Zande Community calls for the release of Western Equatoria Governor
Zande Community World-Wide Organisation
Press Release
Hundreds of Western Equatoria Concerned Citizens to Sign Memo Calling For Release and Reinstatement of Western Equatoria Governor Col. Patrick Zamoi
June 20, 2006 — Since the news emerged of President Salva Kiir Decree No. 42, 2006, on Thursday 15th June, 2006, suspending Col Patrick Zamoi as Governor of Western Equatoria State and putting him and his family under house arrest, anger among Western Equatoria citizens have gone over the limits everywhere whether in the Sudan or Diaspora. Also the fact that someone within GoSS tried to distort the news on suspension which was based on Inter-tribal conflict in Western Equatoria, with some false news claiming that the Governor was suspended on corruption charges made more anger still as people saw it as a deliberate attempt to implicate an innocent man for the sake of dislike of him and people of Western Equatoria. The Suspension according to the news read on Juba TV/Radio and the papers presented to the Governor and the GoSS ministers really related only to the result of an unrecognised report of an Investigation Committee into the Yambio Inter-tribal clashes in November 2005 and the subsequent month.
The citizens of Western Equatoria were even more shocked to learn that the so called Committee of Investigation which went to Yambio was just a mere three man Committee made up of non-Equatorians completely. The Committee members of non Equatorians were said to comprise of one lawyer, one security Officer and one police inspector. The Western Equatoria citizens say that to appoint a three man committee of non-Equatorians to investigate an Inter-tribal clashes involving Equatorians is another mockery of justice and against the principle of the CPA which was to deliver justice for all. As such the memo from concerned citizens of Western Equatoria is expected to call on the President of the Government of Southern Sudan to immediately nullify this tribal Committee and appoint a new Committee which will include impartial people from all sides involved in the conflict.
The memo is also expected to call for the immediate release and reinstatement of the Governor to his office as somebody cannot be judged on the work of unconstitutional committee made up of only non-Equatorians.
Further citizens of Western Equatoria are unhappy about the continued house arrest of Col. Patrick Zamoi with nobody allowed in and out of his house since June 15th, 2006. His wife and family members have all become part of the house arrest also. House arrest cannot be executed in this order and the Governor’s family members must be allowed their freedom according the law which prevents collective punishments. At any rate this seems to be trivial now as the citizens are expected to be calling for the immediate release of the Governor from house arrest in Juba and the resumption of his duties as Governor.
Eng. Charles B. Kisanga
Eng. Kisanga is Former SPLM National Liberation Council member, who lives and works as Consultant Engineer in the UK. Eng. Kisanga is also chairman of Azande Community World-Wide Organisation and he can be reached on [email protected], Tel: 44-770 899 8373