the militant orders to avoid any evil news coming out from the unfortunate situation.

As the dark car and the accompanying ones drove me and my colleague away, I could see diplomats and Ambassadors (who were present at the scene) scared from the situation. They could not tell what will be our fate as the circumstance of our arrest remained mysterious and to un-unknown place where I was kept incommunicado as my cellular phone and diplomatic passport was confiscated by the security agents.

Two days after my lock-up in a very dirty and unhealthy detention cell inside Juba, the Counsel-General of the Government of South Sudan in the Ministry of Justice and an investigator officer called me into an office to take my statement. They carried a file carrying a compilation of five articles associated to the style of my writings in internet websites. One of the articles carries a black and white photo alleged to be mine and with cartoon drawings about police scandal in Rejaf.

The alleged sources that published these articles were http://www.sudaneseonline.com, http://www.southsudannation.com, http://www.southsudan.net and http://www.sudantribune.com. The article titled “South Sudan Paradox: Joyful Independence, Sorry Leadership” seems to be the one leading in the complaint that I have been writing against President Salva Kiir. The investigators inquired whether the photo is mine and whether I wrote the alleged articles. They also asked whether I am a member of SPLM-DC and what connection I have with Dr. Lam Akol. I was also investigated whether I know that civil servants are supposed to keep their mouth shut when it comes to the country and its leaders. They also asked me whether I know that my articles are read everywhere in the world on the internet.

I requested that I be allowed to go through those articles but was denied to do so except looking at the titles only. Hence, I confirmed what I saw only to be looking like some articles I wrote in 2010 and before 9th July 2011. But I told them that I cannot guarantee the contents of those articles till I read them properly in a sane environment. I also asked them about the good articles I wrote in praise of President Salva Kiir and why some of them where not compiled for the lawsuit as well in order to make it a fair case.

After the close of the investigators’ questions, I asked them to tell me the charges that provoked my arrest. I also requested from them to tell me exactly who sued me? They declined to give me an answer except that it was not their duty to tell me about the charges and the person who opened the case against me. They only could tell that a Security Lt. Colonel in charge of the Protection Unit of the President of the Republic is the one who signed a letter carrying a heading of the Office of the President, and requesting that I be prosecuted for the compiled five articles allegedly associated with my style of writings.

I asked them whether I have the right to be bailed out but they told me that the case is above them and they have nothing to do in this regard until the judge takes my confession, and perhaps allows me to be released if deemed necessary.

After this I was thrown back to the inhumane detention cell for another three days before I could be taken to a judge for the legal confession. During these days neither food nor water was provided by those who arrested me. I slept on a bare dirty ground without a cover. Rain beat me inside the cell at one of nights so badly. Going to outside toilet (though it was very dirty) at night was not allowed. The prisoner has to release himself inside the cell.

Later after three days, two armed policemen in green uniform together with the investigator came to take me to a court in Juba centre. I told the judge what happened in Arabic language as he could not speak and write in good English. He wrote down my statement and asked me to stamp the lined paper with my blue-inked thumb. He also declined to tell me the charges and the name of the person who sued me. After this the policemen brought me back to the inhumane detention cell near Juba Town Market.

Two hours later, the detention cells’ police guard opened the lock and told me to follow him without any question. Outside the inhumane detention cells, I found the investigator and two armed policemen who accompanied me to the court ready to transfer me to the Juba Central Prison. They handed me to the Prison Police Officers who oriented me on the situation there and how I am going to be put together in one compound with those who were convicted of many crimes (including juveniles and murderers), those waiting trials, and those imprisoned for madness and stripping themselves naked. I was strictly warned not to talk politics to anybody inside the prison.

Then, the prison warders’ police told me to take out my socks and shoe ties before they took me inside. I complied and got in to become prisoner for eight days where we are locked up in the wards at five o’clock in the evening and then locked out after six o’clock in the morning daily. The government provide food here but no clean drinking water.

But it was a terrible experience to eat what you are not used to, drink water and tea whose source you never know, and be together with naked madmen and those wearing chain for being convicted for murder and waiting capital punishment in guillotine for the end of their lives in this world in a very brutal manner as it used to be in the French Revolution. It was an interesting social life as a prisoner and with prisoners at the same time and in the same place in Juba. The law implementation agents have not treated me innocent till proven guilty. I was forced to be in prisoners’ uniform like any other criminal.

