Wanding Payam request Salva Kiir help to recover their occupied land
TO: PRESIDENT OF SOUTH SUDAN.
FROM: THE GRIEVANCES PEOPLE OF WANDING COMMUNITY, AN APPEAL LETTER TWO.
TO:
H.E. First Lt Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit. First Vice President
of the Republic of Sudan, President of the Government of
South Sudan, SPLM Party Chairman and C-in-C of the SPLA.
H.E. Lt. Gen. Dr. Riek Machar Tenydhorgon. Vice president
of the Government of South Sudan.
CC:
H.E. Hon. Pagan Amum Okiech. Secretary General of the SPLM Party.
H.E. Hon James Waniga.House Speaker of the Government of South Sudan.
Hon. Dr. Pauline Riak. Anti Corruption Commission.
Hon. Mrs. Joyce Kwaje. Human Right Commission.
H.E. Governor Dak Duop Bichiok, Upper Nile State.
H.E. Governor Philip Thon Leek, Jongolei State.
Hon. Mr.Gathoth Gatkuoth, Commissioner of Nasir County
Hon. Mr. Doyak Chuol Dol, Commissioner of Akobo County
Date: October, 08 2007
FROM: Displaced people of Wanding Payam (Lockpiny County) Nasir, Upper Nile State.
SUBJECT: THE REQUEST OF AN ACTION IN RETURNING BACK OUR INVADED HOME WANDING PAYAM BY LOU-NUER RIVAL UNDER AKOBO COUNTY JONGOLEI STATE.
Your Excellency, We the Wanding Community members congratulates you and appreciates your hard works for uniting our country to stand firm for the dream that our people fought for all these years. We believe and support your efforts in bringing unity, peace and harmony to the marginalized people of the South Sudan or Sudan at large. Your hard works and convictions in addressing the challenging issues are visible and we are very proud for your leadership. One of the progressive things we would like to point out is the sign of smiling faces of Southern Sudanese on a global scale for realizing peace brought by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) today, but not forgetting the deplorable faces of our displaced people of Wanding Payam in Nasir, Upper Nile State. But we believe that unity among Southerners in particular or Sudanese in general will prosper our blessing nation to move in a positive direction in this changing world.
Your Excellency we are again hereby appealing to you for pending issue that is severely concerning us daily. Wanding Payam, which bordering to Akobo County, is still under the occupation of Lou Nuer. Wanding is not a Payam to Akobo, nor are its residents from Akobo County. The inter-clan conflict that occurred in 90s to 2000, caused residents of Wanding Payam to abandon their homes to seek refugee elsewhere, then, Wanding was occupied by residents of Akobo County. There are certain grievances from members of Wanding Community which we would like to share with you and hope for your leadership to take necessary actions. Members of Wanding Payam and Barmach in Ulang are only people in South Sudan that do not know what future holds for them at this moment. Those who left refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya to return to Wanding did not reach their destination because they are not allowed to return home by lou-nuer invaders. The People of Wadding are now seeking refugee in various locations in Southern Sudan and some have returned to Ethiopian borders
Your Excellency, Lt. Gen Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of South Sudan, out of your recent remarks at “state of the union address,” you have stated importance of Affirmative Action; you stated that our constitution is very clear about Affirmative Action regarding representation of women and other marginalized communities and we need to live up to these constitutional challenges, particularly at the state level. More than half of our states have no women representatives in the State Council of Ministers and this is a real constitutional violation that will make some of you offenders of our constitution. We are still struggling and searching for women seats taken up by men and we need to be vigilant to safeguard the rights of our vulnerable population. Some small communities in various states are looking for avenues and means through which they could be heard as they are poorly represented at all levels of government in the state. Those are some of the remarkable foundation of our struggle we fought for 21 years, even though we are now celebrating the 24th-year of our struggle, Although there are certain signs of peace and political settlement in various locations, we feel like we are refugee in Nasir, Upper Nile State. We people of Wanding Payam in Nasir, Upper Nile State are persistently in need of peace and tranquility. Since peace was singed in January 2005, almost every body has returned to respective homeland to taste the charm of our CPA with the inspiration of building successful and peaceful life. Despite the peace-building effort, the Wanding Community has remained victim of the Lou-Nuer raiders from Akobo Jongolei State, occupying our homeland Wanding Payam.
Now having GOSS in place, it does not make any sense that our home is still under constant invasion of our own neighbor from Akobo County, in Jongolei State. The invasion and occupation of our homeland remind us of the common enemy we all jointly fought against over the last two decades. We are pretty sure that the GOSS is aware of this incursion. The people of Wanding Payam have previously submitted an appeal letter expressing all concerns to the office of the President of the Government of Southern Sudan and the Legislative Assembly in earlier April, 2006. We are restlessly waiting for response from the authorities to returning our beloved homeland, Wanding Payam to its citizen as stated in ours constitution (Article 13.1-5). We believe we have a government that interprets and maintains law in any constituency that needs law and order. Without recognizing and abiding by the constitutional laws our country would not have come this far since its establishment. We also understand that we have just found our country which is very challenging to bring some of the circumstances under control, but similar problems like ours have already been solved prior to the people’s request. We believe in the constitution that guarantees the rights of land ownership but not incursion.
