Duty of Care

By Malith Alier, Juba

3rd anniversary of RSS independence, Juba

I was going to the chemist’s shop this morning to purchase anti-malarial tablets for a sick relative. On the way, I found three individuals working on the road side trying to close a water pathway from a shower in their homestead. As I pass, one of the men at work lifts a heavy stone and hurls it on the water and therefore, splashed it on my body. I ask as to why he saw me passing and didn’t wait for me to go past before throwing that stone. As soon as I finished, a disabled big bellied man, apparently a landlord uttered something which shocked me. “de shokol” “this is work, if somebody is in the workshop and you happen to pass he doesn’t care, It is your responsibility to take care of yourself.”

Instead, it is not my responsibility but his responsibility to make sure that anyone who passes there while him or his men at work must be made aware that some work is in progress and therefore, they have to proceed with vigil. This is what is known as “duty of care.” Anyone who does something in public place must seriously observe “duty of care.” Failure to do so may lead to prosecution in the law of torts. Damages may be awarded if proven that there was negligence on the side of the one such as in above example.

Examples abound on how the duty of care may be exercised. One example is the road construction workers. They often place a sign with “slow down, men at work” or “road work ahead” a few metres away from the actual work site. This is extremely important because it alerts the road users that the conditions of the road are different and they have to approach with care. Usually, the road workers have heavy equipment and are numbered from tens to hundreds. They employ elaborate arrangements to direct traffic to safer side of the road under construction or maintenance. By alerting the road users, they have exonerated themselves of any unexpected occurrence. It is on the other hand, the responsibility of road users to decelerate and observe traffic flow as directed by the designated controller.

Another instance where duty of care may be exercised is cleaning of public spaces in hospitals, supermarkets, hotels and so on. The cleaners erect a “wet floor” sign to alert the passersby that they may tip over and get hurt. This sign serves to enhance the responsibility of the one who is doing the cleaning. It is the equation changer. The ball is now in the passersby’s court. However, this does not completely exonerate the cleaner from all the responsibility. There are further instances whereby a court case may still be instituted against the organisation.

Perhaps the one who carries the heaviest duty of care is the local government in form of City Council, County Council, Town Council, Payam Council and village as well as Boma Councils.

The local government is the closest government to the people and therefore, bears responsibility of organising, directing and warning the public of all acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in a particular locality. The local government is in charge of roads, sanitation, estates, Parks and Reserves, sports and recreation facilities, environment and many more. The local government therefore, erects road signs, takes care of sanitation, plans estates, controls parks and forest reserves and runs sports and recreation facilities in the locality. Failure to properly manage these functions can result in serious consequences of which the local government may be sued. For example if the City Council fails to erect signs warning people against swimming in River Nile, it could be sued against negligence.

River Nile is infested with crocodiles and other dangerous animals like hippopotamuses which can kill. Other dangerous objects may be under water and could harm swimmers e.g. shipwreck. It is therefore, the responsibility of Nimule Town Council, Juba City Council, Terkaka Town Council, Bor Municipal Council, Malakal City Council and Renk Town Council along the Nile to make sure that safe swimming sites are designated and nobody should swim anywhere else. The designated sites must have trained wardens who should be on site to warn when danger approaches. They can also provide assistance if needed during swimming period.

Failure to observe the duty of care is called negligence. The concept of negligence is not confined to the above two examples but is wide ranging. The doctors who treat patients in hospitals can be sued for negligence or malpractice. Take an instance where a child is crippled after administration of injection on the wrong side of buttock by a nurse. This child can sue the hospital for negligence or malpractice and he can get damages for this reason if proved that the health institution failed to properly administer the injection.

The above scenarios are slowly but surely coming to play in the lives of South Sudanese. As people migrate to cities and progress in knowledge, there is an increasing need to be mindful of the welfare of others. You and I are our brothers’ keepers!

An O

An O

By David Aoloch Bion

Everybody is an O
The words and
The actions are U
The U is grain

Death is the last Organism of life

Death is the Last Orgasm of Life

By David Aoloch Bion

Killing is the labour of life
Death is ultimate orgasm of life
The best sorrowful way to mourn
For your beloved one is to laugh
Melodically for one minute and
Compose epitaph. Death is not the
End of life but one phase of thousand
Phases of life webs. In death no
Moaning but pleasant screaming.

