Archive for February, 2014
South Sudan’s crisis ripples across region
Posted: February 28, 2014 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in Junub Sudan0
Sexual Demand for South Sudanese Girls in Nairobi
Posted: February 28, 2014 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in Junub SudanSexual demand for dark skinned Juba women on the rise
Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/thenairobian/article/4430/sexual-demand-for-dark-skinned-juba-women-on-the-rise
SBS Radio Interview with Atem Yaak atem
Posted: February 27, 2014 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in Junub Sudan, VideosPresident Kiir and Dr. Riek agree in principle to forming interim government?
Posted: February 27, 2014 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in Junub SudanPresident Uhuru Kenyatta’s Statement in Juba, South Sudan, Feb 26th 2014
Posted: February 27, 2014 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in SpeechesHIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA’S STATEMENT AFTERHOLDING TALKS WITH PRESIDENT SALVA KIIR IN JUBA, SOUTHSUDAN, 26TH FEBRUARY, 2014
We came this morning to show our support and solidarity to President SalvaKiir and the people of South Sudan. We also came to share our concern about the issues that are ongoing and, indeed, the need for us to be able to find a speedy resolution to these issues in order to enable the people of South Sudan get on with the more critical issues of economic and social development, which I believe is their desire.
The entire region is concerned. We stand in solidarity with the people of South Sudan and we urge all leaders to ensure that what needs to be done is done for the sake of peace and stability not just in South Sudan but, indeed, the entire region.
We have had fruitful discussions with his excellency President Kiir and I strongly believe we have assured him of our support in this particular process. As we move forward, we want to see the position that we set together as IGAD followed and implemented.
We want to see a cessation of hostilities. We want to have the ability in the shortest time possible to also put in place a monitoring mechanism. all these efforts are geared towards ensuring a speedy resolution of the conflict and the restoration of peace for the people of South Sudan and stability of the whole region. This will enable us all to focus our energies and our attention on driving the social and economic agenda of our region forward.
We look forward to coming back in future and we will continue to consult very closely. Our people will also continue to work closely. Mine is to assure the people of South Sudan that your brothers and sisters in Kenya stand by you and stand in solidarity with you. Thank you
God will not be silent forever in South Sudan crisis.
Posted: February 27, 2014 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in Featured ArticlesBy Morris Mabior Awikjokdit
God’s love is revealed in a perfect balance between justice and mercy because of sin, man’s sense of justice and mercy has been utterly distorted. Man’s limited view in the affairs of God makes it hard to understand and trust Him, however, God’s apparent silence in the affairs of men is consequence of sin. Sin is offensive to God and this is what has separated man from God.
Many passages in the Holy Bible indicate that God breaks His silence from time to time using plagues, famines, sickness and disease, poverty and other natural disasters such as tsunamis , flood and earthquakes and definitely some diseases are man -made disaster like what Riek Machar has done last to take arms against his own people. This He does, to draw one’s attention to limit the growth of sin. Man’s innate ability to rebel against God has made the world unbearably evil. At times, God allows things to happen until the cup of iniquity fills up, He breaks His silence, steps in and mete out appropriate punishment.
Some passages in the bible points to God’s wrath after several warnings. The Bible reveals that God follows a consistent principle when dealing with humanity. This is termed the ‘full cup principle’. Very often, the bible uses the metaphor of a cup, to indicate the fullness of an experience. To illustrate this fact, the following examples refers..
a) Jesus’ words before His crucifixion…”My Father, if it is possible, may this cup(bitter) be taken away from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” b) Thou prepares a table before me, in the presence of my enemies, you anoint my head with oil, my cup(joy) overflows, c) The story of Noah’s flood, the cup of iniquity had reached full measure. d) The deadly 2013/2014 failed military coup d’état that hit and affected the three states of Upper region most probably represented God’s judgments of a full cup of iniquity of Riek, Nyandeng Garang, Majak Agot, and those with invisible support behind them including the western countries played a destructive role in South Sudan political conflict.
When sins reach a certain level, drastic judgment follows. Jesus gave many warnings in his teachings and discourses to his disciples and followers to watch out for these type of happenings. Because of man’s persistent lawlessness and rebellious attitude towards God, the bible tells us that these things will continue to happen.
The full cup principle of iniquity, is based on the idea that God measures the actions of mankind. When all of God’s grace has been displaced by willful sin, the cup is full of bitterness, as a result we drink of the consequences of our actions, similar to the law of sowing and reaping, a law of reciprocal action.
Each City, Nation, Kingdom or Empire, has a cup and when it is full, God breaks His silence. God’s mercy with sin and sinners has a limit. In the book of Ezekiel, chapter. 24 verse 14 ..it states “I the Lord have spoken; the time will come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions.” In this quotation Riek Machar for second time and those who line-up themselves behind him will be judged according to their conducts and actions they have done here on earth. In the case of the Amorites, a term used for the Canaanite nations, the judgment of God on these nations was due to the perverted and immoral life of homosexuality, child sacrifice, adultery, witchcraft they practiced. Isn’t all these prevalent in our society today.
A serious call to repentance and change of attitude towards God’s laws and commandments is a prerequisite at this point in time. Attitudinal change, loving obedience to our Creator and love for one another will make our world a better place to live in as was God’s original plan. A blessed and stress free 2014 in Jesus name.
The Author: is a freelance opinion writer and professional experience teacher based in Warrap State- Kuajok. He can be reached by email: morrisawikjok@yahoo.com
The Quest for Peace and Security in the Republic of South Sudan
Posted: February 27, 2014 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in Featured ArticlesBy Morris Mabior Awikjokdit
The existence of peace in this planet stretches far beyond the absence of war. Peace in the world begins right in our hearts, in the homes or family, at the national and international levels. To achieve the ideals of sustainable peace, progress and prosperity in the world, people have to inculcate the spirit and culture of peace in themselves and their children at a tender age.
The importance of peace cannot be overemphasized. Without peace, this world would not be a place fit for human survival. Peace is an inner sense of calm that can come in moments of silent gratitude or prayers. It is a way of becoming very quiet and looking at things so as to understand them. It is also about facing your fears, and then letting them go with the trust that things will be all right.
Peaceful people are blessed with the awareness that all human beings are part of one human family. Peace in the world begins right with the peace in the heart and our interactions with others. A peaceful heart is always free of trouble, worry or worries. Without peace you would feel that you have to control everything and everyone.
Peace in the world is not something that governments of the world create while everyone sits and wait, like spectators watching a football match. People have to make peace in their homes, work places and schools. Peaceful people are always free of violence, prejudices, safe from injustice and other inhuman activities.
When each of us is peaceful, all those who in one way or the other come in contact with us will feel loved, respected and treated fairly, above all we would begin to see our differences as benefits rather than a cause to fight. We would not see our differences as a threat to who we are and what we are; we would not judge others by what we heard but rather we would judge them through what we know.
The independence message from the President to South Sudanese both at home and abroad to nurture this culture of peace is vital and should serve as food for thought for every South Sudanese. Notwithstanding, The South Sudan is well known for its hospitality, peace and tranquility. But the sustainability of this peace and tranquility depends on our ability to accept the culture of tolerance and civility.
It is common knowledge that peace and development are tied together in much the same way as life is tied to the air we breathe. We need not contemplate any prospect of development when either our environment or our neighbor’s, is in disorder. And proximity, vis-à-vis how close one might be to a prevailing problem, does not in any way matter these days.
The effects of a conflict can be felt as far as the influence of globalization can determine, yet the force of globalization is clearly inexorable. This makes it especially incumbent upon everyone to ensure the propagation, promotion and safeguarding of peace and tranquility; even if not for one’s own sake, but for the sake of the future generation, to whom we owe it.
Let us all then allow peace to flourish in the Republic of South Sudan.
The author: is a freelance opinion writer and a professional teacher based in Warrap State- Kuajok. You can reached him by email: morrisawikjok@yahoo.com
Classroom Discipline and Management in South Sudan
Posted: February 27, 2014 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in EducationBy Morris Mabior Awikjokdit
“A school can be regarded as a social institution, and important one for that matter. As an institution, it has to have certain basic regulations governing, controlling and directing the behavior of its members the majority of whom are pupils”.
In such a setting discipline is important, since without it the purpose of the school cannot be achieved effectively. Discipline implies control, without which there would be anarchy and chaos and learning would not take place effectively. The problem of discipline is not new in our system of Education in South Sudan and Africa in general. Pupil’s defy the teacher’s authority, thus creating a state of tension and hostility.
To begin with as an experience trained professional teacher, it is appropriate that we identify the causes that necessitate discipline. There are several causes and therefore I will attempt to discuss a few to the knowledge of my experience. Misbehavior in school and the classroom may originate in the child himself, the school, the society, the child’s parents or the teachers.
The child
A number of child-related factors may be responsible for pupil’s misbehavior in class. First, he may well have been raised to behave in ways which are not congruent with the behavior expected of him at school .It is also common for a child to misbehave in order to conform to peer expectations and avoid rejection.
