Jonglei’s citizens support Gov. Kuol’s appointment
From: Jonglei State Citizens against Insecurity
Date: January 3, 2008
To: The Honorable Governor of Jonglei State
Lt. Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk Chaw,
Bor Town, Jonglei State
CC: H.E. 1st Lt. Gen. President Salva Kiir Mayardit,
Juba, South Sudan
Dear Mr. Governor,
Subject: Letter of Support to your Appointment as Governor of Jonglei
State
First and foremost, we, the citizens of Jonglei State congratulate you on your appointment as new Governor of Jonglei State. Please accept our sincere welcoming. We hope your new administration will move the Jonglei State out of the current state of fear and terror.
Mr. Governor, before we go any further, we would like to let you know who we are. We are called “Jonglei State Citizens against Insecurity.” We are mostly composed of college and university students in the Diaspora. We mobilized ourselves out of frustration caused by kidnapping of children, killing of innocent civilians, and raiding of cattle in Jonglei State by Murle Militia.
Mr. Governor, in late 2007, the State of Jonglei experienced widespread killings of innocent civilians, abduction of children, and looting of cattle. That catastrophe happened at alarming rate and on horrifying scale in terms of human loss, loss of properties, and loss of children mainly from the communities of Anyuak, Nuer, and Dinka Bor most of which were hit hard in the last three months before your appointment. Following such catastrophic situations, we resolved in the best tradition of democracy to send a petition signed by more than 120 peoples to the President of the Government of South Sudan 1st Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit urging him to take urgent action to end such unimaginable and horrific human suffering at the time of peace. We hope that petition had played a role in the change of administration in Jonglei state.
Mr. Governor, our main purpose of sending this letter to you is to express our loyal support for your appointment as the governor of the state of Jonglei and also to appreciate you for leaving your position in the Government of National Unity to take up such a challenging task of rescuing Jonglei State. Mr. Governor, even though the duty of who becomes the governor before 2009 is bestowed on GOSS President as per CPA, we as citizens still have a say to support or reject who the president appoints as governor. In that regard, we would like to let you know that President Kiir had made a right choice in choosing you as the governor in this critical moment in our state history. We believe that you have the capability and political authority to tame the lawless cattle raiders and bring back to normal, the life of all the citizens of Jonglei. This will pave the way for speedy development which will result in elimination of poverty in the state.
Mr. Governor, having said that, we would like to assure you that we will be with you in every step you take as long as it satisfies the needs of the people of Jonglei State. We will reject any step you will take as long as it doesn’t satisfy the needs of the people of Jonglei State. We will make it our democratic duty to watch you and evaluate you in every step you take. A democracy that you and your colleagues in the SPLM fought for, needs the participation of the citizens of the country in regard to matters of governance, and this is what we are exactly vowing to be doing. We need you in every important move you take to be considering the opinions of all the people of Jonglei State in all the matters of governance.
Mr. Governor, your move to prioritize the issue of disarmament which we strongly recommended in our last petition to President Kiir is a laudable move because possessions of arms by civilians pose a fatal threat to the people of Jonglei state. Immediate deployment of SPLA troops in the affected areas as well as your approach to disarmament by first asking for peaceful disarmament starting first with communities that pose threat to others is an incredible move. We would like you to consider the following recommendations, some of which we mentioned in our last petition to President Salva Kiir.
– Deployment of SPLA forces in the affected areas to prevent immediate future attacks which you have done.
– Immediate disarmament of Murle Militia whose process you have started.
– Immediate disarmament of all the communities in Jonglei which you have put on the list of your priorities.
– Have talk with neighboring states to agree on speedy and the same time disarmament of their people in order to avoid chances of our people being victims of attacks after their disarmament.
– Use Murle Leaders to ask their people to return abducted children and looted cattle to their original owners and to also persuade their people to lay down arms.
– Replacement of the Members of Parliament from Pibor if they fail to convince their people to return abducted children and looted cattle.
– Enactment of law that can make cattle raiding and abduction of children crime punishable by death.
– Provision of Jonglei State Government with Helicopters to track down and arrest cattle raiders and child abductors and bring them to face law.
– Deployment of SPLA troops along the Bor-Juba Highway to stop insecurity caused by unknown gunmen there.
