Minister says South Sudan is an enemy of herself

By Ngor Arol Garang

January 19, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Interior minister in the semi autonomous regional government of South Sudan, General Chier Chuang Aluong, said that Southerners are enemies of their own and urged reconciliation.

The minister has made his stern statement during a graduation of 513 police forces in Yambio, the Western Equatoria State capital.

General Gier said our enemies are not those we know but ourselves and must clean our hearts from evil deeds in order to achieve desired goals and objectives needed for South Sudan to prosper.

He was referring to statement made by SPLM broke away party headed by Lam Akol who voiced opposition to south Sudan secession from the north at a self determination referendum scheduled for January 2011, describing it suicidal attempt ever made by southern Sudanese.

The remark angered and generated heated discussions in most southern Sudanese forums with majority including members of his own break away party, warning him to stop betraying southern interest for personal survival. South Sudan is bigger than individuals, they said.

Jacob Bol, a southern Student at Juba university campus in Kodoro, east of Khartoum, said this call signifies and defines the clear intention/mission of the SPLM-DC.

“It has now revealed its real colors opposed to Southern thinking,” he said, adding “if Lam who intends to run for South Sudan presidential chair can say this before being elected, so what do southerners think about fate of the South if he is elected president of the semi-autonomous region.

“Without mercy he will cancel the CPA making it possible for north to secure unity of the country after having displaced and lost millions of our people. Let them make no such mistake to betray interest of the rural poor majority,” he warned

Earlier, General Gier Chuang said “we took up arms and fought against nothing than injustices, social segregation based on identities and rights to bring desperately needed changes not only in South Sudan but to all marginalized areas in the country.”

The SPLM vision and mission were to bring liberty, equality and unification of all Sudanese without subjugation or coercion related to how their affairs should be managed, he further said.

In a speech to hundreds of attendees including 513 graduates, General Gier, who was speaking on behave of the President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit, said happy to attend graduation of composite huge number of committed young policemen and women at one occasion.

This signals your determinations to defend this beautiful land with professional skills and internationally acceptable knowledge in levels of courses you underwent during training, he said.

He also acknowledged efforts being exerted by incumbent Western Equatoria state governor Jemma Nunu Kumba in implementing developmental projects.

SPLM recognizes her achievements since taking office a year and half ago and so will not hesitate congratulating her having not been arrested by the police or impeached by the state legislative Assembly for embezzling government funds, he said.

Notwithstanding financial difficulties the regional government continues to face, she has meticulously and appropriately made use of meager resources located to her by GOSS, he added.

Her achievements bear witness to these enormous developmental efforts we can see today, he said adding her successes challenge her counterpart male governors in other states being a woman representing their share of 25%.

(ST)