Frustration’s at home or at school may result to misbehavior, as may the approval and recognition a pupil receives from his peers for challenging the teacher’s authority. .Misbehavior such as cheating in tests may be motivated by the desire to avoid making mistakes and being punished.
The home
A child who does not receive love and good care from his parents is likely to have no respect for them and may well extend this perception of adults to all the other figures of authority in his life, including his teachers and school itself. Often parents are unable to control their children, who transfer their way of relating at home to the school situation.
It also happens that a problem being experience by his parents, child becomes too preoccupied with problems at home, for example the marital problems being experience by his parents, can make him unable to concentrate at school and as a result transgresses school regulations. A child’s behavior may also be affected by his parents’ economic status. For example, he may sometimes miss school in order to do some form of domestic work to help supplement their income.
Parents themselves may foster misbehaviors by their children. Often they interfere in what the teacher is doing and refuse to allow their children to be punished, irrespective of what they have done. Some parents criticize the teachers in front of their children telling him/ her, what he or she may and may not do. Obviously parents must have a say in the way their children are taught and treated, but it would be in their best interest to trust that teachers knows what they are doing, and to refrain from interfering in their work unless they do something really outrageous.
Society
Society too must bear its share of the responsibility for the misbehavior of children at school. What happens at school is merely a reflection of what is going on in society. Through the media, children are exposed to violence and see their peers and adults defying authority. They model such behavior and apply it to their relationships with other children at school and with the school itself.
The School
For various reasons school may also be a source of lack of discipline and misbehavior among children. Some of the school rules and regulation may not only be rigid and strict, but also punitive and unnecessary, in my opinion.
If the classes are large and crowded, it is difficult for the teachers to maintain control. Undesirable behavior on the part of children in such classes may well be the result of them being uncomfortable and therefore unable to concentrate. Misbehavior in this context may actually be a way of releasing tension.
Inadequate supervision of the pupils during break period may give the older, stronger pupils the opportunity to bully others. Another factor affecting discipline in school is the authority vested in the teacher. In some schools, certain disciplinary measures may be administrated by the head teacher only. Teacher is the only person with limitations on his time, and it will be too much to expect him to cope with all the disciplinary problems in school.
The Teacher;
Teachers seldom acknowledge their culpability for disciplinary problems. The blame is usually laid on pupils and their parents who did not bring them up properly! However, teachers can cause children to misbehave as a result of the way in which they interact with them at school particularly in the classroom.
Some teachers have very little regard for pupil’s feelings and ridicule, belittle and humiliate them, which does not contribute to the establishment of a positive relationship between the teacher and his pupils. A teacher cannot expect his pupils to like and respect him in my opinion, since he knows no other method of disciplining children expect through corporal punishment.
Furthermore some teachers come to class unprepared, late or improperly dressed, which is unlikely to engender respect for them among their pupils.
Some teachers use the classroom as a platform for destructive criticism of the pupils’ parents and culture believing themselves to have some sort of immunity with regard to arousing the children’s resentment.
Teachers can also contribute to disciplinary problems in the classroom by giving their pupils assignments that are too difficult for them, being unable to answer their questions satisfactorily, or setting unreasonable and flexible deadlines for assignments and having groups of favored and disliked pupils.
How to maintain discipline in the classroom
In an attempt to identify some of the origins of classroom discipline problems, I will now focus on how in my opinion the issue of discipline can be maintained in a classroom in the process of teacher-pupil interactions.
The teacher must make it clear what the objective of his lesson is, so that pupils can approach it in a purposeful way, with the aim of achieving certain goals. The work pupils are given should neither be too easy nor too difficult for them. If the work is too easy, the pupils will probably consider it a waste of time and an insult to their intelligence, but if it is too difficult, they are likely to experience failure and frustration and ultimately, to give up. In either case, inappropriate behavior is likely to occur. Moreover, the teacher’s preparation for his lesson can result in improvements in classroom management.
A teacher who is well prepared exudes a sense of self-confidence, and his pupils will perceive him or her as being well organized. It is imperative that new teachers or teachers who are working with new class, over prepared rather than underprepared. The pupils will realize that there is a great deal to do and therefore they have no time to waste. They will also feel that their time is considered valuable and that the teacher is in control.
Whatever is being taught, the lesson should be presented in such a manner that pupil’s interest will be aroused and sustained for the duration of the period. It is also essential that, with assignment, pupils should be given clear instructions as to how they should proceed. Their progress must be monitored and individual questions should be attended to as they work on the assignment. The teacher should not consider this to be spare time for sitting in the staff room or knitting or reading a newspaper.
A person’s name signifies his identify and most pupils find it satisfying to know that a person as important as a teacher knows them by name. Therefore a teacher should learn his pupil’s names as quickly as he can. This is likely to make them feel positively about him and that they are welcome in his class. Having learned their names, the teacher should make a point of using them as often as possible to ensure that he does not forget them, for example when greeting them, talking to them or asking them to do something.
The teacher and pupils should collaborate in drawing up a set of rules regarding what is expected of the pupils in class. These rules should be kept to a minimum and should be workable, reasonable and clear. The teacher should discuss any violation of the rules calmly with the pupils concerned in order to find out what caused it. He should be prepared to listen to the pupils and show an interest in their learning and success. He should intervene to help pupils as soon as he can, and praise them where such reinforcement is warranted. If criticism is necessary, it should be aimed at the offence rather than the pupil as a person.
A teacher should be known for or strive for the following qualities: friendliness and firmness, competence and a positive self-concept. In dealing with pupils he should be both reasonable and fairly consistent and should give them the impression that he knows what he is doing. This is especially important when a teacher starts working with a new class.
Finally, at all times the teacher must show that he is in charge, competent, confident and prepared for the lesson, and act in a professional and business like yet, pleasant and supportive manner. In my opinion, teachers who are competent, organized, and well-prepared will have fever management and discipline problems. It is also my opinion that, teachers who are able to minimize the management and discipline problems tend to be successful in their teaching.
Dealing with misbehavior;
Despite taking the preceding precautions , a teacher could still find himself dealing with a situation where preventive measures have failed and he must take some sort of action concerning undesirable behavior on the part of the pupil. There are several ways of dealing with such situations in my opinion, and I attempt to discuss a few It is my believe that reprimanding a pupil privately is more effective than doing so publicly. Better still the teacher could discuss the misbehavior with the pupil at an appropriate time. The pupil is likely to take heed of this courteous warning.
If a pupil does not do or complete an assignment and the teacher’s attempts to change this behavior are unsuccessful, he should bring the problem to the attention of the head teacher or the parents of the pupil or better still the school counselor.
I wish to suggest a number of ways in dealing with classroom problems;
If for instance a pupil misbehave during lesson, the teacher may take one of the following strategies.
(a) Give the pupils a long hard look to show that you are not happy with what he/she is doing and the sooner he/she stops doing it the better.
(b) Simply draw the pupil’s attention to the undesirable behavior.
(c) Command the pupil to pay attention to what is going on.
(d) Draw the attention of the misbehaving pupil to that of a pupil who is behaving appropriately.
(e) Ignore the behavior and praise the positive behavior.
I also believe that the teacher can maintain discipline by moving in the direction of a misbehaving pupil without stopping what he is doing. Undesirable behavior would also be brought under control simply by asking the pupil concerned a relevant question.
Troublesome students may be made to sit in the front row where the teacher can keep an eye on them. Where the teacher detects tension and a state of restlessness among the class, he should find out whether the pupil need help with their work and give it where possible. Otherwise he may crack a joke to release the tension. Various minor misbehavior such as an occasional whisper or the passing of a note should be ignored, since they are not worth worrying about.
Punishment
Punishment as you may know means being subjected to a painful stimulus or having a pleasant one removed due to engaging in undesirable behavior.. Punishment in school may take the form of suspension, corporal punishment, manual work, expulsion, isolation, detention after school and being deprived of certain privileges. The types of misbehavior for which punishment may be justifiably be administered in my opinion are disrespect for teachers or authority, fighting, vandalism, missing classes, failing to do assignments, making a noise in the class and not paying attention in class.
Punishment is used world-wide as a means of controlling undesirable behavior though in some parts of the world it is used extensively and freely, partly because there are no legal measures in existence to restrain its use, particularly in the form of corporal punishment.. Indeed the way in which some teachers interact with their pupils makes the classroom a war zone. The use of punishment is a controversial issue, with some psychologists arguing in its favor and others arguing for its banning.
The focus of the controversy is the use of corporal punishment and server forms of punishment. My believe is that, the best policy regarding corporal punishment is to avoid it all together.
It is widely argued that the use of corporal punishment is not an effective means of controlling undesirable behavior, and its effect do not justify its use. From experience punishing a child physically can cause the child to develop hatred for school, the teachers and learning in general. In some cases it may lead to absenteeism or dropping out of school altogether. Although I don’t personally endorse the use of corporal punishment but it well be naive to believe that it has no place in the maintenance of discipline.
