Jonglei’s counties sign peace deal
By Thon Philip Aleu
May 14, 2009 (BOR) – Five counties in Jonglei State have pledged to end feuds by signing a document after five days of negotiations in the state capital Bor on Thursday.
The Jonglei governor’s advisor on peace and development Canon John Jock Chol described the event as the most “lasting and holding talks Dinka [Bor] and Nuer” have ever had. Chiefs, meanwhile, expressed concerns on implementation, especially compensations for lives and properties lost during the conflicts.
The five paramount chiefs are representing two major tribes in Jonglei State, Nuer and Dinka Bor, and reconciling them would mean a significant breakthrough in solving the tribal conflicts. Paramount Chiefs from the five counties signed on behalf of the other chiefs they lead.
Attended by members of state, regional and national parliaments, the conference took place in Bor. The town, which is the home area of the late rebel SPLM founder John Garang, was targeted in a massacre in 1991 of an estimated at least 2,000 people who were mostly ethnic Dinkas, very soon after a coup within the rebel command.
This deal, known as the Dr. Garang Institute Agreement, is the fourth signed between Lou Nuer and Jieng Bor (Dinka Bor) since the 1991 split which set Jonglei’s major tribes against each other. The other three dishonoured agreements already were made in 1994, 2004 and 2007 in Poktap, Duk County Headquarters.
It is planned for local leaders to ink their thumbs to sign the document, which includes seven immediate resolutions: comprehensive disarmament, return of looted cattle to rightful owners, consultative sharing of resources, stationing of law enforcement units at strategic locations between the tribes, peaceful resolutions of tribal conflicts and cessations of prevailing hostilities.
Okum Hakim, head of the body which brokered the talks, Pact Sudan, tasked the state government, county local administration, local population (youths, women and elders) South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC) and other international organizations as the implementing agencies.
County Commissioners also signed the agreement. They are: Gatluak Reath Kuily – Uror, Mayen Ngor Atem – Duk, Gabriel Duop Lam – Ayod, Diing Akol Diing – Twic East and William Kuol Chol – Nyirol.
Signing as witnesses to the peace deal were former governor and the federal minister of roads and bridges, Philip Thon Leek; Gabriel Yoal Dok, member of the National Council of States and representative of Jonglei State; and Canon John Jock Chol, advisor for peace and development, Jonglei State.
Deputy Gov. Hussein Mar Nyuot was also present at the signing today where he pledged state authorities’ commitment to implement the deal in order to end the conflicts in the state once and for all. Nyuot, however, exhorted traditional leaders to act independently and avoid relying on the state government to deal with the situation in villages.
“You are the government. Without you [Chiefs], there will be no law enforcement,” said the deputy governor.
The paramount chiefs argued that the state government should implement the agreement to avoid the past from repeating itself.
The heated discussion was attended by 40 delegates from Duk, 40 from Uror, 15 Nyirol, 10 from Ayod and 5 from Twic East Counties. Their views on the peace talks will be published by Sudan tribune in the next couples of days.
Sudan peace commission officials also attended the conference facilitated by Reconcile International. The five counties are: Gatluak Thau Kuony – Uror County, Chuei Leek Deng – Duk Couty, Buong Dual Diu – Ayod, Mayen Manyuon Guot – Twic East County and Rial Manyang Chak – Nyirol County.
The signing of the deal happens to follow a horrific massacre on Friday in Nasir County inflicted by men from one Nuer group on a village inhabited by another Nuer group, leaving 66 dead, including 13 children. Jonglei state has attempted forcible disarmament and deployment of the South Sudan army between tribes but the Government of Southern Sudan has yet to respond to the demand of the state for more troops.
Nuer and Dinka are South Sudan’s two largest tribes, but they are not the only ones in Jonglei.
(ST)
HONEY
Jonglei’s counties sign peace deal
good idea, i hope they stick to this deal
makungu1
Jonglei’s counties sign peace deal
they are not signing a peac deal but they are signing a business deal.if not let just wait next week will come with differnt news from Jonglei.
you will belive all there will be news
AUGUSTINO DENG
Jonglei’s counties sign peace deal
It’s a nicest progress within Jonglei State and its counties to maintain their securities tightly and bring peace amongst themselves. I’m deeply praising General Kuol Minyang Juuk and his counties’ commissioners for gathering and solving their inter-tribals disputes in diplomatical way.
On the other hand, I do also expects other counties’ commissioners who are facing the same problem of inter-tribals conflicts to follow the same instance with which the Jonglei’s governor Kuol Minyang Juuk had made with his associates commissioners of the counties within Jonglei State.
