Biong urges youth to be committed to South Sudan unity

By Isaac Vuni

December 6, 2008 (JUBA) – “You are our grassroots Change Agency in Southern Sudanese for ensuring fair and democratic election next year,” said GOSS minister of presidential affairs Luka Biong. He further urged the youth to be committed to the unity of the semi autonomous region.

Youth are dedicated in democracy and want to see Southern Sudan is united because it was youth who brought the comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended 22 years of destructive civil war through sacrificing their lives and limbs, he said.

Biong further assured youth parliamentarians that government of southern Sudan will create opportunity for them to inherit leadership positions.

He made these remarks during the closing session of the first historic youth parliamentary debates held today at Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly from 4th to 6th December 2008.

Biong urge youth parliamentarians to maintain peace and stability among societies in there respective states and counties

Adding that youth should ensure fair and democratic election are held in whole of southern Sudan and on behalf of GOSS President and his deputy, Biong congratulated ministry of parliamentary affairs formation of youth parliament in Southern Sudan for energizing fundamental rights and commitment to rule of laws..

Meanwhile GOSS minister for Parliamentary Affairs Martin Elias Lomuru said Parliamentary election system is the best for Southern Sudan.

The MP advised the youth to collect quality information form the grassroots to help government of southern Sudan to make constructive decision but warn that it should be collected on non partisan bases. “We are better off building southern Sudan nationalism”

Lomuru emphasized that they in government were forced to comply with the requirement of the CPA and elect good leaders from among southern Sudanese.

The first session of historic Youth parliament is for institunalazation of democracy and respects of voters who have to elect right people to lead southern Sudan to freedom and prosperity.

He further said youth and people of southern Sudan to elect leaders who will shape the future of societies, coordinate and harmonize voter messages by explaining to them their interest and what they are going to do for empowerment grassroots.

Lomuu observed that there are people who are contended with directorship and can only be corrected by their own people through a participatory election.

He said the coming national election will be concurrently conducted for election of the Republican President, GOSS president, states Governor, geographical constituency MPs and women representatives.

Therefore, advice those seeking to participate in voting and contest, have to be at least three months in their home residence before closure of voting date. While for those out side Sudan will only vote for election of republican president in various Sudan embassies provided they have genuine travel passport.

“If we want to wine the coming election, men must respect women who have been marginalized for many years” observed Lomuru. Adding that for democracy to grow there must be freedom of expression, association and of the press. Political parties are government in waiting to rule, says Lomuro

Let us prepare ourselves as competence and qualified southern Sudanese for competition in recruitment than relying on nepotism favoritism, the acting minister of public service has said.

Presenting Resolutions on behalf of honorable members, Elia Peter stated that CPA must be cherished and protected for creating peace and security in a united Southern Sudan, “GOSS must control rampant prostitution in Juba capital, Higher education be increase to accommodate aspiring potential Sudanese students, GOSS should refrain from awarding contracts to company without clear track records, Why NGOs are not serving interest of rural southern Sudanese, GOSS ministers must stop recruitment of non Sudanese as secretaries in sensitive positions, Juba university must return to its original place, health facilities be rehabilitated/constructed in all states and counties, GOSS ministry of finance must ensure sufficient budgetary items to avoid corruption.”

Responding to concern raised by youth Parliamentary, the minister for presidential affairs, Luka Biong said the people of southern Sudan must not scare potential investors by placing abnormal condition on them but he acknowledge that they in government had difficulties on who is to be constructed to do some jobs for the interest of people. Regarding the LRA incursion in greater Equatoria, he said the rebel LRA was groomed by NIF hence GOSS will be force to protect its citizens.

The youth legislator’s formation was initiated and inaugurated by GOSS parliamentary affairs minister, Martin Elias Lomuru under the theme “Youth for Peace, Development and Sustainability Democracy” on 3 December 2008 and the youth are very serious in presentation of issues that affect entire societies as they are proving to be better debtors compared to states law makers who mostly dwelled much on their remunerations allowances.

The aim of Southern Sudan Youth Parliamentary is to create awareness amongst young Southern Sudanese on matter pertaining to governance, democracy and parliamentary practice.

Hence they elected Buoye Kick from Unity state as Speaker, deputized George King from Eastern Equatoria state who are supported by specialized committees on Economic Development and Finance, Information and culture, Human rights, members affairs, Parliamentary business.

The youth parliamentarian comprised of 88 representatives drawn from the ten Southern states including three Universities of Juba, Wau and Malaka with each has tow members who are meeting three times a year.

The Acting chairperson of specialized committee of legal affairs, Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, Caesura Baya aid the youth legislators are on their way to constructive politic leadership of tomorrow and they will do their best to support the youth.

Julia Aker Duany, undersecretary ministry of parliamentary affairs challenged the youth parliamentarian to be good ambassadors in their respective states counties and pledged to work with them all time.

Earlier Director General for Legislative affairs, Gabriel Deng stated that youth parliamentarian are being supported by their ministry who also guarantee their protection when airing concern on issues that affect the societies. Adding that ministry of parliamentary affairs transported the youth as from 28th November and each member is pay pocket money of one hundred dollars per sitting of six days debating. He appeals to well-wishers donors to support funding youth parliament.

Meanwhile GOSS ministry of Labour, Public Services and Human Resources Development has declared eight days public holiday to Southern Sudanese to commemorate the day when President Salva Kiir Mayardit signed and promulgated Constitution of Southern Sudan into law, on 5th December 2005 that has been adopted and passed by GOSS lawmakers to be observed annually.

(ST)