In my opinion if punishment in whatever form is felt to be necessary and justifiable one needs to put the following factors into consideration when administering it.
i. Ensure punishment be used rarely, sparingly and as a last resort.
ii. Before a pupil is being punished he should be told why he is being punished.
iii. Punishment should be administered as soon as an offence is committed so that a link is made between the offence and the punishment.
iv. A teacher should not administer corporal punishment when he is very angry or upset, since he is likely to be too server and inclined to appease his own anger.
v. If the punishing a child is likely or make him a hero before his classmates or lead to defiance then the punishment should be postponed and administered where it is not likely to have such an effect.
vi. Once the offender has been punished, he should not be given the impression that he no longer merits the teachers love and care.
Therefore, I am with the opinion that the teacher should look for desirable behavior for which the pupils learning can be reinforced.
Conclusion
The school is a social institution entrusted with the responsibility of containing and supplementing the process of socialization which begins at home. As an institution, the school has to have rules and regulations which facilitate socialization and effective learning.
As there are discipline problems in society, so there are discipline problems at school, which is part of society. These discipline problems have their origins in society itself, the home, school and the teachers .The role of teachers in controlling problems originating outside the school is rather limited. On the other hand, they are capable of influencing pupils’ behavior as they interact with them on the school premises and in the classroom ,therefore in my opinion teachers can facilitate discipline and classroom management by seeing that their pupils are well treated, ensuring that they are prepared for their lessons and present them in an interesting and professional manner.
Although the use of punishment has its role in maintaining discipline in class, the emphasis should be on reinforcing positive behavior and ignoring minor misbehavior. Where punishment is necessary, it should .be used with care so that pupils are not injured or made to hate school so much that they decide to quit school altogether. It should also be borne in mind that children can learn and behave in accordance with the school regulations and in society at large without being subjected to severe forms of punishments.
The author of this Article is a freelance opinion writer and a professional experience teacher based in Warrap State- Kuajok. He can be reached by email: morrisawikjok@yahoo.com
Freeloaders in South Sudan: A Formidable Force.
Posted: February 26, 2014 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in Commentary, Featured ArticlesBy Alier Ateny
Many people have talked and written about South Sudan, the youngest nation in the world, just 2 years into independence but already qualified as a failed state, and sooner or later might as well qualified as a rogue state. This article will highlight the reasons why those in the system right now would not accept a change; this discussion will be based on the following topics (i) Ghost names on the pay list (ii) Unqualified army of public servants (iii) family members getting salaries for free (VI) and of course the corrupt ministers and generals. Are these people interested in a change? The essay will argue the contrary. This is call cracking the code; some thorny topics will be brought up in this essay. Please read it.
South Sudan’s Political, social and economic system was set up to fail
Many analysts have argued that, South Sudan was doom to fail due to lack of a pre-plan or a blueprint on how the country could be run comes self-determination; if South Sudanese had considered this in advance, they would have started by nominating a credible Joshua with true leadership attribute and a clear road-map of where he or she is heading the nation to. People of South Sudan did not go to war in 1983 just to change their masters, they wanted to live in a country where government would think and care about their well-being; they wanted to live under a government different from that oppressive government of Khartoum, that is, government of the people by the people for the people, however, not much has changed, South Sudan government imported the very system that took the people of South Sudan to civil war. Corruption is still prevalence in its worst case, critics are still being arbitrary arrested, forced to exile, or killed, media still under government control and use as a propaganda tool, opposition parties still being menaced, and so on. Another despotic system being practiced by the South Sudan government is what I would refer to here as ‘’jungle politics,’’ it was used during the entire period of the civil war, like the culture of ‘’Musadaats and Muhimaats’’. Musadaats means material assistance of any kind used to be given to generals and their families only, those assistances could be food, clothing, money as well as other vital services. It was an obligation for those generals to have domestic workers in their houses too, managed by their wives and children. Muhimaats were sort of nutritious foods like liver, kidney, heart, pancreas, intestines and other special foods being prepared for the generals at the frontline. Such privileges were not opened to everybody, you have to be a general, or a family member, or a close relative in order to get Musadaats or Muhimaats. If you take a look at our current system right now, you would realize that, it is just but a prototype of that old system used during the war. Most if not all ministers in the former and current GOSS government are the very generals who know none other than war and that culture of Musadaats and Muhimaats. They put their family members or close relatives as the civil servants in public sectors, majority of whom are not even qualified staffs, because merits is a thing of the future not in their world. Those relatives who are not given any positions can still earn salaries every pay day through the ghost list, some Diasporas are beneficiaries of this kind of corrupt system either directly or indirectly.
Is change possible in South Sudan?
Yes, change is possible but not without sacrifice, either from within or from without, whether now or in the future. All we need in South Sudan right now is another revolution, both in thinking and in the way we do things as well. The bourgeoisie’ class is not sleeping though, they will do all they could to maintain that corrupt system, they call it do or die situation, they are there to stay as they often promise, ‘’SPLM is here to stay’’. Those who attempt to change that status qua are vilified and branded as enemies of the nation, because these looters know very well that any change to the status qua will certainly come with a serious nation building, and this will definitely affect them in one way or another. For example, national resources will be channeled to important national projects, ghost names will be screen out of the national pay lists, corrupt individuals will be held accountable and unskilled staff will be replaced with skilled ones. Put it simply, the whole system of corruption will be scraped and replaced with system of accountability, transparency, economic and social justice; and rule of law, in nutshell; an effective and efficient system.
Spy in the sky
Some beneficiaries of this corrupt system act as undercover spies trying to look for underground reformists and those who might be saying things against their corrupt deals or government. Some citizens ended up in exile in such away, they have been forced to flee the country, for instance, a gentleman call Jon Pen Ngong and others are victims of this intimidation, not to mention those who have already lost their lives like Isaiah Abraham and many more. The following was a speech by Isaiah’s daughter in his funeral.
The heartbreaking speech from the 14-year-old Aluel Isaiah Abraham: I believe my father was killed because he wanted a better South Sudan and I am not afraid to say that…my father’s passion for South Sudan has left me without a father, left my siblings without a father, left my mother without a spouse. Isaiah Diing Abraham Chan Awuol was the first martyr for the Freedom of Expression in the Republic of South Sudan
Free expression of any kind is attacked, be it letters, arts and what have you, open hostility towards none government controlled media is promoted; freelances and columnists are censored or arrested. There is also issue of brain washing and indoctrination. Vast majority of these elite’s class spend most of their times with destitute trying to brain wash the population and save face the corrupt ministers, such that people don’t get to question the system and what they do. When people are starving to death, they use their government control TV and preach the opposite that people’s lives have now improved under the government of His Excellency. When there is inter-communal conflict, they would be like; our people are more united now than before, and so forth. Those undercover spies can also be found in many different roles, for instance, ostensible peace and reconciliation forums, and the so call public awareness about the cause of the conflict, and other glittery jobs. Church is another institution which has built a fishy nexus with this corrupt elites, our government cleverly use religion to numb people’s minds not to question anything, they are taught by the religious leaders not only to fear God, but also their authorities. I recommend you to read these 2 books if you would; Animal farm and 1984, by George Orwell; this will give you an idea of where our country is heading to.
This is a 21st century
You might have heard this before or yet to hear this common excuses from South Sudan regime, oh America wants our oil, oh they wish us fail, oh international community this, international community that, yet they failed to understand that this contemporary world is interconnected. That is a mere propaganda and many authoritarian regimes have used it before but to no avail, Qaddafi and Saddam tried it, Assad is using it, legends like Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin did not benefit from it either. In addition, this is 21st century, time of fascism and dictatorship is long gone; this world is a different world all together, international community cannot sit on their hands and allow this very young nation to descent into lethal path right in their watch, there would be no reasons for UN and/or International community after all. South Sudan’s problem is a world’s problem in many aspects, humanitarian wise, stability of global economy and global politics, South Sudan is expected to contribute positively in improving lives of people and not engage in a thuggish behavior. Who is now feeding, sheltering or catering for the general well-being of those South Sudanese displaced by the conflict? Not South Sudan government, nor the South Sudan rebels, it is the same international community which our government is trying to sell short to the very population they came to rescue. The message these corrupt elites should pay attention to is this; many dictators have tried before and could not succeed, why do you want to learn from your own experience and not from other person’s else’s? This country is supposed to be a very lucky country because of the era of her birth; South Sudan came at a time when globalization has eliminated the miseries of isolation. We don’t have to go back and start from the rudimentary, we have mature democracies who are more than ready to coach us on laying foundations of a true democracy, strong economy, harmonies social and/or cultural co-existent, and use their advance technology to improve our economy, yet our government got us the very opposite. Once again, I remind our leaders that, there is hardly any room for dictatorship in this century, play your cards responsibly or somebody else will do the job.
About the Current conflict
The author of this article was in the middle of it all, when the conflict started last year especially in Bortown and all the way to the rural areas, hence, has witness the nature of this conflict first hand. When we came back from the hiding, we found the whole town literally littered with human bodies, there is no justification for the death of these innocent people whatsoever, whether in Juba, Bor, Malakal, or Bentiu. I join the whole world in urging and challenging both Kiir and Riek to do the extraordinary thing, to stop the blame game, ring up each other and agree to put down weapons for the sake of the people. You are just as good as the other if you keep on engaging in point scoring while people you claim to love continue to die, please do it for your people. If you don’t do that, then you two are fighting for your individual interests and not that of the people of South Sudan, I know both of you are peace loving people, none of you had intended this large scale war to take place, I personally blame it on your naivety, so please come back to your senses, your people can still forgive you regardless of the thousands who have already lost their lives. There is still a room for forgiveness, it is not too late to stop this conflict now because the more this conflict continues, the more damage to the country, and therefore, the more love lost.