Lastly, if the peace deal of inter-tribals conflicts is signed by general Kuol Minyang Juuk and his associates commissioners, then why Murle of Pibor county in Jonglei State is not included in the peace deal being signed in Jonglei State?
Dirty Game Striker
Jonglei’s counties sign peace deal
Dear Journalist reporting,
Please recognise the funder. South Sudan issues are always funded by other organisations. SSPC and government of Jonglei don’t use a lot of money to bring such events to happen that is why feuds happen every day. If there was a loss of cash from our government, they would have curbed these feuds long time ago to safe money for their development.
Lual Garang De Lual
Jonglei’s counties sign peace deal
It is a surprise to me that the inhabitant of Jonglei state have decided by themselves to settle their issues amicably. What I must warn them of is the influence by the other group who is not even from Jonglei state. This group sit behind close door and is directing the Lou Nuer and Gaweer to attack the other inhabitant and also sometimes themselves.
This is a tactical attempt to discredit the state from the benefits of peace. The group is even sending arms to destabilise the peoples’ organization in the state. Beware our great people of Jonglei from these intruders who wants to destabilise us while their children are freely enjoying peace dividends. I am really disturb by their way of thinking which just killing of people as if they are wolves which always dwell on blood and flesh.
Congratulate the great people of this vast state which is rich in petroleum,animal resources, fisheries and fertile agricultural land. It is this good peace time which this group doesn’t want to enjoy, hence otherwise you may conquer them in time to come. Embrace ourselves for this doing or otherwise we can exist nowhere if we adhere to their sayings.
Since time immemorial, Dinka Bor, Lou Nuer, Gaweer, Anyuak, Murle, Jie and Kashipo were good neighbours till the split of SPLM/A in 1992. I leave this to those who are not either Nuer nor Dinka to analyse the real root cause of the problems and to lay blames. I was told by one of my friend who is a Nuer and did participated in the 1992 Bor massacre that they were deceive to come and collect only cattle that were left over by the Dinka who have already gone to fight ARABS. Imagine this was the time clashes began between Nuer, Dinka, Murle etc. So, here is the question, who is to be blame here?
postmortem
Jonglei’s counties sign peace deal
Thank you people of Jonglei. The question asked by the chiefs with regards to compensation will determine the success or breakdown of this agreement as long as it remain unanswered.
Surely for one not to feel like a loser in an agreement of this nature prompted by loss of lives and property, a mechanism for compensation should have been top on the agreement and implementation modalities provided for.
I hope it was explained to those chiefs who were thumb printing as signatories to the agreement the effects of signing and their obligations thereto.
Let us support such agreements and honor them and hopefully other areas with such conflicts in Southern Sudan can emulate the spirit shown in Jonglei. Let us not be persimists like others expecting a breakdown in the agreement.
CPA was doubted by many persimists but it later gained ground because of the support given to it. South Sudan is at cross-roads. I do not see a bright future for our children especially when we are thinking of breaking away from the North and yet here we are causing human depopulation slowly by slowly.
Haven’t we forgotten why we went to the bush or remained inside during the war? Why have we turned on ourselves when we could oil these guns to defend our oil, lives, animals and soil if the referrendum does not go our way?
What lessons have we learnt from the Arabs killing our people and what have we forgotten if we still kill our own unjustifiably?
With God, all hope is not gone. One day if God chooses, we will be referred to as good people good nation. God bless South Sudan.
J.James
Jonglei’s counties sign peace deal
Hi
Thanks goes for the peace drafters, in this regard, we don’t want to be very pessimistic, we better rather wait and see patiently whether this peace is going to last.
For those who are questioning about Murle being not in participation. The answer is simple, the peace between Dinka Bor and Murle need deep discussion than just that because Bor are good in lying and deceptions. For our peace with Bor, Dinka Bor need to prepare to answer all the questions accordingly or otherwise, our chiefs will not sign any deceptive peace at all till all those rocky things are iron out neatly.
Murle love peace, but must be genuine peace drafted without ploys and hiden agendas. Yes we need peace that will be implemented for ever and ever.
Bor must stop harrassing our traders and leveling Murle as child abductors while they are the sellers. They must also agree to share every penny equally with all those tribes in Jongolei without frauds.
God bless
The writer is always peace activist.
J.James
Jonglei’s counties sign peace deal
For Jongkoth only
If you (Dinka) Bor continue to harrass our traders again next summer, then the government of southSudan should not blame us when we are going to turn Juba Bor road into deadly zone.
Every lorry going to Pibor must walk its way freely and safely or NO car will get to Bor town till all agreements are reached.
Full stop, full stop.
God bless
The writer is a lways peace activist.