Jonglei conflicts not tribal – Governor
By Philip Thon Aleu
August 25, 2009 (BOR TOWN) – Cattle raiding and child abduction unsetting stability in Jonglei are not along tribal lines, State Governor told the Sudan Tribune Tuesday.
“It’s not a conflict between tribes. It’s among raiders,” he said when asked whether the peace conference between Murle of Pibor and Lou Nuer will involve intellectuals.
A raid on Akobo County, a Lou Nuer territory, by Murle armed men on August 2 left over 185 people dead. The attack, which comes after series of such contests between Murle and Lou Nuer over cattle and grazing lands, has been reported in the media as tribally tense. But Gov. Kuol says it’s irrelevant to label as ‘tribal’ since elites tribal members dwell freely in towns.
A peace and reconciliation conference for Murle and Lou Nuer members will take place around September 11, 2009. Facilitated by UN agencies, UNMIS and state government, the convergence will bring Sudan’s socially unrelated counties to Jonglei capital Bor Town – face to face.
Cattle rustling surges in Jonglei state in 2009 where over 2000 people lost their lives mostly along tribal lines. Without other options to engage the pastoralist communities to abandon ruthless killing and child abduction for sales, the southern vast and highly populated state have one choice; to organize peace and reconciliation conferences.
“What can we do? We have to persuade people” [through peace conferences], Gov. Kuol said when asked to explain the significance of Murle – Lou Nuer dialogue scheduled for mid September, 2009 given that many peace talks failed to deliver.
Gov. Kuol further says the peace conferences have to be given priorities because “it’s peace preceding development.”
In his capacity as the head of executive in the state, Gov. Kuol, in a related development, defended his honor by South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit on public service reform – the clean up pay sheet, as progressive.
“Now, we are able to save 500,000 SDG (about 300,000 U.S dollars) per month,” Gov. Kuol said, adding that “this money is being used to renovate schools, hospitals and roads.”
The anti-corruption campaign aims at uprooting ghost names and double workers plus unqualified individuals employed on political or ethical ground shortly after 2005 north – south peace deal reached between Khartoum and SPLM in Kenya.
According to Gov. Kuol, his mission to execute President Kiir’s policies is not over. Those ageing government staffs will go on pension unconditionally to unleash stranded services delivery and pave way for educated – energetic youths.
To accomplish this task Gov. Kuol calls upon the media to cooperate and act as public watchdog and check on transparency and accountability in the state ministries.
He says the state chiefs should as well recognize scribes working professionally to end the vice – corruption.
It’s not immediately clear how Bor town young reporters — always mistaken as security men — will be allowed to feature internal performance of the state departments.
(ST)