Killing an opponent / criminal either
On the street / on the scaffold is not a
Sound punishment and is not good
Fence. Thousands die today,
thousands make offences tomorrow.
Killing as a punishment make you no queen,
King, winner or conquerer
. Your adversary has no painful memories
Of his death at your hands and
Doesn’t know your honour and popularity
You obtain after killing.

No pain after a second after lethal
Injection / drink, bullet / first / stroke touch
His /her soul. death should not be prize for
Crimes and rivals.
Good punishment should be humiliation,
Beat a criminal / enemy half way
So he kneels before you
Respect you profoundly
Talk about your greatness and your might.

Dance of Birds

Dance of Birds

By David Aoloch Bion

Drum of birds is on shore
Dance of parrots is on shore
Men are fishing in river

Drum of birds is on shore
Dance of parrots is on shore
Women are fetching water in river

Small birds perch on weeds to watch dance
Big birds perch on reeds to watch dance
Men and women stand to watch dance of birds

MORE PAIN FOR SOUTH SUDANESE AS COST OF LIVING SOARS.

BY EMMANUEL MALUAL MAKUACH, JUBA SOUTH SUDAN.

Food prices have gone up sharply. Analysts say rise in inflation and the weakening of the local currency seen over the last week, might result in high lending rates] The cost of living during the month of May went up driven by high cost of living is high in south Sudan and sharp rise in price of food commodities. Show that inflation rose to according to the research carried out by the economist of south Sudan 7.3 per cent in May from 6.4 per cent in April, shooting past the Central lack of control of the economic rising food prices due to poor transportation. Further increases in price of food that could adversely affect the economy. Notable in pushing up inflation were e prices that went up in the country per cent after the country starting the aborted coup attempt in the country using hard currency fuels the economic crisis in the country this cost being passed directly to the consumers. Food index This has been due to failure of the rains last year and flooding in some parts of the country resulted in a dip in water levels at the areas that have flooded in some states way below their capacity. Building for the people of south Sudan due to hardship. The dismal rains during the season have also seen prices of common food items go up. “There was significant rise in prices of several food items including maize flour, potatoes and sukuma wiki…Okara in our local markets like jebel market . costumers and konyo konyo markets were few small scale farmers managed to bring some produces in the market which the have facing a lot of challenges in the markets which has results into these price increases outweighed falls in the prices of resulting in an aggregate Price increases were recorded in respect of, food prices mainly on account of hard currency in the economic situation .which the citizens has experienced might dampen growth prospects for the country.

See Also: Major in dilemma over high rate of inflation and the weakening of the local currency, seen over the last months might result in high lending rates. “Once again, unseasonably economic that make country development and the insurgency in the country make it difficult to sustained and the country’s continued reliance on rain-fed agriculture, are helping to pressure prices. However, with indicators pointing to robust underlying momentum in the economy, and strong credit growth (notwithstanding recent security risks), the likelihood of food-related pressures spilling over into secondary effects is high,” consumers. Said the rising inflation in south Sudan narrowing the spread with the Central Bank rate as well as nervousness around the softer pounds seen in recent days, should see the C BK resume a modest tightening cycle from July. “The April to May inflation prints most likely signals the start of a new interest rate cycle in south Sudan although we do not expect interest rates to rise anywhere near as much as they did in the last tightening cycle.