You can reach the author, Alier Ateny, thru his email: alieratenth@hotmail.com
Peacemaking in South Sudan: Dr. Jok Madut and Francis Mading Deng presentation
Posted: February 26, 2014 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in South Sudanese Diaspora, Videos
On February 18th, IPI hosted a policy forum that focused on the recent crisis in South Sudan and the ongoing initiatives to bring security and sustainable peace back to the new country.
The event was chaired by IPI Senior Adviser, John L. Hirsch.
Civil Society: Proposed Interim Gov’t for South Sudan
Posted: February 25, 2014 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in Press Release, ReportsIGAD: An Interim Gov’t without President Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar?
Posted: February 25, 2014 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in Junub Sudan“There was no coup in Juba” A RESPONSE TO EDWARD LINO
Posted: February 25, 2014 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in Commentary, David Aoloch, Featured ArticlesReply to Clemency of Edward Lino to Junta in Waiting entitled “There was no coup in Juba”
By David Aoloch Bion
Your argument is Socratic, Philosophical and scientific in such a manner it is written but it is full of fallacies . You claim there was no coup in Juba on December 15th because “Two press conference held, families of Oyai and Gier arrive to Juba the same day, Pagan dragged at his home, Manibe relocating to new life. Hiteng was transporting his household to Torit, John Luk taken from his resident. None of the General was with Pistol or uniform”.
What fallacy! here you have committed what is called hasty generalization of the argument because you draw your conclusion on insufficient evident leaving the major three evident of coups No. 1Press Release on December 6th signed by Dr. Riak and the 11 men that’’ if Salva Kiir does not call SPLM Political Bureau to set the agenda for the National Liberation Council, South Sudan be in chaos, order, in Abyss” This is coup or war rhetoric which is in line with words of Greek Emperor Alexander, the Great who says “I cant steal the victory”. It means you must tell your opponents in advance the day to attack and the overall strategy against him because you are sure of the victory. No. 2 on BBC World Service Riak said “I call upon the army to throw Salva Kiir. I am the leader of the Rebellion” What is the objectives of the soup? It is to overthrow the government within one hour, what are the objectives of the rebellion; it is to overthrow the government within days, months and years. No. 3. What was aim of fighting on Dec 15?, to overthrow Kiir
You claimed I quested “Potential totalitarian state can be revealed by the acquirement of all tools of oppression before providing food, medicine, and education to the common person”. Well, it s true that the state bought tanks. It is also true that state bought medicine and food to the common person. If the state was buying tanks only the 11 ministers who rebelled could have told the people of South Sudan before they fired from government that the government is buying tanks but not buying medicine.. Why there was no single Minister who resigned and declared publicly that he was not given money for , medicine, food, and development by Salva Kiir? Why there was no single minister who resigned, and declared publicly that Salva Kiir is failing South Sudan and I don’t want to the part of failure. These Minister-Coup Plotters and rebels are opportunists and egocentric.. They were fighting for their position. They were enjoying before they were fired while millions of South Sudanese were suffering from diseases, hunger… Now when they were sacked they pretended they know right of others. South Sudanese are bigot about these rabid politicians.
Now they are asking things of their buttocks like Akol Kuol, who asked “if this cow were not red what colour would it be?” People say “White” He again asked what if it were not white? People say would be black. He again asked. What if it was not black? Akol kept asking the question he could not answered himself. The Ministers are talking about the problem, they can’t solve.
You compared South Sudan like Rome I quoted “Rome is burning” This is false analogy.
You claimed I quoted “Akon is tribally chosen” This is ad Hominem.
In conclusion, Hon. Edward Coward Lino, you are just writing a clemency to coup plotters to spare your life in case the rebel captures the town you might in.
Since December 15, the whole political crisis has been tribalised. ‘’All the Nuer are in Dinka wanted dead list and All Dinka are in Nuer wanted dead list’’. As Nuer were targeted by some Dinka element in Juba and Dinka were targeted by Nuer elements in Bentiu, Akobo, Ulang …..etc.
It is the basic right of each tribe member to clear his/her name from wanted list in case, he/she is found, his own life is spare.
So son of Nyandor, feel free, start to eat, start to sleep. Your name is removed. Most Wanted Lists
Edward Lino: There was no Coup in Juba: Part-3
Posted: February 25, 2014 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in Commentary, Featured ArticlesLOOKING AT OURSELVES, THE WAY WE KNOW NOT!
Let us be sober (THREE)
FM: Edward Abyei Lino
To: The People Of South Sudan
To: The Leaders About To Meet In Ethiopia
So far, two tablets shared at this time of our greatest distress. A fist-full individuals were provoked and took the message with unqualified bitterness. Those who dread to be painted as failures hating those who point at them as failures! So intentionally, the moment they ceased to be rational and truthful, they decided not to understand all the issues raised; because they cannot accept to endorse what shall reduce the quantity of “bread and butter” they earn through previous associations, to the side from which they receive their luck and place their pillows. And as such, divulged an opportunistic killing greed at the expense of our flowing blood and death! On the other side of events, are those who follow whatever happens on the ground through one-narrow-sky window and thus, miss-understood the issues presented; revealing an inherent depth of unfathomable ignorance. Please, let them stay where they are until they grasp our intentions. We only insist to say: “LET TRUTH BE SAID, AS WE FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON THE FUTURE”! As said earlier, let us not be bothered by what “negatives” think about us, because of the presence of that colour-less monster so-called “fear”, from which they should be liberated! This is the time for our people to stand like they faced oppression for decades and succeeded in a remarkable way. Come, let us unite and act!
NOT UGANDA! BUT YUWERI AND OUR PEOPLE:
Absolutely, that relative quietness in Juba does not indicate stability, when Ugandan troops, as stated by our Minister of Defense are there, being paid for protecting the government of the day while devastating the country. Now a hostage in the swamps hands-full of Dollars, Yuweri stands in anticipation of the international community to intervene militarily to extract Uganda from South Sudan; according to a Ugandan reader. But it seems that awaited intervention, if organized, would come from the countries of IGAD in which Uganda has a leading role. And that would mean “Uganda rescuing Uganda”! The reader did not touch on what Museveni did when he diverted over 350 Million Dollars, which were deposited under cover in a “Block-Account” in Kampala by the Bank of South Sudan! Kaguta admitted that he paid himself and his army unilaterally, by being to the Bank before messengers from Juba arrive! Tell us, how can a President of a Republic like Uganda interfere in person with the accounts of South Sudan! Unless he installed himself to be the President and C-in-C of South Sudan with Salva Kiir as his Governor-General with limited powers! What happened is a case of “raping a nation under age” at noon in the presence of a dump father and uncles and obviously, a case tarnishing the image of a sovereign state. Of course, our people know Uganda as a country to which they are bound in many, many positive ways. To every South Sudanese, Uganda, land and people, have always been dear!
THE BRILLIANT ALSO PRAY:
Being brilliant, Museveni must be held accountable for what he did in his Bank and restore South Sudanese people money! But, why did the Bank of South Sudan (BOSS) have a Block-Account in Uganda! There were beneficiaries who crisscrossed behind that account, who should to be held accountable for that mismanagement! Tightly, let them be squeezed by the collar! That act is unjustifiable and should not be left unaccounted. Tell people, how can we trust any Ugandan Bank! How many schools, dispensaries and water facilities could we have constructed with those abandoned public funds! There are a people at large, once they jump on a donkey’s back, they would hit it properly, forgetting that a donkey could also fall hungry, because of an ill-assumed complex about “legitimacy”! Habitually those restless people once stuck in the mud like Yuweri could be expected to behave in that irrational way. Squeezed into such a situation they would pray God to pull them out of the pit into which they plunged. Starting from 23rd December 2013 to Valentine Day 2014 Uganda lost over 635 soldiers killed, 1300 wounded and over 500 surrendered to UN in South Sudan! Let us ask logic: Into which class in hell does Museveni intend to burry the Ugandan army after he was extracted from the DR Congo, pita-patting in Somalia, lingering in Central African Republic and currently extending his feet into the swamps of South Sudan? Hei! Let people be careful. It seems South Sudan has been discovered to be a delicious “T-bone”, which attracts multi-coloured hounds. So, let us be careful!
