Aweil Community Rejects Khartoum claims of Mile – 14 South of river Kiir
Aweil Community Rejects Khartoum claims of Mile – 14 South of river Kiir
Juba, South Sudan
October 12, 2012
H.E General Salva Kiir Mayardit
President of the Republic of South Sudan
Juba,
Cc: Permanent Members, UN Security Council
Cc: UNSG Special Representative
Cc: Chairperson, African Union High Level Implementation Panel
Cc: Speaker, National legislative Assembly
Cc: Governor, Northern Bahr El Ghazal State – Aweil
Ref: Aweil Community Rejects Khartoum claims of Mile – 14 South of river Kiir
Your Excellency,
We, the undersigned representatives of Aweil Community, are hereby submitting the aforementioned issue under your esteemed and able leadership. On behalf our voiceless citizens of Mading Aweil we bring to your attention their concerns in respect of the issue of ‘Mile – 14’ South of River Kiir earmarked to be demilitarized as came in the Security Arrangement, one of the Cooperative Agreement signed between the government of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan.
Aweil Community, in the strongest terms, condemns and vehemently rejects the so-called Security Arrangements that has categorised some part of our ancestors’ land as part of the disputed areas. Our unwavering support to our movement—the SPLM—and now the Government of the Republic of South Sudan has, in many ways, resulted into the exclusion and perhaps, limited participation in both the administrative as well as the decision making process. Despite the grievances, we, the people of Mading Aweil, will always remain committed and supportive of your leadership and the nation’s cause.
The people of Mading Aweil, feels, the political process advanced towards the negotiation, was politically unjust, not so much because of its outcome, but because, of its wilful ignorance to appreciate the need to consult with the communities concerns. In reference to Sudan government Permanent Representative to UN’s letter dated 26th July, 2012 to the UN Security Council and the subsequent letter to the AUHIP dated 7th June, 2012 from the same source, protesting the exclusion of the so –called Mile – 14 in Sudan map, we thinks, this was a mere demagoguery; but to our surprise, it was the same position the Government of Sudan put forth as a position paper, that we ended up accepting. This, compromise, we feel, had our negotiators, consulted the relevant communities, the outcome would, at least have been different from what we do have today, better known as “additional special arrangements.”
Furthermore, this new agreement, to some extent, will jeopardize the already existing and practical annually-renewable agreements between, the Messeriya/Rezeigat and Dinka Malual for grazing purpose. Because, in our minds, the annually peace alluded to some extent, substantially, establishes, at least between the two communities, the defining border lines. Dinka Malual Chiefs expressed their dissatisfactory to Munroe – Weatley agreements in Babanusa on 24th to 29th, March, 1935 that correct suggestions of 1924 agreement, the General Agreement of our traditional leaders at Safah on April 16th ,1959.The decision on Safah Conference of April 16th – 18th,1974.The Seasonal Migration Conference between Dinka Malual & Reiziegat on 20th -22,Jan,2012 has addressed some vital issues as quoted here “Grassing zones and grazing routes shall be governed peacefully accordance to Dinka Malual’s norms and values” . Also, the 1935’s Conference has addressed the issue of common grazing on condition that the Arab nomads don not settle in the Dinka Malual’s camping grounds (WUTS)
With that said, and having furnished your Excellency with historical backgrounds in respect of the Riezigat-Dinka’s grazing arrangements, we urge your able and wise leadership to seek to explore some other avenues to address the contentious ‘Mile 14’ debacle caused by additional special arrangements in the Security Agreement” amicably in order to adopt the South Sudan’s map of 1/1/1956 as stipulated in the CPA and Addis Ababa agreement. We unanimously support the implementation of other eight (8) agreements except the security arrangement. We, therefore also would like to urge your Excellency to discourage those who attempt to use the issue of Mile 14 disguising as the true Guardians of your government, in order to further their selfish political interests. There are forces of Evil in the whole of ten states, who does not want this country to prosper; we must inform your Excellency.
We call upon UN Security Council members and people of Goodwill to understand that the so –called Mile – 14 has never been a disputed or a claimed area in the modern history of Sudan. The Reizeigat knows that their border with Dinka Malual lies more than 38 Miles North of Kiir River. Khartoum has insufficient documents to claim our ancestral land. We regret to learn that the US administration was pressuring our negotiators to accept the request of Khartoum regime without any clear and substantial justification. The USAID is aware of our community annually agreed grazing arrangements with the Reizeigat nomads since 2008. We urge the people of genuine goodwill to friendly advice the Reizeigat to maintain their current locations more than 38 Miles North of Kiir River; otherwise the governments of Sudan and South Sudan will bear the responsibility for failure to address the relations between the two historically coexisting tribes in none-politicised manner. The Mile 14 has ceased to provide sufficient grazing facilities as it turned a dry land, and so it is also in the best interest of the Reziegat not to accept the two governments attempt to deviate from grazing arrangements the Dinka Malual has accorded to them for centuries.
Finally, we urge your wise leadership to spare time and space to look into the grievances of the communities bordering the Sudan and consider their participations in future border negotiations. Otherwise, we urge your able leadership to consider reviewing the status of our negotiating team. .
We beg to remain.
Truly Yours
Signed
1. Hon. Kwac Makuei Mayar
Aweil Elder and Veteran Politician
2. Sultan Abdelbagi Ayii Akol
Community Elder
3. Hon Aldo Ajou Deng Akuey.
Aweil Elder & Politician
4. Ustaz Ateny Wek Ateny
Civil Society Activist
5. Sultan Leek Malong Yor
Aweil Paramount Chief
6. Aguer Kuel Kuel
Aweil Community representative in Diaspora
7. Daniel Gar Gar
Civil Society organisations
8. John Garang Dut
Representative of Aweil Youth Union
9. Representative of Aweil Women Union
10. Athain Aciec Majok
Aweil business Community
11. Mr.Mou Mou Thet
Aweil Students Association
12. Bol Akok Mayol
Community’s Activist
13. Engineer Yaak Malong Akech
Community’s Activist
14. Ustaz Garang Akol Mading Ngong
Ad hoc Committee Member
15. Ustaz Ngor Garang Gau
Ad hoc Committee Secretary
16. Ustaz Wol Wol Lual Baak
Civil Society activist
17. Kuan Kuan Athian
Secretary of Information