A sufficiently early rate hike will help moderate the overall pace of tightening that is required.” LIVING, COMMODITIES, FOOD, MONEY, in Share Related Stories State to go cashless from July to curb black markets were dollars is trading 430 south Sudanese pounds Majority of south Sudanese are dilemma impromptu meeting with key budget committee .Any money left after the austerity measures has been concentrated in the national capital. but the country is blessed with abundant land fertile land so the plan is to diversity away from oil towards agriculture. This will need substantial investment .not just in new technologies and training but also on physical infrastructure.in oil is the nation greatest sources of income .but in three years since south Sudan declared its independence from north Sudan .the oil has not brought much development. The situations described by the south Sudanese economist Peter Biar Ajak says the financial situation is quite precarious .and the note also warned of massive devaluation of the south Sudanese pound SSP an exponential rise in inflation and depletion of south Sudan,s reserves all in all development was put on hold salaries came late poverty rates grew .people waving south Sudanese flags while the south Sudanese celebrate independence. there is little cheer in the economy on other hands that agriculture was not the one changes the life of people of south Sudan but the current political crisis in the country has affected the agriculture in the following areas like greater upper Nile. lake states and warrap were the cattle raiding is the order of the day were people are fearing for their lives. The only way we can help the economy of south Sudan is make our own regulation in many ways of economic sectors like customs reformed including taxation in the country.

Instead of Pibor Aministration, President Kiir must create 23 states including Pibor State

Instead of Pibor Administration, President Kiir must create 23 states including Pibor state

By David Aoloch Bion
In the last seven months, the Government and the Rebels in South Sudan were busy preparing for the war. They were recruiting soldiers, buying guns, attack and counterattack but there was no breakthrough in the battlefield on either side. Although, the Government has upper hand in the frontline she could not say for sure she has defeated the rebels, on the other hand, the rebels have not ruled out their hope of defeating the Government at one point. In short it is a stalemate in the battlefield.
The last seven months, our experiences tell us that, the Rebels are the initiators. The Government is the rejoinder. The rebels initiated the war. The Government responded to the war.
Now, the rebels have initiated brilliant idea or rather, let use the word ‘’ remind ‘’ because the idea was in our mind but we did not speak it out. The rebels have reminded all South Sudanese about an idea of creating more states in country in the new federalism.
Thank the rebels for let us remember something we have forgotten. The rebels proposed that South Sudan should be divided into 21 states, that is brilliant idea. The South Sudanese, the 11 million South Sudanese proposed 23 states, that is most brilliant idea. When I talk of ‘’rebels’’, it is the 40,000 rebels fighting the government. When I talk of ‘’South Sudanese ‘’, it is all citizens in the 10 states.
This is the world of democracy, where the voices of the majority are the last saying and last authority. Although, in our case the voice of ‘’one man ‘’ is strongest than the voice of the 11 million. It has been proposed by 40, 000 rebels plus 500, 000 rebels supporters that South Sudan should be divided into 21 states . And it has been proposed by 11 million South Sudanese that South Sudan should be divided into following 23 states ,
1. Imatong State:Torit :Ikotos , Lafon ,Magwi; H/Q Torit

2. Lomurnyang State : Kapoeta S. , Kapoeta North ,Kapoeta East , Budi; H/Q Kapoeta

3. Maridi State: Mundri West ,Mundri East , Mvollo ,Ibba; H/Q Maridi

4. Gbudwe State: Anzara ,Yambio , Ezo , Tumbura ,Nagero; H/Q Yambio

5. Jubek State: Juba ,Terekeka; H/Q Juba

6. Yei River State: Yei , Kajo-keji , Morobo , Lainya; H/Q Yei

7. Wau State: Bagari , Jur River; H/Q Wau

8. Aweil State: Aweil South Aweil Center; H/Q Aweil

9. Lol State: Aweil West ,Aweil North , Raga; H/Q Raga

10. Aweil East State: Aweil East; H/Q Wanyjok

11. Kiir State: Twic , Abyei; H/Q MayenAbun

12. Gogrial State: Gogrial East , Gogrial West; H/Q Kuacjok

13. Tonj State: Tonj North , Tonj East ,Tonj South; H/Q Tonj

14. Lakes State: Yirol East , Yirol West+ Awerial; H/Q Yirol

15. Rumbek State: Cueibet , Rumbek East , Rumbek North , Rumbek Center , Wulu; H/Q

16. Liech State: Rubokona , Guit , Leer , Mayendit , Panyijar , Koch , Mayom; H/Q Bentiu

17. Ruweng State: Panrieng , Abiemnom; H/Q Abiemnom

18. Eastern Nile State: Renk , Maban , Melut , Baliet , Akoka , Pigi; H/Q Malakal

19. Western Nile State: Panyikang , Kodok , Manyo; H/Q Kodok

20. Jonglei State: Bor , Twic East , Duk; H/Q Bor

21. Bieh State: Fanjak , Ayod , Akobo , Nyiro , Uror ; H/Q Ayod

22. Latjoor State: Nasir , Ulang , Maiwut , Longuchok; H/Q Nasir

23. Boma State: Pibor , Pachalla . Buma; H/Q Pibor

And Ramciel shall be the capital city of the Federal State.