– After ensuring security, give immediate priority for the return of IDPs from Jonglei because they are seen as invaders and occupants by host communities especially in the region of Equatoria. We urge you to do that to prevent potential bloodshed between the hosts and the IDPs.
– Immediate setting up of a high level committee to facilitate the return of IDPs to Jonglei
– Immediate provision of facilities for the IDPS to return to Jonglei
– Involvement of people in the Diaspora in development by cooperating in development programs and effective mechanisms that can ensure effective use of people in the Diaspora. -This is because Jonglei has a considerable number of people with incredible skills needed for speedy development in the state.
– Most importantly, convene peace and reconciliation conference involving people from all walks of life in the state to lay foundation of trust between different communities in the State.
– As of now, the insecurity in our state will be coming to an end, however, we would like you to make health and educational facilities the next priority as they will be urgently needed to save our people from returning into abject and miserable conditions in refugee camps in neighboring countries.
– All the people of Jonglei state should be trained and grouped into agricultural cooperative societies and equipped with agricultural tools including tractors so that they are economically sufficient and so that they are liberated from relying on UN for food and other services.
– There is a need to establish a system to save the orphans and widows whose husbands, brothers and fathers sacrificed for our liberation. They should be saved from being washed away by simple diseases like Malaria, typhoid as well as from daily hunger. These innocent people need nothing, but only education and hospitals so that their kids would be able to go to schools and get treatment in case of illness.
Votes of thanks to President Salva Kiir Mayardit:
In a special note, we give our greatest gratitude to South Sudan President 1st Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit for appointing you as the Governor. We also thank the president for giving his attention to the pleas of the people of Jonglei State. Both of you have fought with great loyalty to bring freedom to the people of South Sudan and marginalized areas. Therefore, we hope that you will always act in the best interest of the people because a freedom fighter lives to the ideals he/she fights for. We hope the president will continue to work with you in bringing an end to the insecurity in Jonglei State.