Eight days later I was called to the office of the manager officer of the prisons who told me that I am wanted by my investigator at police station. Two policemen were outside to escort me. The investigator told me that the Prosecutor-General of the Government of South Sudan has ordered that I be release but on a strong bail, that I should never travel outside Juba, and that failure of the person who would bail me out to bring me to the court on the day of trial would amount to a fine of 100,000 South Sudanese pound.

A number of individuals were ready to bail me out but most of them were rejected on a ground that they are members of SPLM-DC. At the end a director of one of the banks in South Sudan was accepted to bail me out after seven hours of negotiation with the investigator. Official Police Letters concerning my travel ban were sent to the airport and immigration office in Juba as instructed by the Prosecutor-General.

Finally I was released at 06:00 p.m on 2nd November 2011 and went home to rest as I was suffering from serious flue, perhaps coming from what I was inhaling when in prison. I am now living inside Juba but not different from a prisoner who is permitted to walk alone (dowar Brawo in Arabic) in the city and come back to the prisons anytime when needed to appear.

III – ANALYSIS OF WHAT HAPPENED:

Though any citizen or government has a right to sue a matured citizen for a criminal or civil charge, I think the due legal process has not been followed in my case, and perhaps, in many other cases. There is nothing in the civilized world called a case from the office of the president should be treated above the law itself. Where is the Equality of law for everyone in South Sudan even when he is not the President? When did the Security men who are supposed to be responsible for physical safety of the President became legal counsels to ask for legal suit for someone perceived to have gone critical on the president? Is there no legal advisor of the President to take care of such specialized matters if they are really genuine?

There is nothing in the interim constitution of the new republic that prevent a civil servant of expression his opinion as a citizen as long as he does not use his position in the government to support the opinion. In my articles on internet and some that have been published by newspapers, I have never alluded by any chance that I write as a diplomatic representative of the government. Where does the question of a civil servant criticizing his president and the government arises here? Even article 139(l) of the Interim Constitution of South Sudan allows civil servants to express their opinions without being discriminated nor victimized for doing so. I quote: “no civil servant shall be favored or victimized because of his or her political opinion.”

Not only this, but also if it becomes a cross-cutting rule that civil servants in South Sudan are not supposed to be associated with political parties or politicians, will not most of the government employees be dismissed in their current positions as a big number of them are registered members of SPLM party? Will multi-party democracy makes sense and where will South Sudan get enough voters and political mobilizers from?

Let those who want me to resign or have the ill motive to dismiss me from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation look for a credible reason for their action. After all they should rest assured that a highly qualified young man like me has many avenues of employment inside South Sudan and even abroad if pushed to a forced exile.

If some of my writings are seen to be against the former president of the government of Southern Sudan, H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir, I expected to have been approached for an apology as it is commonly known in the media world. This could have been done long time ago in 2010 or early 2011 when the articles I wrote were still fresh to make contextual and milieu sense. Since South Sudan became an Independent state I have never written any article on the president or against South Sudan as it is being propagated by those running after my sincere soul these days in Juba. I know my borders and write on what I critically know.

If those articles went personal against Mr. Salva Kiir as a citizen, why was it not clearly indicated even by the judge who took my legal confession that it was Mr. Kiir who sued me for damaging his image? If it is a police case why should the security agents keep my cellular phone and diplomatic passport up to now since the day of my release on bail?

IV – CONCLUSION:

I doubt whether President Salva Kiir can lower himself down to sue a young Southerner who is a PhD holder like me and from a different generation. President Kiir is the generation of my father and nothing would have made me to write against his leadership style if he were not the top boss of the government of Southern Sudan by then.

Also my critique to his leadership was not meant for harm but improvement as all human beings are born to make mistakes and learn from them. I am one of the people who want to see President Kiir a very successful leader to be recorded in South Sudan history apart from independence achievement resulting from the overwhelming votes of Southerners in 2011 referendum.

I am sure our dear President Kiir has benefited from my free-of-charge articles because I also wrote positive articles about his leadership. I am sorry if some of those articles have hurt him as a person but until I hear this from him directly. What has been said and done could have been put into his mouth without his knowledge and by those who may think that doing so will please the President to keep them in the job or reward them with promotions. Some of those flatterers could be from my very own Collo (Shilluk ethnic community) acting behind the scene by using foxily someone working in a very sensitive security area in the President’s Office.

