Jonglei census begins amicably amidst challenges

By Philip Thon Aleu

April 23, 2008 (BOR, Jonglei) – The fifth Sudan Housing and Population census kicks off peacefully in Jonglei – the state feared volatile, census officials elaborate Wednesday April 23 despite recent attacks carryout allegedly by Murle cattle raiders.

Security was tight in the night of April 21/22 here in the state capital Bor to enhance peacefully beginning of the first ever-full Southern Sudan’s census. A good number of armed police guided enumerators vigilantly until Tuesday midday. “Everybody should remain at his or her home, we are still marking the beginning of census,” a mobile commentator announced at Central Street of Bor town Tuesday.

However, reports obtained from Kongoor in Twic East County (about 60 miles north of Bor town) over the weekend gave negative anticipation to security dynamic trend. “They attacked us at around 7pm killing at least one man,” Akuol Akech, a victim of Saturday attack at her village in Kongoor- where two children are reportedly abducted, told reporters at Bor civil hospital Sunday. It is not the first time this year (2008) to obtain security ‘negative results.’

Another two children were abducted in Jale payam, Bor County last Month, a development seen as resumption of Murle tribesmen’s atrocities that were switched-off by 2008’s Christmas exit of former governor Philip Thon Leek and entrance of Southern Sudan pronounced leader Kuol Manyang Juuk to state governorship.

A little is believed to have been achieved by South Sudan’s Army engaged in disarming process at Pibor – Murle headquarters.

Despite recent attack in Twic East, census began peacefully on Tuesday. Duk and Akoba Counties are reportedly peaceful. No information could be availed from Pibor due to lack of network there.

However, enumerators carrying out census in villages around Bor town made a surprise visit here Tuesday claiming village chiefs turned down shortage of food items as their request. “I’m here to buy some edible for survival man,” Achiek majok told Sudan Tribune what he calls “beginning of the challenges.”

Village chiefs maintained that the census is fully financed by the government and enumerators just wanted to boost their economy. “I am told enumerators refused deployment to counting sites because they were not paid,” one of chiefs reacted when asked to contribute food items that include goats, sheep or cereals. Enumerators were paid hundreds of Sudanese Pound last week as “appreciation funds” for the national census.

The other challenges includes heavy rain that started a day ahead of census within and around Jonglei capital- Bor Town- surging roads inaccessibility, subsiding interfering with writing task. The number of enumerators put at around 13,000 by the state director of census, mosquitoes and poor feeding in some remote villages will too disturb the national census officials in Jonglei state.

But a group of enumerators, who left on Saturday to various villages to carryout census in Bor County Payams, promised full commitment. “Whether there is no food, no mosquito net or mention them, I’m obliged to my duty,” Samuel Malueth said as he left for census to Konbek (12 miles eastern of Bor town) on Saturday.

(ST)