Dec 9, 2012: Remembering the Victims of the Wau Shooting

December 9, 2012 Wau Incident Remembrance

As South Sudanese, at home and around the world are in sorrow remembering the December 15, 2013 outbreak of violence in the country, concerned citizens of Western Bahr el Ghazal State (WBGS) stand in tribute to commemorate the incidents of December 2012, in addition to the national issues.  We remember the black day, December 9^th 2012, in Wau, WBGS when armed men in uniform shot and killed peaceful demonstrators in broad daylight. That incident was caught on camera; however, the perpetrators were never apprehended.

Today we pay tribute to the victims and their families who bore the brunt.  The concerned people of WBGS and human rights supporters will never forget those who lost their lives for just carrying tree leaves and leading a peaceful march.

Following the killings, the army and other security agents arrested and tortured many community leaders, destroyed homes and properties.  These atrocities displaced more than 5000 women and children who took refuge at a UN compound.

We continue to reiterate our call for the investigation of these crimes and bringing the perpetrators to justice. The families of the deceased need to get a closure on this case and justice must be served.

We are still devastated by the state government’s accusation that the demonstrators were going to “rob a bank”, that was why they were shot and killed. Does it really make common sense that thousands of civilians were going to “rob a bank”?  If the government is serious about robbers, the real thieves recently broke into the Agricultural Bank in Wau and stole millions of South Sudanese pounds. Why did the state security apparatus fail to catch them?

Time has come to speak the truth. What the relatives of the deceased are asking is for the state government to admit its mistakes, apologize to the families, and truly bring the perpetrators to justice.  But we doubt if this would happen.

WBGS citizens continue to be marginalized within the whole country.  They have been silenced and many chased out of the state by threats of arrests and torture.  Women are being gang raped and murdered with limited or no intervention by the state. There has been rise of crimes while the state leadership claims that WBGS is the safest state in the country.  The lives and honor of civilians, especially of women and children, are not secure.

As concerned citizens of South Sudan and dedicated sons and daughters of WBGS we are submitting this statement in commemoration of December 9^th 2012 massacre to the ears of those power to hear and respond to WBGS cry.

Respectfully Submitted,

GaPPSS Team

It’s up to 80% SPLM/A IO rebels to choose between unwinnable war and the future of their children with no schools

By David Aoloch Bion

Since  December 15, 2013, only 10% of the rebels children went to school for the year 2014. These are the children of the rebels’ senior commanders and others  who were working in the government before the war and who are now meeting in Pagak .  90% of the rebel’s children did not go to schools; these are the children of ordinary soldiers from the rank of private to major  ,  because these categories of rebels have no money to pay their children school fees abroad since the schools are disrupted by the war in Greater Upper Nile  . Secondly, the other rebels  children are in UN base camps  with no schools.

On the other hand , the children of the Government soldiers have been studying for the year 2014 in Greater Bare el gazal and Greater Equatoria .  These children go to schools because their fathers are in the battlefield but are paid monthly.. Secondly these regions are peaceful..

It is up to these 90% rebels’ soldiers to accept peace offer and come and receive the salaries of January  2015 or the children will spend another year 2015  without going to school for the lack of school fees or staying in the UN base camps, because their  counterpart on government sides will receive January  2015 salaries and their children will go to school for the year 2015.

It is up to the SPLM/A IO leadership  in Pagak to decide on whether that the Greater Upper Nile will have one generation of illiterates like Southern Sudan had the one generation of illiterates from 1983 to 2005 or accept peace and  they let their children go to school like other states.

Greater Upper Nile is being destroyed and will be destroyed by the war while other regions  are progressing and will  be progressing  in term of development which will have long term benefits  on the population.

To the rebels  , the war , you are fighting is unwinnable because  (a) you claims  President Kiir  is dictator but no any single source or  person or nation apart you (SPLM/AIO) have proven this . (b) the outside observers are saying  war was a  result of the failure of leadership , this  means failure of leadership is not tantamount to dictatorship . (c) The world over is calling for the win –win solution, this is why IGAD propose the position of the Prime Minister.

Dear rebels, it is up to you to choose between the future of your children without schools and the unwinnable war,, you are waging ,  mind about the future of SPLM/A IO and mind about the future of your own children without schools in the years of war. from now onward

Look in the war of independence from 1983 to 2005, the children of SPLA commanders were studying and the children of the ordinary soldiers were not.,  look , what happened now in Juba , all children of  commanders are working in good jobs while the  children of ordinary soldiers are now redundant  on the street because they don’t have the  qualification.