Sincerely,
Jonglei State Citizens against Insecurity
1.Abacha Maluk Deng
2. Abiel Abil
3. Abednego Kur – Ain Shams University, Cairo
4. Abraham Chol
5. Abraham Kuany
6. Abraham Mach
7. Abraham Matiop Alier Ngueny Gaker
8. Achiek Manyok
9. Adol Makuei
10. Aduei A. Riak
11. Agot Deng
12. Aguet Kuany
13. Ajah Dau
14. Ajak Mabior
15. Ajang Aguer
16. Ajok Deng
17. Akech Kuol Mawan
18. Akuei Garang
19. AKuien Awour
20. Alakiir Diing
21. Anderia Lual
22. Anyar Ngang Alith
23. Anyuat Kur
24. Atem Deng
25. Athieng Riak
26. Athou Lam
27. Ayen Nhial
28. Ayok Monydit
29. Ayual Mayom
30. Ayuen Buol
31. Ayuen Deng Ador
32. Banak Moses Mading – University student and SPLM Chapter member, U.S.A
33. Bior Keech
34. Bior Kuer Bior
35. Bol Akuoc
36. Bul Nyuop
37. Cham A. Agatda
38. Chol Agot
39. Chol Kelei
40. Chol Majok
41. Chol Mayen
42. Chol Mayom
43. Chuar Juet Jock* Graduate Student in Colarodo University, U.S.A.
44. Chuol Wal Chak -College Student in Canada
45. Cush Lual Aduot
46. Dak Hoth Wuol – Canada
47. Daniel Mayen
48. David Maluak
49. David Mathiang
50. David Nhial
51. David Pulkuoth Biey – SPLM Youth Member,Canada
52. Debora Makuei
53. Deng Ajak
54. Peter Deng Alier Ayom – Adelaide, Australia
55. Deng Ayach Adit
56. Deng Moses Gatwech
57. Deng Thon Alier
58. Deng Tong
59. Dor Akech
60. Dut Marhu
61. Elijah Mayian Lul, Nyirol Payam representative, South Sudan
62. Elizabeth Kuch
63. Eng Philip Kiir Gatwech
64. Fortytwo Yuol -SPLM Youth member, Canada
65. Francis Chagai Bol, Former member of SPLA Red Army Battalion
66. Gabriel Ayom
67. Gabriel Chol
68. Gabriel Ruot Dol – U.S.A
69. Gabriel Yien Daniel – Canada
70. Gai Ajuoi
71. Garang Ajak
72. Gatbel Both Paldeang – Canada
73. Gatdin Diew Donge – Canada
74. Gatwech Both Paldeang – University Student
75. Gatwech Jal Lam – Canada
76. Gordon Gatbany Chuol
77. Jacob Bul
78. Jacob Dau
79. Jacob Gai
80. Jacob Lual
81. James Ayuen
82. James Biel Gatluak – Lou Nuer community Secretary in Alberta
83. James Deng Wan – Church elder/leader in Canada.
84. James Machar
85. Jany Yai Hoth- SPLM Youth Member, Canada
86. John A. Manyang
87. John Addis Palet – University Student, U.S.A
88. John Ayuen Deng
89. John Chol
90. John Chuang
91. John Chuol Bol – Canada
92. John Deng
93. John Garang
94. John Jok Nhial, USA
95. John Nyuon
96. John Riak
97. John Yien Lam – College Student Canada
98. Johnson Alier
99. Johnson Okello
100. Jok Dau
101. Ker Biel Gach – SPLM Youth member
102. Khorhok Gal Gar -SPLM Sec in Nyirol County
103. Kongor Akoi Garang
104. Kou Ayuen
105. Kuir Jibol
106. Kuol Garang, Canada
107. Loi Deng Nai, USA
108. Lual Guet
109. Mabior Buol
110. Mabior Thuch, Canada
111. Mading Ngor Akec Kwai, Canada
112. Majeep Kou
113. Majok Kunjok,
114. Majur Makor
115. Makeer Agoot
116. Malueeth Mapior
117. Mamer Garang
118. Mangok Mach
119. Manyok Gak
120. Margaret Awek
121. Martha Nyadieng Tut – Lou Nuer Women Association community, secretary of finance
122. Mary Kuai
123. Mary Nyakuiy Yiam – Church women representative in Edmonton, Canada
124. Mawut Deng
125. Mawut Guarak – Graduate Student, New York; Chairman, Gak Students’ Association;Secretary General, Bor Community National Association (New York);
126. Mawut Guguei Garang
127. Mawut Mayen
128. Mayak Machar
129. Michael Aluong
130. Michael Kuir
131. Moses Chuol Wal – Sudanese Nuer community Chairman in Edmonton, Canada
132. Moses Deng
133. Ngor Deng
134. Nhial Bol
135. Nhial Dak Duop – University Student, U.S. A
136. Nhial Tiitmamer – Canada
137. Nyanjok Lam
138. Panther Alier – MA candidate, Brandeis University
139. Paul Deng
140. Peter Chuol Kuany
141. Peter Kuol
142. Peter Makuach
143. Peter Manyok
144. Peter Reat Gatkuoth
145. Peter Thot Nyang – Nyirol county official and members of Nyirol assemble.
146. Philip Dut
147. Reuben Panchol
148. Riak Aquila
149. Samuel Leek
150. Samuel Lim Gatkuoth, SPLM youth member, Kakuma, Kenya
151. Simon Umot Ukuak
152. Solomon Machar
153. Stephen T. Gatluak
154. Tap Lokchak Dong – Politician (Africa)
155. Thijin Gatwech Kuany -Sudanese Nuer community Secretary, Edmonton
156. Thon Aquek
157. Thon Ayii
158. Thon Garang
159. Wai John
160. Wany Juet Jock – Univeristy Student
161. Wel Jok
162. Wiyual Chuang Kuenywar – Church Leader, Canada
163. Yien Rial Nyot – U.S.A
164. Yoal Chuol Dhoal-
For reply and comments, please contact the following people:
Bior Kech Bior, [[[email protected]]]
Bior Kuer Bior, [email protected]
Daniel Nhial Bol, [email protected]
Deng Ajak Jongkuch, [email protected]
Francis Chagai Bol [email protected]
John Jok Nhial, [email protected]
Mawut Guarak, [email protected]
Nhial Tiitmamer, [email protected]
Peter Reat Gatkuoth, [email protected]
Group contact email: [email protected]
Joseph Chol DeMakuei Deny
Jonglei’s citizens support Gov. Kuol’s appointment
Dear Jonglei State Citizen against insecurity,
Thanks for providing us with some key problems which are facing Jonglei State at the movement, and is good for you to congratulated LT.Gen. Mr. Kuol Manyang on his appointment as the Governor of the State; actually he is the right person to that post, and we hope that he will adjust the Security Situation in Jonglei in general.
