Upper Nile calls on citizen to fight against poverty than tribal feuds
By Ngor Arol Garang
December 10, 2009, (KHARTOUM) — The government of the Southern State of Upper Nile has on Thursday called on its citizens to massively fight against poverty than tribal feuds engulfing the region.
The post peace agreement period has witnessed increased tribal fights over land; cattle rustling and territorial rivalries with each resorting to arms as alternatives to settling conflicts
Peter Gatwech, Upper Nile State Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) coordinator said tribal boundaries were clearly marked by the former British colonial while leaving the country in 1956.
“These demarcations as later on agreed upon in the CPA, can simply be demarcated without having to fights as means to acquire back tribal boundaries,” he said adding
They are clear and records in archives about them still exist to date.
.The official currently visiting Khartoum from Malakal said feeling disturbed when he sees and hears southern communities killing themselves over cattle and land issues.
“We have precious and fertile lands in abundance without inhabitants across the region, why fight over small piece of plot, may be due to accessibility to basic services or security purposes,” he posed.
If it is because of these two reasons among others, why not organized individuals or community leaders get up and present these complaints in form of petition with outlined demands, he adds.
Commenting on land acquisition and utility, he said individuals wanting to get plots anywhere in south Sudan, “When it is acquired, there are conditions laid down by the government to be met during specific period of time. One of the conditions is time given to people to develop it. If this is not done within specific period of time, government holds responsibility of giving it out to someone who can develop it or ask the land lord to lease it out.”
He continued to add and suggested that he as an individual; he does not get good reason as to why individuals fight over the land being asked for development.
With regard to cattle theft and tribal rivalries, he said government attention can simply be drawn to them by organized groups representing certain communities in a given state or county with unified voice on issues which affects their people.
The official seemed frustrated also said our people seem to be forgetting causes of civil wars in the country, they are quick to kill themselves even if it is an issue which does not make sense, he said adding it is too bad to live along tribal line.
People are always quick to blame the leadership of the government of Southern Sudan but how organized are southern communities with their traditional leaders, he posed.
He continued to stress that the disarmament process in the region is meeting lots of challenges because all communities are not willing to hand arms to the government.
Forced disarmament is not the alternative because even those areas which were forcefully disarmament still have pockets of arms being used for tribal defense, he said
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Khent
Upper Nile calls on citizen to fight against poverty than tribal feuds
The real question is: What role will this “government” play in reducing poverty?
Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
Upper Nile calls on citizen to fight against poverty than tribal feuds
The plan is well appreciate but the issue is our illiterate leaders. I likr that Some people are dreaming of making South Sudan the best place to live but the evil is behind there waiting to confused us from good move. Most of such plan fail due to lack of support from poor government and some are been confused in the middle by hungry criminal individuals. I hope South realised its mistakes befoe its too late for us. I will assure that With the present of shilluk and nuer in Upper nile i hope this dreams will come to be true.
Samson
Upper Nile calls on citizen to fight against poverty than tribal feuds
How in the world when a system of government fail to feed their own people in stead of using a word tribal or blamed the people of south Sudan. While they where play this word to be promoted themselves.Shame shame shame on you the leaders of government in all ten states of South Sudan.
Mr. Governor let we see what your schedule would look like don’t blame people if you do not or do show your proposal to benefit the great Upper Nile. My advise to you, so please bring development and show some works otherwise you be the same or involved the old system that everybody is play by taken money out states then using them.