AND HERE WE ARE:
In earlier presentations, one attempted to focus on what went wrong in our beloved country. Pointing and at times stressing on that “swallowing-crater” into which we recklessly capsized our national drive at this sensitive stage of our long journey. Up! Our South Sudan is failing to exist as a state only that it has not been declared. When a catastrophic accident occurs to a person, is the moment a survivor shouts full blast and cries loudest for rescue and assistance. Precisely, at this stage of our reality we need to be urgently assisted by the people of goodwill. Rescue cannot come that long after milk is spilled. Today we are being sadly presented to the world to emerge as the second worse humanitarian situation after Syria in the making! Confirmed by whatsoever local, regional and international indicators available. Yet and yet, here we are senselessly adamant, moaning-humming over a “failed coup”, when we have “real death” about to unfold; in an apathetic situation where we lost many friends, if not all, as well as sympathizers! Indeed, our tears shall not stop flowing until people are relieved of fear, trauma and distress in addition to famine to which we are being subjected. How can they crucify us naked on a catastrophic war and cast us barren into the mouth of that on-coming calamitous famine! Yet, still and still, people insist to witness the aluminous beams of a sustainable peace, as it emerges in a new down of hope. Let us be frank and act as one united people!
LET US START:
Unlike Che’ Guvara, I am no Communist or economist, but a member of SPLM. Just a couple of days before signing the CPA, one happen to ask a World Bank Expert about the availability of a viable example from which we could borrow what might help us to set a sound economic basis for Southern Sudan given the fact that we, SPLM, were expected to start planning from below any stage known to our economic experts. By then SPLM had a cluster of highly qualified Comrades who were prepared to handle all the challenges of building the nation! Unfortunately, within three weeks we lost our COACH, Dr. John Garang de Mabior, who was to guide our experts through that bumpy road of our national building as an economist and the Leader, to provide the missing linkages between lofty dreams and simple realities. In those crucial matters relevant political guidelines matter, and that is precisely the importance of having a seasoned Leader. That World Bank Expert said, there were no relevant examples from which Southern Sudan could take, because: Southern Sudan by then had barely a few qualified personnel to manage that new emerging economy. [By then we were being rated by the world as an emerging economy, land of untapped opportunities for humankind!] Our World Bank Expert went ahead to tell me that, Southern Sudan was richer than its neighbours and was not in a situation where things like “debits” should occur. Then reflected, adding other important political considerations to see what could be needed. Not an economist, I was able to grasp only a little, but saw the direction.
FORGET NO VETERAN:
One began to visualize and reflect on how Sheikh Zayid al-Nahyan turned the desert into what it is today! Now, how can we adopt some of those great achievements, in our situation where we have land, water and a recognized fighting spirit, emerging so from a legendry war that could have taken our people of South Sudan to produce greens from rocks! By then our people had patience untarnished by petty rivalries and squabbles. By September 2005, barely a month after the formation of our first transitional government, I dispatched a memo to the President, Minister of Finance and copied the Chief-of-General-Staff, suggesting dispatching an SPLA delegation to visit, know and understand how people there were involved in planning to develop the desert in the Gulf Sheikhdoms. Because our SPLA freedom fighters, many as they were, needed to be assisted through viable plans, which could have rendered them respectable retirement benefits as deserving freedom-fighting veterans. But sorry, that MEMO went somewhere and into dustbin. Our President never listened to his Chief-of-General-Staff!
BUILDING TOGETHERNESS:
At that stage of what happened and to address our future needs let us examine some fundamental aspects for having a “together-ness” that can rally all our people in an equitable society to move forward. Let us fathom our socio-economic reality right from 2005 upto now. Our economic reality and social performance, more than any other aspect of our existence as a nation is fundamentally basic to our progress, as a united people. We cannot progress without realizing some tangible achievements to have enough food, power, water, roads, health and schools. These very aspects are basic to our unity, our stability and peace. Economic viability means stability, unity, social freedoms and thus political independence. It is the essence of nation building. Unless we embrace equity and equality, to share in building whatever we need and enjoy, we shall never be able to maintain our country. We shall simply disintegrate and wither. From where we stand, we observe some blank faces committed to staff their stomachs, serving “absentee-masters”, forgetting where to throw the wastage. What an awful treason! Did we look into how and why we succeeded and what were our weaknesses and how would we avoid the pitfalls and redeem them in order to march forward! Did we ever return to our people with a clear message of hope and progress? Which socio-economic plans and policies did we put in place since 2005? Nothing! Nothing! But rather, our Leaders disregarded us and militantly refused to attend to what should have kept us together as a united people!
CHAOS, CHAOS:
Since the time our transitional government for Southern Sudan was set up in 2005, in the first place, we avoided and refused to organize ourselves as to how we spent the moneys we received like flowing from Heaven in a manner we never expected, or even perceived before the implementation of the CPA! Some literate-illiterate economists and shortsighted individuals with no imagination, plans or vision, saw moneys simmering, as if the Nile was turned to flow from north to south! No sound economic advices rendered, but endorse whatever an inadequate Minister decided. And like poverty stricken skinny-kids in a lavish birthday party, our people were so excited! That was when we missed the road and took the opposite direction. Huge funds were mismanaged, misdirected and misused in an apathetic situation where mismanagement and unaccountability almost turned to be the best ways to account and manage our affairs! There were some big people who emerged necked from the bathroom the moment they herd the sad news of the death of an officer who was the “agent” who pocketed his dues! People saw many bad things happen and no way to deceive them again. The hesitant are those who render services to the dominating few, but the vigilant would not under the sun especially, when relations are founded on uneven grounds.
MISMANAGEMENT:
In South Sudan funds were swindled in many dubious ways, which attracted looters and swindlers of multiple colours especially, those Khartoum based contractors and suppliers, who were flown in privately by “uncle-beneficiaries” to handle the first logistics to our emerging transitional government. Soon that ‘dubious-ity’ extended to East African region right to Gulf Sheikhdoms. Some queer faces started to appear, disappear and reappear on permanent-prominent basis around our Ministers and Under-Secretaries who were sneaked into new positions and disappeared with their ghost-investors to wherever windfalls were to be planted. They flew all around the glob across oceans from east to west. And that was how corruption started at high gear in South Sudan from TOP to bottom! Now, most if not all, of those who planted that devastating social hunger are well known. They only buried their heads in the quick sand of corruption forgetting their bodies in the verandas of shame! That was how and why whistles were blown to rob the country. The first thing looters, thieves and swindlers did in the open, was to pierce the eyes, blow the ears and cripple the hands of transparency, accountability, good governance and justice. One never saw transparency could also mean to do undesired-things in the open!
MORE AND MORE STORIES:
Indeed, in our storage there are many hair-lifting narrations of mismanagement and corruption, which add up to the misfortunes that prevent light and water from Juba! Can one imagine in the capital city of South Sudan, the majority of kids below eight do not know what a water tape looks like and how to operate it! In over 85% of Juba no taps! No water, but supplied by Ethiopian vendors who own the means to deliver water in small tankers! Juba water supply was the first project, which our Engineer, Dr. Riek Machar undertook to implement in 2005, when he was Vice President and Minster of public utilities! The same sad story may also go to Juba Bridge. A friendly country, Japan, of all the countries, donated a bridge for Juba, but our technocrats who were to receive the bridge on our behalf seem not to like the idea of been given a “free gift”. Our engineers either did not like the design of the bridge; the big idea of delivering it or the bridge was too huge to be pocketed as a gift. Perhaps! Today that hectic Juba Bridge stands like kneeling before a supplicating Saint, while we expect our bridge to reach us in Juba. Amazing! South Sudan might be the only spot on the planet where constructing a road of about 10 kilometers double carriage could cost the same amount like that of 200 kilometers! Corruption spread uncontrollable like flew from Juba to the States. Many people were emboldened to embrace corruption with vigour. Whatever one dose in corrupt ways almost becomes the right way to do what you want to do! Go to an office with a letter. Leave it there for minutes. Return to be told: “Where did that letter go? It, it was here”! So letters move and disappear. I tell you, corruption moves documents from place to place and wither into dustbins and loose whatever you need. Pay, your documents rapidly appear.
WHAT DO WE DO:
One major source of our problems is how to handle our economic reality. The days the ignorant lead the knowledgeable should be over. Let us be brave to confront our most fundamental issues with clarity. Let us not deceive ourselves. Our people need to be encouraged “scientifically” to invest even in flying planes, but should not be haphazardly allowed to lead some basic socio-economic undertakings, the way we vendor tomatoes and goats. Economics is an interwoven intricate science and hence, we must adhere to its principles. Let us start to build our economy! That needs to come clearly in any package of reform to undertake. Our people need to understand, review, revise and control how to disperse whatever fund we receive by introducing sound measures to the manner contracts are awarded; for example. Transparently, people are required to avoid and account for any fraudulent way to use for handling whatever project. Look at our roads and see who are the implementers!
LET US INTERVENE:
South Sudan cannot be left a lawless barren space in which multi-national quacks and criminals experiment whatever they wish, swindle and disappear with funds as happened in that Mafiosi way of implementing Juba International Airport and other projects. Incomplete roads everywhere and no one to account for them! When one attempts to ask, she or he would be told: “Heh, better keep quite”! Inter-states roads are “calling” for an urgent intervention, at lest to make it possible for humanitarian assistance to be delivered, before rains come in. Let us undertake whatever possible to do at this stage by dwelling on the worse parts of the roads first then expand. Let us find out who were the contractors: to do what, are they qualified, for how much, will they account, how would they account, who will approve the money, what steps to be taken, so on and so on. People cannot pretend to fight corruption when they do not exert any effort and take all necessary steps required to control and direct the process of accountability.