Brothers,
you have almost mentioned all Jonglei state problems. but why do you excluded the so Call “Khorfulus- Atar” case in the Forum, anyhow no Problem since the most part is included.
Dear Governor, i hope you will settle the case of Khorfulus cititen.
James James
Jonglei’s citizens support Gov. Kuol’s appointment
Hi guys
I personally appreciate your effort of calling GOSS to carry out disarment program through out Jongolei or southern sudan for the restoration of peace in the country, because those guns in loose have been misused against our own people for years, so the guinine disarment has to be done without tribal line influences like what happened last year where every tribe has to be reluctant to hand over guns for the fear of neighbouring tribes whom some of their leaders didn’t want to remove guns from their hands. In fact Murle is not the only tribe with guns, there still alot of guns with every tribes include Bor community and these guns must be removed and the same should be done to Murle and other tribes.
However, there is serious big mistake you people have repeatedly committed, when it comes to the point of addressing your article, yes, the headline of your article don’t match with the meaning your names as signitories reveal to most of the readers here, remember when you add milk, flour, water and sugar, the result after those combinations should not be milk, water or whatever category, the mixture should probably be porridge or something else, and that is the thing, I couldn’t understand why did you choose the title as” Jongolei citizens support Gov. Kuol’s appointment” in vaine, because when we go and extract the reality from the your own names, I don’t see the names of Anyuak or Murle on the list for your letter to go with its headline, matter of fact,there are a lot of Murle and Anyuak in Kakuma, U.S.A, Canada, Sudan, and Australia, why didn’t you contact them to include some of their names here to signify that everybody in Jongolei support and respect your opinion ? also within Minisota which is the headquarter for your organization against Murle, there are almost 10,000 Anyuak and Nuer there, why should you go and borrow some Nuer names all the way from Canada leaving real Nuer in Minisota ?
Though I didn’t say other tribes don’t support Kuol, the title of this article should be writen as” Bor citizens support Gov. Kuol’s appointment”, full stop.
Finally, you people are trying to fuel another war between Murle and Bor according to some of your suggestions, we are now at the point of reconciling these two communities, Bor and Murle, and you should not urge Kuol to go and ask Murle to return all those stolen cows back to Bor, because these will give very big room for Murle and any other tribe in southern Sudan to say the same, Murle may ask the government to ask Bor to return them all those cows lost by those Murle who bought kids from Bor and it happened that, kids were returned and cows still untraced.
Murle have full right also to ask their cows taken by SPLA by force early 80s and to be compensated in full number, so to avoid all these wragling, we has to disarm all those tribes, hold meetings to reconcile them such that we may see new progress and most importantly, put the past behind, but the way you people are sounding, you are pouring fuel into open flame and I think no politician will listen to such baseless claims like this.
I also want to add that, lieing too much to those white guys in United state will not change things on the ground here, in other hand, it will fetch you very bad shame when these people are going to be here in south sudan where both Murle and Bor will meet to hold talk regarding these standing issues infront of them. In meeting held in Gumuru 2005, Murle had pointed some elders from Bor who sold kids to some of their friends in Murle and at that moment, Bor were in very choking period,I think you people heard that, so please don’t lie too much, there, I heard some of you has gone far to the point that, about 70 children belong to Anyuak and Nuer have been recovered these days while there is no even one, why do you want to fool those good white folks who want to help in sincere spirit ? is it matter of money ( federal funding)or what brought all these deceptions.
This s not a spirit of educated people who want to bring permanent peace to their people, those white people don’t know anything about what is going on now on the ground and we don’t blame them for accepting your negative claims, please I beg you to stop bare lies like that.
I also don’t blame you that much because some of you are mostly a product of 1991 Nuer Bor war, you don’t even know anything about Murle Bor relationship in just 80s,secondly, most of you are getting what you term as news from the ground from villagers, and your illitrate mothers or familly members who don’t even know what is going on today or last week.
So my heartly advice to you is to stop lies and be honest, because if the issue is about Americans, all of us can meet Americans and urge them to come here on the ground to witness Murle and Bor in live meeting.
Please be honest.
God bless.