Therefore choose between the unwinnable war and the future of your   own children , the government is ready to integrate all rebels who accept peace whether you are white army or a defector ,  government is ready to pay you  the salaries of January 2015 . .

To My Dear Feminists and Critics of Defense Minister Remarks

By Dhieu Williams, Juba

Knowingly or unknowingly, Women give up all their rights  in everything they do and forget of themselves.

When the Former Governor of Jonglei state and now the Minister of Defense reportedly told the graduating soldiers in Panyier that  “If you refuse to join the army, let your hair be plated and we will buy a skirt. It means you will no longer be a man, but a typical woman.”.

Whether by intention or a slight of a tongue, I don’t care.

In my own opinion, Kuol was right although it sound belittling to our western sisters and mothers.

The remarks sparked discussions and went viral on social media especially facebook.

The governor remarks wasn’t political but was made to raised the morals of the soldiers ready for men’s action.

The statement was made to annoyed or mobilized cowards youths in the towns who are supposed to protect their animals or vulnerable population in the village especially the gradmas and gradfas to go and play their role, to protect.

Commentators and critics of government official raised to their feet’s to challenge the minister saying the comment was misplaced and that the minister should write an apology.

I don’t want to answer Kuir E Garang and Amer Mayen Dhieu from Point to point but I respect their opinions and I hope these examples’ would answer all they had wrote in response to Kuoldit’s remark

Even from the start of 1983 civil war, and all able youth that time moved to Bongo or Ethiopia first for a military training and would return to come and fight the jallaba.

There were songs composed afterward to mobilized the cowards remaining youth..”Wen ke lo Bongo ban go loi” and those youth felt belittle by the songs and they decide to join their brothers and that is why there is today Independence South Sudan.

Why were those youth not asked by today critics and feminist to apologized for only calling on boys/men and not girls/women to join in the fight for the war of struggle.

When I was young and every boy would agree with me. When we were young and you came home crying and report to your mother that you was beaten up by the girl at the neighborhood.

Believed me your mother, the only being you believed would sympathized with you would jumped up and leave whatever she was doing and shout at the top of her voice,” how come a girl beat you”? go back and revenge,,”you are a man” she would remarked.

And when you return and she heard at the background your opponent crying she would be the happier person at home for your victory.

Also when it come to the evening and you try to be slow in eating with sisters or cousin sisters, your mother would bark at you (the boy) ” eat like a man” an impression that implied you are superior and you deserved.

The same thing as a child (a boy) when your mother decided tom take you along with her to any function she would desire attending and because of your small steps compare to hers, she could wanted you to increased your steps and walk quickly like her on pretext you are a man and forget your are small even in steps.

Again in the family meeting or an attempts to resolved disputed in the family, boys are given the first chance to have asays on believed that Boys are more intelligent than girls.

Even at the well attended function and you as a boy happened to speak at a low tone, girls/boys in unison would shouts at you to speak like a man.

Another typically example is when even a strange animal approached animals in the farm, the first to be sent is a boy, for he is strong enough to confront the animal lets says it’s a lion.

In past, I don’t today we used to mold soil into guns and the games we played were of fighting compare to our sisters who used to mold pots and houses among others.

Today go to the market with your children and asked them to choose their playing toys, A boy will chose a gun and a girl will choose a girl toy or a cat toy.

Blah,    Blah, Blah Blah.,,,,,and many other examples.

So I like any other boy in his village grew up knowing that am a stronger being than my sisters/cousins or any other girls for that matter.

Dhieu Williams is Juba-based Journalist; Reachable : sir.williams12@yahoo.com

KASNEB professional exams and training in Juba

1. Introduction

KASNEB was established by the Government of Kenya on 24 July 1969. The Accountants Act, Cap 531 of the Laws of Kenya, which was enacted in July 1977, gave KASNEB retroactive   recognition since its inception in 1969. – See http://www.kasneb.or.ke/

KASNEB is mandated by various regulations in Kenya for training in various professional courses that provide successful candidates clear professional path in the region and the World.

In Kenya, it is a tool that professionals differentiate themselves from amorphous academic folks. KASNEB certifications are ticket to clear path to practice and consult. All financial positions today require either a Certified Public Accountant; Financial Analysts required Certified Securities and Investment Analysts and so do other professional careers.