In the democratic society , the 23 states should be created because it is will of the majority. As I said earlier that in our case the voice of one man is strongest than voices of 11 million ,

Who is this one man? It is President Kiir .

With humility , my dear South Sudanese inside and outside South Sudan, whether you an enemy to Mr. Kiir or friend to unite and unite behind the proposers of the 23 states and put more pressure on Mr .Kiir to force him to create the 23 states instead of creating state for Pibor county . All of us we need services like people of Pibor , it is unwise for all of us to go to war because we need states, like people of Pibor did . this is not jealousy of the right of Murle people , it is universal , inclusive solution to our fundamental problem which is the service delivery .

Dear South Sudanese Mr Kiir has been issuing decrees without consulting anyone .it is our time to force him to make a decree . Mr Kiir should know the creation of 23 states and federalism are the demands of all South Sudanese. if Mr Kiir refuse to implement this popular demand of the people . No problem , any Government that would come after him whether he (Kiir) will rule for 100 years or not will implement the 23 states and the federal system of governance , which we are operating but not written in our constitution .
Mr . Kiir should not tell us. Where is the money? , there is money! Gives us 23 states and we shall create the money from our land.

We shall be a proud nation, once more, in the not-so-distant tomorrow

Happy Sunday, Folks.

By PaanLuel Wël, Juba, South Sudan

Today, Sunday, is a special day for the Christians of South Sudan and their brethren across the globe. As they converge on Churches across the nation and in Juba in particular, one theme would stand out: sacrifice. Self-sacrifice. Jesus, who Christians regard as the eternal Son of God sacrificed his life for humankind.

John 3: 16

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Sacrifice too is a special theme in the evolution of the republic of South Sudan. Ponder the millions of people who perished for us to achieve our independence.

Think of Father Saturnino Lohure, Joseph Oduho, Aggrey Jaden, William Deng, Marko Rume, Joseph Lagu, Mourtat Mayen, etc. the pioneers of South Sudanese liberationary struggle.

William Deng Nhial, Abel Alier Kwai, Joseph Lagu, Samuel Ghai Tut, Joseph Oduho, Dr. John Garang, William Nyuon Bany, Arok Thon Arok, Salva Kiir Mayaardit, Martin Majier Ghai, (Kerubino Kuanyin Bol, Akuot Atem de mayen, both not shown)

However, I want to concentrate on John Garang, Salva Kiir and Riek Machar.

Salva Kiir Mayaardit has totally dedicated his entire life to the liberation of his people. He joined Anyanya One movement at a mere age of 16. He was an integral part of Southern Sudanese underground movement during the ten years of the Abel Alier/Joseph Lagu regional government.

When the second civil war erupted in 1983, he was among the first Southern patriots to answer the noble call. Of the seven founders of the SPLM/A, he is the only surviving one. As John Garang said in Rumbek, 27 July 2005, Salva Kiir has never betrayed the people of South Sudan.

His crowning achievement was to oversee a peaceful secession and successful independence of South Sudan on 9 July 2011. On his shoulders was the sacrifices of all the martyrs and the destiny of the living and future generations of South Sudanese. He didn’t fail them.

South Sudan’s coat of arms, in which the eagle symbolizes vision, strength, resilience and majesty, and the shield and spear the people’s resolve to protect the sovereignty of their republic and work hard to feed it.

Riek Machar Teny, while still a PhD student in the UK, was already politically involved in charting the destiny of his people. He had, with other comrades, formed his Sudan Revolutionary Front on campus. Upon graduation in December 1983, he went direct to the bush to fight for his people. Left behind in a foreign land, with nothing to support herself and the infant son, was his young wife, Angelina Teny. Angelina and the baby had to rely on state social welfare for sustenance.