SOCIAL JUSTICE:
One of the most important aspects of equitable financial justice is the issue of post service benefits to employees; “social security” and “social insurance”. All governing regulations have to be put in place as we settle. There are international yardsticks to regulate and control this fundamental matter. That is basic to social justice in any country or state, which attributes to itself the ward “modern”, be that a dictatorship, republic, kingdom or empire. Under ant circumstances, it is a basic human right to have beneficiaries served. Today there are citizens who died living orphans without getting post service benefits. Shame on us! All arrears have to be handed over to the beneficiaries as a fundamental right. Relevant institutions and adequate funds have to be put in place, when things are stable. Whoever delayed, swindled, diverted or overlooked the disbursement of social security funds or delayed to implement the issuing of social insurance, should be taken forthwith before justice to account for any misuse or diversion. That issue is vital for building the country on modern basis guided by social justice to equalize and stabilize it; to balance the imbalances that tend to neglect and mistreat civil servants and other citizens of limited income, in the most unjust ways. We need justice to be done!
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT:
The Ministry of Labour and Administrative Reform has become the home of all the injustices, which the employees are now facing country-wide, given the fact that it has not been seen or taken to be of any strategic importance although responsible, nominally, for recruiting and training our civil servants, overlooked and by-passed by our most leading seniors. And those who ran the Ministry ran away from it when the President refused to consider and handle the issues involved and the Minister resigned and left the Ministry under a quack Deputy Minister without appointing a learned Minister for almost a year. And that Deputy Minister has never been a civil servant throughout his life! In such a highly confused situation in which “Ministers are the Ministries” and not the other way round the dismemberment of state comes in like fake clouds, promising rain but none! Orders and directives are issued from the top, but would fade away downwards and wither in unaccountable ways. Like fish, our civil service is rotten from the head, moving to the rest of the body! That is what is happening to our civil service and therefore, the whole state is affected by a serious disease, which one may term “administrative chaos”, that shall lead to the collapse of state institutions. People are required to move as soon as possible to rescue that unfortunate situation.
OUR HUMAN POTENTIALS:
Development of our human resources is highly required to emphasize our human-ness, because that is the essence of our existence. People as people, are the greatest asset of to nation. Peoples are nations and nations the people. To neglect or mistreat them by disregarding the functions of such a strategic Ministry, fully charged with human development would be a shameful thing to think or do. That needs to be attended to urgently, because public reform is containable the moment we attend to it. Yes indeed, there are many: “How can this”! “How can that”! “How can he”! “How can they”!; going on seriously. People are so hypnotized and sadden by the instances and recurrences of abominable mistakes, which occur on daily basis and wonder as to when shall we have them contained and corrected. Yes, reform, reform, reform in every aspect of our existence is needed! Starting from within us, to reconcile with our souls and surrounding in a positive way and that should help in friendly ways to deal with neighbours. Reform in our scattered families to know how to relate to one another harmoniously as a family! Reform our institutions of learning to learn with modesty. Reform our working institutions to perfect in doing what we need. Reform our people to reconcile in order to reform and move forward together. Yes, reform, reform, reform; please, let us reform South Sudan!
RESPECT CIVIL SERVICE:
In the on-going crisis our government has even started to dig much deeper holes by striking off many government employees from Pay-Roles like a people moving in a tilted dark slippery hole. Where does the money go! Who receives those slices and on which basis! Let us be told; are the Ugandans being paid out of the salaries of the absentees! We all do know it was because of that chaotic situation which randomly exploded, starting from Juba, employees got dispersed to safety. Most of our people were left with only one choice, to flee to safety. Officially people are told to return to their homes and places of work without work, but privately they get threatened or even lynched once they return! In such a situation, where on earth can an unarmed civilian or citizen be convinced to wait for a salary that delays, when those in arms who were suppose to protect him or her resort to torture, looting or even killing! That needs to be reversed to restore the dignity of our civil servants. A civil servant is a dedicated creature who respects and adores that invisible employer, the state, when the state equally reciprocates by caring for them. Tirelessly serving, keeping classified secrets and even sacrifice for the state. Why mistreat a civil servant? Yes, it is social justice, which is a basic cornerstone for building a nation, people demand. Let that be granted!
UNDERTAKINGS:
Living in a remote village, dependent on a subsistence provided by a community, one would feel the taxing process of how things are forged to meet. In a backward situation one would live how water is fetched from a distance, grain is pounded in a mortar, firewood collected from a nearby forest, food is fixed in a pot! That very ritual takes place in all our original homes daily in South Sudan from which we all inhale without any distinction. Now those basics are childishly disappearing and every one of us need to modernize in our villages through the introduction of new useful things: utensil, implements, appliances, bicycles, plows, motorbikes, water pumps, solar panels, medicine even mobile telephones. People need to change and they have to change. Between towns and villages, we tend to loose track whenever we attempt to follow that mutation, which takes place like the simmering of a pot or kettle, as we move. Yes, it is rewarding to follow how changes occur in our neglected villages. Jubilant people converge whenever new things appear like in a celebration process, which brings people together. And precisely, it is togetherness we pray for to take place in our villages!
THE HUBB:
All the plans needed to transform our-selves and be ready for a leading economic, social and modern takeoff on our African Continent has been perceived for long. Some experts saw the need to “transform South Sudan to be a leading “HUBB FOR AFRICA” from local, regional and international prospective. Which some seasoned experts of today can do with distinction. The success of that plan brings the world, brains-and-pockets together. Today, the basic developmental components needed are available in South Sudan, except TWO requirements missing. ONE, our planners know from where to find money and how much. TWO, this plan requires peace. Yes, peace, peace, peace and we make it to link Africa by road, rail and air and have it developed. But foremost, we have to change the lives of our people to develop their human and material potentials. Stability is becoming fundamental to development in South Sudan. The days our country was taken to be one of the most stable spots in the world, not only Africa, are over. We have to struggle hard to clear our tarnished image and work to attract investors and technocrats who can help us. As mentioned before, we have to restart planning our socio-economic destiny. This present war shall not continue for long. It shall stop in a day not far and people shall go back to do better things to start a new peaceful life. We shall have to start almost everything anew. Peace is the key peaceful progress!
LAND AND PRODUCTION:
All these steps should move us collectively to strategize on the issue of agriculture and how important it is, as the backbone of our economy. Large extending virgin lands in Upper Nile, Abyei, West Equatoria, East Equatoria, Jonglei, Warap, Lakes, Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal, Unity, Central Equatoria, Western Bahr-el-Ghazal; every where a person may wish to go in South Sudan, remain untouched extensions that can produce more than what we need in a matter of one year. We can produce food and improve and introduce cash crops to improve our subsistence produce, which can make a real difference. Let us move beyond subsistence to hit export markets to improve our lot. We must tirelessly work to meet the basic requirements of modern living. When we emphasize “take towns to villages”, we mean to revolutionize our agriculture and modernize. Almost the arrows of “supply and demand” indicate that towns are basically maintained by villages and not otherwise. Towns are magnetic holes where social and economic streams converge, interchange and crisscross in ways that tend to burse many people with little contribution. Towns consume the social fabric of a person and push him or her to swim aimlessly on the margin of events, unable to change or contribute with ease.
REALITY AND FORWARD:
We are calling and crying for reform as an administrative reality to restore dignity to our civil service. People are calling for reform to bring back trust and respect to our civil institutions. People are yearning for reform to be fixed an umbrella for all be it sun, rain or gale! The story of our present South Sudan is so shamefully painful, when one sees it as a country with only one source of revenue, oil! People ask about other available sources, but inquirers are always shocked to know that over 95% of whatever revenue collected are grossly embezzled and mismanaged and disappear into private pockets. Lord! On which part of the planet are we! The little received to augment the coffers disappears untraceable! Radically, that shocking habit has to be dealt with and reversed in ways that shall ensure progress. Transparently, there is an urgent need to overhaul all the mechanisms of revenue collection and toughen surveillance around those institutions, to get rid of the elements of corruption. Let people learn how to prioritize their plans and slum their doors before lawlessness and corruption. Planning, planning, planning is the one our people need!
GET ORGANIZED:
In a young country in which the Leadership lost direction, factionalized the citizen, shredded people into warring gangs, destroying and moving towards disintegration, let people organize and move to correct the barring, steam-line the march, save our lives and redeem the country! “Ignorance” is a contagious ailment, which adversely affects the thickheaded like Taliban with adamancy that keeps them trotting on the heights of Afghanistan, killing whoever for what they are! Our Leaders forgot how they reached the present places in which they now are and pretended to be the sole makers of our independence! They seem to consider whoever was with them in the bush to be a disposable attachment. They believe to have neutralized every freedom fighter with whatever handy gift they offered to be the pay-off for the days spent in the bush! They seem to have forgotten whatever we did hand in hand, united as we were. They know not, by nakedly spear heading a tribally oriented onslaught on a single tribe or ethnicity, they would have erected a huge fortress of isolation around themselves! Look at the social isolation one would be locking himself or herself in! Look at the geography a person would adopt to divide the nation into un-peaceful and peaceful zones! Look into one’s social interaction with neighbours! Look at how children inter-relate to one another in the schools! Look carefully at your God given neighbour in your mosques and churches!
