Sudan’s Bor town Children make money risks
By Philip Thon Aleu
February 20, 2008 (BOR, Jonglei) – Motor cycles, buses conductance, petrol selling and most shop attendances are carried out by children at Jonglei’s capital Bor, but authorities seem dead-locked. It is potentially damaging the ‘future youth’ of the state, analyst suggested.
An effort made early January 2008, to detain children found at shopping centers and Bus Park, has failed or suspended, a concerned town resident, told Sudan Tribune when asked to commend Wednesday February 20.
Most of the children are in their early teens and have parents in or outside Bor town, but claims losing both parents. “I don’t have parents in Bor town. My parents are in the village,” one of the children narrated.
“My parents died long time ago, and if I remain at home or school as you advised me, how do I run living?” Yet another one says. “My parents are there but can’t give me money for sweets,” another claims.
National security police, that came with governor kuol in December 2007, started arresting children and punishing them by canning early January 2008.
It’s unclear whether the police had instructions from the governor or independent. Among the practices police carried out in that period, were arresting and canning of females in trousers and girls addressed in women’s hair styles. Governor Kuol denied authorizing police, to cane women/girls, in a message delivered at a youth conference by Bor County commissioner, Abraham Jok Ariing early January.
“If there was any law concerning dressing styles, then public should have being informed before action taken,” the message read in parts. Soon after that information, no more arrests were made. Number of children in street surged higher than before.
The children, attending to motor cycles, buses, petrol selling and shops, stands high chances of missing school or dropping-out if any! A lot of people lost ‘forms or structures’ in accidents triggered by speeding teenagers, police records indicated.
“There is no week without report about motor’s accidents,” a source inside police revealed. “They don’t know importance of lives,” Akech Nhial, who lost his thigh borne to a speeding motorist disclosed.
Subsiding causing problems to the public, the teenagers performs a lot of business at road sides, where heavy vehicles move, and potential site of accident. Without doubts, those will suffer ‘childhood cancers.’
“Any law that will seek children out of these risky ways of making money, will be especially welcomed,” Majok Duot, a salon attendant, suggested.
Woman Representative at Jonglei legislative Assembly, Achol Magret regretted having Bor town streets flooded by children during one of rallies she addressed last year. “We never had such a number of street children in Jonglei history. We use to hear about ‘COKORA’ (streets guys) in Juba,” she stressed.
Whether the governor suspended the effort police invested in January or not, it will be clear when schools opens in April 2008. Stopping children from business activities, those risk their lives, will be a preliminary break through in Jonglei constraints.
(ST)