It was not until five years later than Riek had to see his family again. This was after he had heroically fought in many SPLA battles, one in which his forces wounded Omer el-Bashir, when Riek captured Mayom from the government. It was after this that Garang was moved to declare: “If only I had five commanders like Riek Machar, this war would have been over already by now.”

In 2002, Riek returned to the fold of the Movement and fully became part and parcel of the military campaign as well as the peace making process of the Movement. The CPA was signed, referendum conducted and independence declared rewardingly. None of these would have been thinkable had Riek been on the side of Khartoum government because much of Southern Sudan (the entire Upper Nile region) would have been politically unstable and militarily insecure for the referendum to take place and there would have been no independence without the CPA-mandated referendum.

John Garang had left his home district at the age of ten and went to the Bahr el Ghazal region for studies. He never went back (in the context of resettling among his relatives) up to the day he died; Garang is more of a name than a real face to most local people of his home district because they never met him in person.

John Garang is another epitome of sacrifice. He joined the Anyanya One at the age of 17, December 1962. From that time until he passed away in July 2005, he had dedicated his entire to the cause of the people of South Sudan, of the Sudan and of Africa as glean in the following excerpt from his February 1972 letter to Professor Akech:

“I am leaving tomorrow morning for the interior, about 500 miles footwork from where we last met and I will not be back for over 7 months, maybe more…The objective of liberation (of armed struggle) is firstly the riddance of oppression and exploitation and the simultaneous creation of conditions and structures for the permanent (continuous) release of our productive forces, which have been so historically damned, deformed, stunted and impeded by exploitation, oppression and humiliation. This last point is central as it focuses on the essence, the particularity of our movement. About my role as Information Officer for the Anyanya, it is true that there has been such talk, but after I finished my infantry training last October [1971], I made a concrete analysis of the situation and objective factors indicated that I could not make my total contribution in that capacity. You know what I mean. And if that be the case, it would be an intolerable situation.

I joined the Movement with total commitment and dedication. I have sacrificed (I don’t consider it so) all the benefits paper dehumanizing education is supposed to confer on the dehumanized, decultured native holder, I am resolved to give the ultimate sacrifice, my life, for I am bound by nothing else but duty and commitment to Africa and the African people starting with the Southern Sudanese people, as a matter of course. African liberation can only primarily be effected through combat and everything else must be built around the combat, must enhance and give political character to combat.

It would take me a book to go into analytical, historical and practical exposition of this line, but it is sufficient to say that this is why I turned down the “Information” work and chose active combat, and so tomorrow I go to the interior to (eventually soon) take over command of a full battalion. War is war, should anything terminate my usefulness (services) to the African people and revolution, it is incumbent upon you to continue with the struggle and/or to prepare the children and generations to come for the revolution. It is our duty.

Tell those citizens of Africa, snatched away from the great BLACK womb of our Mother, that time has come for their consciousness and ours on the mainland to merge (again) with one big black consciousness that will pull Mother Africa from the bloody teeth of the monster and usher in the total release of our productive forces long damned, deformed and impeded by centuries of oppression, exploitation and emasculating humiliation.”

If there is anything we can learn from the history of the liberation of our country, then it is that much sacrifice was expended for its freedom. We all sacrificed, including the current leadership of the SPLM/A in Juba with President Kiir, in the bush with Riek Machar and in the third party with Pagan Amum and even in the opposition with Lam Akol.

Let’s recall and appreciate and celebrate our sacrifices for this precious nation. Though cheapened today, it was not achieved cheaply.

Let’s not be bogged down by the dark cloud, the specter of doom, hanging over us. The US and China were once embroiled in a bitter, barbarous civil wars. They are proud nations today.

England and France and the Tsar Russia beheaded their monarchies. They are proud nations today. Europe was destroyed by two World Wars. They are a proud union today: ideologically reconciled with themselves, politically advanced, militarily matured, socioeconomically prosperous, and technologically sophisticated.

We shall be a proud nation, once more, in the not-so-distant tomorrow.

Happy Sunday!!!