Once again the people of Wanding Payam would like to express the happiness in success of our Comprehensive Peace Agreement, even though we have not savor the sugariness of the CPA yet. The people of Wanding are peace-loving people, and they have stood firm in supporting CPA since day one. It’s only through peaceful practices of freedom of expression, recognition of individual’s rights and fair interpretation of laws that we shall altogether obliterate ours common enemy of peace. We have been in the struggle since we took up arms against the Northern oppressive Islamic regime in 1983. To bring to your attention, few martyrs from our hometown, Wanding Payam have sacrificed their lives for the sake of our land and freedom of our people; please remember Late Cdr, Dr. Timothy TongyiekTutlam, Cdr Bay Bay Kam, Cdr, Simon Gatkek Tutlam, and with many young officers and soldiers just to mention few. We believe you are familiar with those names during our popular struggle, SPLA/M. How dreadful it’s today when everyone is enjoying CPA, while our people of Wanding Payam are still living a “displaced life” in our own country, Southern Sudan. Now the problem is no longer the Arabs but our own neighbors, Lou-Nuer raiders from Akobo, Jongolei State. Well if you have never been well informed before, the children of Wanding Payam have come up with the following proposals that should have been considered that: (1) there is need of an emergency relief services to the displaced people of Wanding in the area they are located in Nasir, Malakal, and Juba. They deserve to be treated like any displaced populace. (2) There is need of anti-corruption investigation for why this problem was not solved since its presentation to the Government in April 2006. (3) The people of Wanding need to be informed to have hopeful return back home following potential Lou-Nuers’s withdrawal to their respective county in Akobo, in Jongolei State. We believe there is law in hand to protect vulnerable citizens like the people of Wanding against harm from aggressive neighbors or other enemy of peace in our country. Many of us are young students and we learnt that our constitution has means of solving these problems.
Your Excellency, We call upon you to consider this problem as an urgent issue, for there is no one there who can officially be able to reach your site in daily bases as we struggles. Your positive action on this will bring an end to these catastrophes. Perhaps to the peaceful solution, we felt helpless to bring this disaster in to an end. Our people have suffered long enough. We believe peace is very joyful for those who have already enjoyed it, but what about us Mr. President? Don’t we merit our share of peace and tranquility like every one else, in Southern Sudan? God Bless you all. God Bless ours CPA. God bless the people of Southern Sudan.
The Under singed name Members of Wanding Payam Community will appreciate your quick positive considerations upon this serious matter that has traumatized our community. We thank you and honored ours fallen heroes, with their spirit and help of ours Almighty father shall safeguard you through this difficult time. Long live (CPA) Long live South Sudan, Long live Wanding Community!
Signatories:
Members in U.S.A :
Gondar Timothy Tutlam ,
Gatluak Ter Thatch,
David Bith Deng,
Juanis Kang Lual ,
Chuol Joack Both ,
Nhial Timothy Tutlam ,
Thuok Kuany Hothnyang ,
James Bille Thurbil ,
Nyakuma Thatch ,
Kor Tot Rualmim,
Nyater Donis Reath,
Deng Bayek Tutlam,
Pal Yiech Dol ,
Josephe Koang Bakual ,
Nyanchew Timothy Tutlam ,
John Ruie Thiepek ,
Nyabouy Pal Panaom,
John Wiyual,
Kiem Guet.
Bol Lam Puok.
Members in Canada:
Gatluak Pual R. Mut ,
Dak Joack Nyuon,
Pual Ruot Gatluak,
Yar Pual Puok ,
Nasir Pual Puok,
Yien Gatluak,
Guet Luak,
Taydor Match,
Macheal Match Ter.
Member in Sudan :
Luka Timothy Tutlam ,
Koay puot ,
Wiyual Manytop,
Lual Paduel,
Chan Reath Kuer,
David Deng Gach ,
Nyajuok Simon Gatkeak,
Duol Gatkek Chol,
Gatluak Lor Yioy,
Gach Bol Minywach,
Chuol Kueth Pa,l
Davied Biel Ruany,
Simon Thor Muon,
Mangal Mach Wang,
Khor Lul Chol ,
Kang Wal Nyoth,
Nyakileny Wal ,
Nyapuot Juol Liem ,
Tharjiath Gatkuoth Diew ,
Gatwech Pal Gatluak ,
Gatluak Jock Tai ,
Wiyual Choap Chol ,
Gatwech Ruie Kuoth,
Bang Ruie Kuoth,
Oman Pal.
Elders Members In Sudan :
Johnson Chuol Thotlam,
Steven Yien Duoth ,
Lam Kaylech Lam ,
David Myaian Gatkuoth,
Yahanese Yien Tot ,
Koang Kuech Bichiok ,
Pal Lar Guandong ,
Deng Dhuor Jueny ,
Pur Bol Minywech ,
Biel Tip Tamrial,
Kuany Batea Guanginy ,
Pal Jiech ,
Lual Majiok ,
Rev. Moses Gatbel Puot ,
Jamese Kayier Puoch ,
Gony Jaack Lotur ,
Lam Wichieng Bayek ,
Buom Got Nyaduach ,
Puot Yiech Tuok ,
Chuol Jaak Chol,
Lul Lam Nyaruach ,
Wiyual Gatkuoth Noam,
Let Kuajien Tut,
Deng Jaak ,
Walou Kuon Dor,
Gatkek Chuol Yoah.
Members in Austtralia :
Gok Kueruach,
Deng Gatluak Omot ,
Yiech Thon ,
Goaner Timothy Tutlam ,
Buomkuoth Thotlam .