As part of improving financial literacy, KASNEB made arrangements with Juba University for providing training to KASNEB students. However, that seems to be off – track as JU lack lecturers and qualified people to facilitating the training to enable students passed usual high-end examination offer by KASNEB.

It is only tested people; and who appreciate the content and extend of the exams that can offer reliable and dependable training that will match the standard required by KASNEB for its professional training.

In this regards, we approached KASNEB to be a credited as training; and facilitating institutions with regards to its exams. KASNEB acknowledged that though today, exams are administered at Kenya embassy in South Sudan, this is not sustainable and they looking forward to a more sustainable methodology.

We presented to KASNEB, The Dream College of Professional and Development Studies as panacea to training opportunities and challenges in South Sudan.

The Dream College of Professional and Development Studies will train, facilitate, and provide South Sudan perspective to examination and marking. We have contacted KASNEB and KASNEB is willing to go extra mile to give South Sudanese opportunities for their professional growth.

KASNEB certifications are recognized World-wide and qualified students become members of various professional bodies. For details of courses provide, see http://www.kasneb.or.ke/

2. Services

We have approached KASNEB, KASNEB agrees to accredit The Dream College to provide training, assess and recommend students for admission into KASNEB courses, facilitate fees payment, participate in exams setting and marking.

We are making contacts with various colleges and lecturers in Kenya with view to get materials and lecturers base on our students demand in South Sudan. All the ground work for the training is done.

We are currently calling upon students to send us their details – level they are currently studying; request for registration as students for next year exams or for student’s admission. Base on respond, we intend to offer classes in Juba for those planning to sit for June exams. Depending on the number, we can offer regular classes, materials or blocks when exams neared. Please confirm you needs so that we plan and respond to your needs accordingly.

3. Actions

Please share this with your friends, go through KASNEB courses and let us know the courses you have register for or certification you want to do and let us know so that we facilitate your registration or provide materials as you may need.

These courses targets accountants, finance professionals, auditors, financial analysts, investment analysts, businessmen, companies’ secretaries, credit analysis and financial reporters. These people mostly worked in capital markets of Central Bank, Finance department of all institutions, Auditors, tax specialists in all institutions and public interested in financial literacy.

Please widely circulate to your friends, colleagues, and companies and confirm back your interest with necessary details the soonest so assistance.

Do not hustle, growth with knowledge, work for your future.

4. Contacts

For all queries contact to our lead promoter

CPA Gabriel Garang – Certified Public Accountant, KASNEB; B.A (Economics) and MA – Economics Policy and Management and currently KASNEB’s student of Certified Securities and Investment Analysts

garangatemayiik@gmail.com

bwanagatem@yahoo.com

+211955115299

+211920012113

+254705148110

New Book: Christian Faith among the Jieeng

Christian Faith among the Jieeng
The Shift in Values, the Stages of Faith, and the Cultural and Religious Experiences of Jieeng Believers in the Episcopal Diocese of Bor
by Nathaniel Athian Deng Mayen, BSW, Rev.

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In Christian Faith among the Jieeng, Rev. Nathaniel Athian Deng Mayen provides an insider’s perspective on the development of Christian faith among the Jieeng (Dinka). Based on his teaching and clergy experiences and observations, Rev. Athian discusses the stages of faith, the shift in values and beliefs, and the cultural and religious experiences of Jieeng believers in the Episcopal Diocese of Bor. The author maintains that the shift in Jieeng cultural values and the subsequent conversion to Christianity are a result of the believers’ experiences and encounters with God. God mysteriously reveals Himself to the animist believers and wins their hearts through miracles. Thus, the miracles reveal the powerlessness of the animist deities (jak) whom the believers consequently abandon and embrace Christianity. Christian Faith among the Jieeng is an introductory discussion that opens up conversations about Jieeng spirituality in the context of Christian faith. The book draws attention to cultural teachings about social relationships, youth responsibilities, women’s leadership, and the role of leaders in guiding the faith and behaviors of the believers. It also discuss the following questions. Is Christianity the existence of God or a colonial tool to disintegrate indigenous cultures and values among the Jieeng? Why is Christianity miraculously taking precedence over indigenous religions and animist worships? What happened after the Jieeng believers in the Episcopal Diocese of Bor preferably embraced Christianity and abandoned their animist deities and divinities?