Jonglei assembly to question commissioners on insecurity

By Philip Thon Aleu

October 17, 2009 (BOR) – Jonglei state legislative assembly will have “opinion” on county commissioners allowing crimes with impunity, speaker of the house says.

Speaking to reporters here Friday, Hon. Peter Chol Wal also says plans are underway, with the help of United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), to dispatch parliamentary committees to various counties to embark on comprehensive peace building and good neighborliness among the tribal communities of the state.

“When we ask commissioners once there is problem in their areas, they say ‘we don’t know’”, Hon. Peter Chol said.

“If a commissioner is not able to know who is disturbing that community, we shall have opinion on him,” he added.

According to the Speaker, members of parliament from different constituencies will help finding out reliable information in regards to why it is hard to identify and apprehend perpetrators of insecurity between or among communities of the state.

Jonglei is hooked-up by tribal conflicts and attacks against government forces by armed civilians whose sources of ammunitions has been blamed on Khartoum by Southern government. Despite both state and Juba governments pledges to investigate and apprehend the so call ‘criminals’ the reality is yet to materialize. Counties commissioners have failed to control the youths – who are believed to own better arms than organized forces. However, Speaker Chol Wal degrees that lawlessness can rule.

“How can commissioners fail to know their own people?” he asked. Mr. Chol pledges that the assembly will arm the executive branch to deal with incompetent commissioners in order to bring all the criminals to book.

Speaker Chol Wal took over the assembly top post after the SPLM MPs impeached former Speaker Jodi Boyoris on charges of mismanagement of assembly code of business. Jodi Boyoris, who is now the Governor’s Advisor on health and environmental affairs, resigned paving way for fresh election.

In a related development, students at Dr. John Garang Institute of science and technology challenge UNMIS human rights officers on Saturday in a lecture meant for protection of basic rights.

The students accused UN Right body of protecting armed civilians by advising south Sudan Government against forceful disarmament –accusation UN labeled as “misinformation.”

“Armed civilians abduct children, kill innocent people and loot property and so, any form of disarmament is necessary,” a student said adding “but the UN advises against forceful disarmament. Whose right is being protected?”

UNMIS Human Rgiht officer identified as Eki, based in Bor, dismisses students’ claim that UN opposes disarmament. But when asked, to explain what the Human body thinks, Eki says the government has both responsibilities – to protect the civilians and disarm without committing crimes against other suspected armed groups..

(ST)