W. Equatoria’s Maridi citizens slam MP for backing governor arrest

July 14, 2006 (JUBA) — Citizens of Maridi County in Western Equatoria State have written a petition letter condemning a statement made by Maridi County’s Member of Parliament of in the Government of National Unity about the arrest of Governor Patrick Zamoi.

Last month the Khartoum Monitor newspaper wrote an article in which Mr. Justin Joseph Marona stated that he is in full support of the move taken by the President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir, to suspend and put under house arrest the Western Equatoria Governor Zamoi.

The petition claims that the people of Maridi County were not consulted by the MP Marona before he issued his statement. The petition said that they believe the Member of Parliament was acting out of his personal interest and not the interest of the people of the county, the Sudan Radio Service reported.

The Governor of Western Equatoria state was suspended and put under house arrest last month pending an investigation into alleged involvement into tribal clashes that took place in Yambio late last year.

In despite of a strong mobilization in favor of the Zamoi release, South Sudan government seems determined to keep the governor in jail.

At the same time this arrest reminds many Azande that they were also marginalized during the reign of the autonomous southern Sudan government under the Addis Ababa agreement in 1972.

Many Azande consider that Zamoi’s arrest is a symbol of the injustice practiced against them by the other dominant tribes in the region.

(ST/SRS)