OUR RESOURCES:
Oil! The only semi-reliable revenue that brought us almost whatever we have, as South Sudan, which we misused to the maximum. Two rivers of oil run northward north of Khartoum North to Gerri, and off to Port Sudan, Bashair, export terminal. One from Unity State brings crude from western parts of the Nile from Tharjath to Pan-Thou and on. And from eastern parts of the Nile comes another pipe from the areas of Adar, Paloch and others to the north then to Bashair. The process of our export has been very unstable with that greedy al-Bashier squatting at that end of the pipes counting every drop with an open mouth. A “Jallaba”! There are many shocking tails much longer than the pipes, with regards to how we deal with our oil. Some are well known and others are still where secrets sleep. Some chicken started to look around the glob for save-heavens where to hide their eggs! A lot need to be done with regard to companies, which are engaged in all aspects of oil exploration: production and disposition. Let no Minister be allowed to fly to Khartoum whenever he or she wishes to conclude foggy co-operation pacts. There is a window opened by our current Minister for Khartoum to bring in experts to “assist us” in oil production in the contested area of Pan-Thou. Could that not be the “Trojan Horse” or “hyena in a sheep skin”!
REBUILDING COMING:
Looking into our situation now, a lot of destruction has been made: displacement, looting, burning and so on. Three State Capitals beside townships disappeared and none of the two poles expressed sorrow or even regrets! These are mistakes, which we inflicted on ourselves. We must rectify them. No one can help us unless we start to rebuild what we destroyed. Almost all South Sudanese as a people; do not have a culture of renewing or rebuilding what has been destroyed. I think that might have something to do with the way their dwellings used to be burned or destroyed by the enemy as they withdraw to other places. One is almost seeing that habit about to dominate in our present situation. Head far to opposite directions to where one was displaced from, is the very thing, which sent our people to the Diaspora! Rare do our people return to original home to reconstruct or rebuild the homestead. Renovation and reconstruction are the essence of continuity. The helping world would prefer to see us clearing our mass before they could extend their hands.
OUR REVIVAL:
From where and how shall we get means to erect new Malakal, new Bor, new Bentiu and wherever devastated? First, oil! Second, oil! Third, oil! We have to relay on our resources. The percentages awarded to oil producing States stand far below normal. Not like given in other similar places. Oil producing States need to be awarded much higher percentages, which should increase gradually according to production like 20%. That would be logical. We should not let them beg when they produce what is keeping South Sudan walking now. Life must to be fully revived in those devastated States on modern basis. Let us understand, in any sound community, one would be expected to rush to the aggressed, before returning to his brother-aggressor. Thus, experts should review our current monetary system to set it right, where our civil populations have been badly affected and pains are acute. State accounts have to be audited, especially in our three devastated States to start reconstruction. As said, a lot of funds find ways to private pockets. There is need to be fare when collecting revenue, but tough when dispersing it. By shouting reform, reform, reform we mean nothing, but reform!
LOOK AT OURSELVES:
Politically and militarily, our country is running fast into much greater confusion. Today Malakal has become like a football kicked by the two antagonistic polarizing parties. People are terribly disappointed, when Salva Kiir and Riek Machar believe adamantly that, each of them will win the war, without naming it civil war! Both are “militaristic” minded and see nothing beyond “militarism”! Militarists are a people who consider civilians as second-class citizens, who count not in national matters. Civilians can play supportive roles and not to lead or oppose the military. In spite of the fact that both Salva and Riek shall emerge hectic and overspent, awaiting that victory of one of them over the other. Actually, both of them can forget the people whom they do not care for or respect. The current civil war ignited by the President himself, orchestrated by that self-defending Dr Riek, has started to pinch and pierce every home. Like plague the war has started to deplete our resources, human and otherwise. But who shall underfoot the present running bill? The people! Looking at us. I see us stuck in the mud of apathy unable to lift a finger, which is bad for our country. We must face all the injustices we see!
NO JOKE:
No doubt people have been terribly misled to the extent of falling into this on-going bloody mess, which is threatening their very existence. Our Leadership massed up a great deal and humiliated themselves beyond repair forgetting that by so doing they write off themselves from the leadership. There are no instances in history where individuals survived a country within two to three years. Perpetrators shall have to go for sure. They shall not rob and kill people then enjoy! Those tribes who believe to dominate other tribes, ethnicities or nationalities by exploiting their ethnicities must understand by so doing, they expose that dominating tribe to greater dangers leading to the loss of that fictitious ego and pride. To execute murderous atrocities in the name of a tribal hegemony using public means and ways, which do not belong to the very tribe that wants to dominate, should not be permitted to happen at the expense of any tribe, ethnicity or nationality in South Sudan. Sure, that amounts to treason! It is genocide to randomly exterminate others or one’s own people, pushed by greed! In multi-tribal settings, ethnicities or nationalities, once confronted, over-powered and subdued, those types of people could only be spared with heads bent down in extending lakes of poverty, disgrace and shame! Yet, people are patiently watching and gazing at what is running on, by-passing them in an apathetic way. Let people be organized and prepared. No joke when at war!
YES, PEOPLE…
These are the broad points people should rally around at this time. So, let us unite, in spite of our political organizational differences. There is need to create a broad based body that shall co-ordinate whatever people do. And that can be done. Some little thinking may be needed! Appropriate slogans need to be raised in our streets. Let people come out in the open: No, against tribalism! No, against war! No, against looting! No, against killing! No, against factionalism! No, against fragmentation! No, against instability! No, against hatred! No against setting people against each other! Let us act like orphans! We have to assert ourselves over fundamental issues, which no militarist can oppose or stop! That shall be the will of the people. In history there are living examples. Let us rise and say: Yes, to peace! Yes, to unity! Yes, to stability! Yes, to togetherness! Yes, to progress! Yes, to solidarity! Some of these slogans were presented in the Second Letter. Here we are repeating them because of the magnetic nature of the legitimate demands we aspire for. Up, let us swarm our homes, streets, schools, markets, churches, and every walk of life. For life or death, let us speak up! People are required to come out openly to express whatever legitimate they stand for. People need to live in love and peace. O’ Lord, thank you so much for offering us breath and bread. Bless our beloved country…
Thank you for your fabulous perseverance
Thank you my dear, wherever you are!!!
Long Term Approach to Peaceful Coexistence of Tribes in South Sudan
Posted: February 24, 2014 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in Education, Featured Articles, Garang Atem, Socio-CulturalSouth Sudanese Elites and Illiterate in their Twin Objectives, A nation Bleeds by Herself
By Garang Atem
Two decades of war eroded social progress, institutions and torn tribal cohesion in the country. The independence of July 2011 provided an opportunity for the people of South Sudan to ripe what is commonly known as ‘dividends of peace’ – social services, security, development and peace.
The event of December 2013 has halted the flow of social services and redirected the resources and manpower of the conflicting parties to war – an expensive affair that is causing immense damage to weak social infrastructure, systems and development programs that were initiated during and after the interim period of Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
Already the death toll is high and outflow of refuges to neighboring countries and displaced camps is at its highest since peace was signed in 2015. The war is on and the destruction is unfortunately done and continues to be done. Since independence in July 2011, the country has witnessed various forms of rebellion that resulted in loss of lives, and property. However what is critical is the scale of destruction, the nature of destruction and the forms.
On many occasions, government forgave the insurgents; reward them with government positions and integrate them into the national army and in some cases; resources were mobilized towards peace conferences and seminars. All these efforts were noble but have not brought stability as an end envisaged product nor reduced the impact of criminal activities on the citizens.
The key problem facing South Sudan is an education access gap. When missionaries came in 19th century, much of what is currently making up South Sudan was inhabited by pastoralists’ communities whose lives entirely depended on hunting, animal husbandry, traditional farming and wild fruits gathering.
All these forms of economic activities required to some extend a degree of hostility – a true survival for the fitness. As result of this life setup, children and cattle raiding became the central form of commercial activities. During the war, between 1983 – 2005, the traditional form of commercial competitiveness took a new twist as weapons enhance enterprisation of criminal activities.
This led to high scale of economic and social destruction which further widen the social cohesion gap between communities. The animosities of war and enterprisation of criminal activities were imported to the new political and socioeconomic dispensation in South Sudan after independence.
For over two decades of war, there has never been a formal education system for South Sudanese, during and after interim period, the government priorities has been centered around security, governance and institutions’ creation leaving education at the periphery.
In reality, South Sudanese citizens are largely the same pastoralists of the yesteryears. However, two things have changed; enterprisation of criminal activities has increase as result of weaponry, and pursuit of ‘twin objectives’; power by educated elites and petty robbing by the illiterate citizens.
The twin objective hypothesis has in part united communities to jointly pursue criminal and inhumane commercial enterprises. While the elites fight for power and money, the illiterate and vulnerable are available for mobilization with an aim to revenge the old misdeeds and loot.