Time will tell and the whole truth will come out sooner or later. If I wronged the President I will be ready to rot in prisons and let my children become street children as no one would take good care of them as I would have done. I will also be ready to apologize and demand amnesty and mercy from the President’s kindness with a promise that I will stop being a writer.

All in all, what has happened and what is still being awaited to happen is part of the challenges of the building of the new nation. I will consider it a sacrifice worth paying for. Genuine calls for public reforms are said to be generated by abuse and mess-ups of government powers. Perhaps my case would become part and parcel of the causes that will provoke reform of the law implementation agencies in the Republic of South Sudan. I am not going to take it as a personal issue nor will I develop hatred against anyone involved negatively in this case even if he is a judge.

I love my country, South Sudan. I will remain and work for its betterment whatsoever comes on my way. I will never get intimidated or discouraged even if mistreated and humiliated. It is a commitment if not a promise!

Dr. James Okuk is South Sudanese and a PhD holder from University of Nairobi. He is now residing in Juba and could be reached at okukjimy@hotmail.com

http://www.southsudannewsagency.com/opinion/editorials/how-who-and-why-of-my-arbitrary-arrest-in-juba

Sudan lodges ‘border war’ complaint with UN against South Sudan

AFP
KHARTOUM — Sudan has lodged a fresh complaint with the UN Security Council detailing South Sudan’s alleged support for rebels in its war-torn border states, just four months after partition, state media reported Saturday. Sudan’s UN ambassador …

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j3f9XU-ifWV13fLL1AZnu4vfztdQ?docId=CNG.a831caea8844cce92095d0b22f0d4c3d.941

South Sudan offers economic package to Khartoum

JUBA, 4 November 2011 – The Secretary General of South Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) Hon. Pagan Amum today announced that the Government of the Republic of South Sudan has offered a comprehensive package to the Khartoum government to create a relationship which will establish an environment which is conducive for addressing the outstanding issues between the two countries.
While speaking at New Sudan Palace in Juba today attending a workshop organized by the SPLM in its efforts to strengthen the party leadership, Hon. Pagan said the Government of the Republic of South Sudan is committed to establish a new relationship with the North which he said will be based on assistance and cooperation in all fields. He added that in line with this the SPLM government has accepted to provide an economic assistance to the Republic of the Sudan in order for the latter to manage the economic crisis it is experiencing as a result of the loss of oil revenues produced in South Sudan.

 

Hon Amum addressing the media.
[Photo: Matata Safi]
Hon. Amum further stressed that in return South Sudan expects the Republic of the Sudan to respect the territorial integrity and dignity of the people of South Sudan, for instance by recognizing that Abyei is part of the Republic of South Susan.
“We believe this package will provide the basis for peace and mutual cooperation between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan”, he said. He added that if accepted by Khartoum, the package would ensure a better future for the people of the Republic of the Sudan and the people of the Republic of South Sudan. He said this would give both countries an opportunity to redirect their energies to peace, create wealth and change the lives of the people of the two countries.
He said South Sudan’s delegation is waiting for communication for the next round of talks from the African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AU-HIP), the body that is leading the negotiations between Khartoum and Juba in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Reported by Matata Safi

Sudan: South Sudan Offers Economic Package to Khartoum
AllAfrica.com
Juba — The Secretary General of South Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) Hon. Pagan Amum today announced that the Government of the Republic of South Sudan has offered a comprehensive package to the Khartoum government to create a relationship …

Sudan Captures Rebel Stronghold in Blue Nile
Voice of America (blog)
Sudanese government forces have captured a rebel stronghold in the restive border state of Blue Nile. Sudanese officials say the army has succeeded in pushing the rebels out of Kurmuk, a town located close to South Sudan, which broke away from Sudan in …

Sudan: South Sudan Welcomes Genuine Investors
AllAfrica.com
Juba — The Government of the Republic of South Sudan welcomes and encourages only genuine investors to come and invest in the country, Hon Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin the minister for Information and Broadcasting has said. …

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South Sudan: first things first – in pictures

The Guardian

The Republic of South Sudan is the world’s newest nation, achieving independence on 9 July following Africa’s longest-running civil war. Optimism is high – 98% of voters chose secession – but the new government has almost no capacity to run a village, …

Mabior Garang, son of Dr John Garang, a former SPLA rebel leader and Sudanese politician“The people are edgy right now. They fought the war, contributed their children, their crops, their livestock. The moment they should be paid back, the ­movement is hijacked by the ­”cut-and-paste ­middle class” – the foreign diaspora returning. They can’t institute ­policies that speak to the people. And when ­people are hungry and perceive those in power are denying them food, they will rise up.”