The pursuit of twin objectives by different interest groups within a community and wide spread of weapons are the main cause for inhumane and heavily destruction happening in South Sudan. Nothing explains this than ‘peace and reward dichotomy’ that has being going on between the rebels and the government; the senseless killings of civilians and looting is act of illiterate to achieve their objective.
My hypothesis is that actually, the twin objectives are complementary but at times conflicting. The killings and destruction is mostly used by illiterate and small raiders to scare off their prey may at most harm the achievement of objective by the high end raiders.
Nothing illustrates these better than ongoing conflicts between the government and the rebels in South Sudan. While the illiterate rejoice at destruction and killing of opponents, the leaders are more reserve as at time, they might held accountable or might reduce chances of ascending to power or vice versa.
South Sudan is unique, it problems are because of it. Though there is a growing population of educated citizens, they are product of the past, their association with the past – experiences and folk tales continue to drag and educate their minds the South Sudan way.
This is illustrated by how all act. During the December 2013 event and afterward, civilians were being targeted and resources destroyed. On the internet, the educated youth burn green leaves and beat drums to announce war.
The nation was divided right along their experiences and folk tales. Worst enough, when missionaries came, the pastoralists used to send their uncooperative, indiscipline and lazy kids to school. South Sudan being a pastoralist’s nation, largely its current leaders could be ‘community rejects’ with no leadership abilities to work for the good of the nation.
The viability of South Sudan must be built on true solid foundation. South Sudan must create a new nation by educating a new crops of people, people educated in class and not through bias folk tales. This will have many benefits, one it will create a true middle class that is self-reliance, sober and less pollutant.
Kenya though very tribal, its educated middle class is its tower of peace that holds it together during 2007 election violence. Second, though highly resources endowed, South Sudan will not develop and grow without human capital. Singapore, India and other Asian countries demonstrated that human capital is first amongst natural resources endowments.
Thirdly, growing an educated population will create informed citizens, democracy and public policies are key ingredients for country’s progress but both are function of education. Today, debates and issues of public interest get distorted – no one can truly and faithfully reads or interprets issues for others and keep his interest at bay.
Till such times, merit is recognized and reward, those who speaks issues will be kept away which is not good for the nation. The country must disconnect its new generation from old pollution. Technology is moving to India because of its hi-tech youth, Kenya has been holds together by its educated middle class, Singapore that was at par with East Africa economies in 1970s is already playing in the first class economic league.
The future of South Sudan must be based on its realities; the future must be separated from the past. Those of us whose cows were stolen, relatives killed and homes destroyed in 1990s though educated had bias reading. South Sudan must know it true self, keep the past away and create South Sudan for future.
Gabriel Garang Atem is an Independent Economic Commentator. He lives in Juba and can be reached garangatemayiik@gmail.com
South Sudan in the juncture between western and eastern worlds
Posted: February 24, 2014 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in Commentary, Featured ArticlesBy Diing Arakdiak
In every conflicting two ideologists always there have often been neutralists. These non-partisans people remain in the middle because either they reject, having no strongly marked or positive characteristics or features, or don’t understand any of the two ideas, sometimes the fear of decision making plays a role. It based on the kind of conflict from the two sides whether it is destructive or constructive argument which determines their suffering or enjoyment. Disinterested side always is not counted with those who can support but almost always likely to be added on the enemy’s side and victimised because it has failed to take one side.
SPLA/M has originated early time since 1980s from the communist school “school of socialism” where they shaped their programme beside that they got there first military ammunitions, it was when the training was done in Ethiopia, with supports from China, Russia, Libya, even advance trainings were completed in Cuba. but as that school getting weak especially the change which took place in Ethiopia government forced their movement to redirect to capitalism which was coming with the rocket speed.
The revolution ought to change the direction and not the goal or vision which is “new Sudan” only it was shaped to force fit the diameter of the political world on ground. The SPLA/M made new strong relationships with Kenya, Uganda, Norway, The United Kingdom and The United States of America. From capitalists the negotiations were started and Sudan was put into a lot of pressures, charged about terrorist, to pay loans, till the CPA was signed, Norway in person of Hilda Johnson by then was too close friend to SPLM, it was from western world donors held Oslo (the capital city of Norway) conference and donated.
All these times within SPLM western and eastern school have influenced ideologically different members differently, where you get two extremist of difference schools, here moving forward every now and then was/is found very hard for the government of The Republic of South Sudan. For instant: movement of couple linear forces to different directions. This is what is taking place; some are facing to the west while others are to the east.
Finally, I recommend the government of The Republic of South Sudan or SPLM to choose one direction either east or west, because you must say no to something else if said yes to one thing. To be confused is a human but to remain confused it is a failure to make decision. Again serving two masters is always not practical.
By Constants Dc
My compatriots,
My countrymen,
Patience is all what we need,
The calmness and observance,
The strength of heart,
To hold your pesticide and medicine, And observe the pest and disease,
Yes! You need to stay watchful, Cross your legs and fold your hands. Watch! As the seed grows.
Don’t get influence by extremists, We need no money,
Neither any honey,
But! Patience and trust,
For what we have sow is a seed,
Which needs pruning after five years? And harvesting after six years,
Yes! We need endurance and tolerance, For this seed is in bad soil and conditions. But! Be patience,
All it takes is tolerance.
The sense of being stone-hearted.
Yes! It will grow,
For we took time and money to plant it,
We took 21 yrs for land preparation,
Also 21 months under strict laboratory examination, 21 days in fertilization and control,
Yes! It has matured,
But not pruned,
So, roll your chairs and sit back,
Just take your time and watch.
Don’t get influence.
Be a good farmer.
Yes! What it needs is patience, The cleverness of snake,
The calmness of a dove,
And the Wisdom of Solomon,
To carefully harvest the first fruit, Many tried, but futile.
Alas! For any mistakes will lead to many stakes, So, be extra cautious,
We have lost the scientist,
For any Adventist.
All it needs is patience,
Endurance and tolerance.
Inshallah! Not to regret the scientist.
By constants@2008
By Constants’ DC
Yes, facebook
I will make you a legbook,
Disgrace you among others,
Lower your flag of loyalty,
Raise the flag of infidelity,
For you to respect my manhood.
Yes! My dear facebook.
I have had enough of you,
Yes! You turn
You have turn my trust to my softness,
And my love to a lust,
My happiness to dourness
My cheers to jeers
Facebook! I’m signing out from you,
Like I did to hi5, bluebottle,
Yes! I’m logging off.
If I posted my letters
You made them a wall paper,
You turn my love music to a mournful lyric
Facebook I have had of you,
Yes! I trusted you among the other websites,
Many years I have dreamt dreams,
Thought thoughts
Miss things,
Just because of you facebook,
Facebook! you have dishonor my friend-hood.
I show you to my parents,
Show you my past,
My world,
But! You show disgrace in return,
Show me your lust,
I am done with you facebook,
Done to your words,
Yes! I am done.
Constant’s Laiv, Saturday, June 11, 2011
By Constants’ DC
When he is alive,
The THEM will use them for national defence,
For their power defence
In Tribal feuds and clashes
Use them as Home guards,
To guard their cars, wives and children.
They used them as Messengers for their errands,
They will toils for THEM night and day,
While their children and wives suffers in loneliness,
No one to guard and guides them,
They only see their father drunk after serious Mal – used or multi – used by THEM
Carrying little foodstuffs in paper bag for their long awaited super.
In their tukul they pray hardly for their dad’s salary to by pass the mouth of THEM,
Who always siphon their money into their big bellies while their ribs protrude like guitars.
When they are wounded,
The THEM will called them ” mawokiin”
Their names will be remove from active role.
Their ranks will be taken away,
Like goods, they will display them on independence day celebration.
The THEM with their children and wives will watch, giggled and laugh at them,
As they show their amputated legs and arms in the name of liberation.
The THEM with their healthy children and fat wives will shed crocodile tears and go.
His wife will start tea selling business,
She will sit there the whole day,
Just only to get a pound for the wounded husband.
His child will drop out from school.
He will start the business of shoe shining,
Just only to get a pound for his wounded father.
While THEM claims his danger pay which will not be paid to him.
And when he dies,
The THEM will sit and writes report,
After six months his names will disappear on the payroll,
His ranks will be no more,
Every record about him will be confiscated.
He will be no where in the world,
Not in the archives, not in heroes book and also not in THEM memories.
His wife will turn into a prostitute,
The THEM will carry her always on V8 to hotels & lodges,
They will give her names; “Achawa, pros, on test, Nyabo, Aguec” name them.
She will start to sleep out only to get a pound for her child school fee.
The child will take to streets to search for food in filthy places,
And the THEM children will give him names,
Chokora! Chamatchchi! Street boy! Thief! And all sort of names
There is nothing the son of patriotic and heroic soldier will do.
But to shed tears of agony in silence.
As their father rest in peace (,R.I.P)
With no gain and no pain,
they remain rusting in pieces (R.I.P)
With lots pain and no gain.
By: Constants’ DC 2013, all rights reserved
From the CLF archives.
PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd - South Sudan 