Rachel Angeth Madit, 21, Miss South Sudan/Miss New Sudan ­African Queen“My four brothers died during the war. I went to secondary school in Uganda. I came back to Juba last year with my mum. I haven’t seen my father since I was 15. He is a Dinka, has 20 wives and many children – he’s a chief. I saw the modelling ­competition on the internet. I won a small car, a laptop and a crown. I haven’t done any modelling yet – there is no industry here – but I’ve registered my agency, South Sudan Next Top Model. I just need ­investors. And I’m involved with an orphans project in Juba.”

Sabina Dario Lokolong, deputy minister for humanitarian affairs and disaster management“From 1998, I lived in Leeds and worked in odd jobs – catering, a warehouse, Eastgate ­Jobcentre. I returned to Sudan in 2005. After the ­comprehensive peace agreement, I became a member of ­parliament, and then, after ­independence, deputy minister.”

General Mamur Obuto Mete, ­deputy chief of staff for moral ­orientation responsible for the demobilisation of militias and ­renegade groups, pictured with his bodyguards.

Atem Yaak Atem, deputy ­minister, ministry of information and broadcasting‘I was the owner and editor of the Pioneer newspaper in Juba. As I was in the SPLA, I was a propagandist. I have been compared to Goebbels. I was appointed in August. I’m like a fish out of water, wearing a suit.’

Benjamin Bol, a former SPLA rebel soldier who now runs a multimillion dollar road-building business‘When I was at university in Nairobi, I saved all my money, bought two trucks and rented them to the UN and the SPLA for $500 a day. Then there was a shortage of food, so I bought imported food and sold it to the army. The turning point was starting a business in Juba.’

Silver X, 24, rap artist and singer‘My album is a great hit. Small kids sing it, old mamas and papas. I don’t go into politics in my singing – it’s a bit risky. I sang a song about how hard it is when you go for a job and they want to know what tribe you’re from, who your father is. It brought me into conflict with the government. My father died in the war. He was shot by his wife’s brother – they were soldiers. My mother took us to Uganda and I was educated in Kampala. When we achieved independence, I was shocked. There was a four-day concert and I performed at the cultural centre. When they raised the flag, I was ­shedding tears – for what had ­happened in the past, but also for joy.’

Rock City Hotel Pool, Jebel Hill, JubaOn Sunday afternoon, the pool fills up with well-off South Sudanese.

Please click the link below; there are lots of cool photos with very revealing statement about South Sudan

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2011/nov/04/south-sudan-nation-builders-zed-nelson?newsfeed=true#/?picture=381252069&index=0

South Sudanese Models Citizens

How three New York City beauties are helping the world’s youngest nation

EILON PAZ

Models (from left) Eligha Ojok, Mari Malek and Grace Bol escaped Sudan and now work at New York restaurant Indochine.

By MITCH SWENSON

Her mother had fled. Her uncle would be arrested the next day. Eligha Ojok was not yet 12 years old, but she knew that Khartoum was not safe. Her cousin kept watch for police at the door. Ojok grabbed the hands of her two younger brothers and stepped into the blazing Sudan sun. Today, she worries that that was the last time she will ever see her homeland.

“I thought they were dead,” she says matter-of-factly of her family and friends. “It was years later that we found out only my uncle was alive in Juba. He had escaped from the jail and is still partially paralyzed from the torture. He will never be the same, but we just thank God he didn’t die.”

Ojok’s friends Grace Bol and Mari Malek tell similar tales. Each fled their native homeland of Sudan as refugees during the height of the civil war, and, after a painstaking journey through the heartland of Africa, eventually found sanctuary in the United States — Ojok in Pittsburgh, Bol in Kansas City and Malek in Newark

Read more:  http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/sudan_model_citizens_ApyFim3