Fangak people joyous despite hardships

By Philip Thon Aleu

March 15, 2010 (BOR) — Minutes before landing on the cleared ground that amounts to the ‘airstrip’ in Fangak, the pilot admits, “if were a young pilot, it would be difficult”. For those of us on board, the rough landing here is the first of many hardships witnessed in this isolated region of South Sudan’s Jonglei state.

Among the passengers are Jonglei Gov. Kuol Manyang Juuk, South Sudan Minister for Internal Affairs Gier Chuang Aluong, Jonglei SPLM Secretary Buoth Chuol Nyot and a number of journalists plus security personnel.

This county headquarters is inaccessible by road to neighboring Ayod and Pigi. Transport is available by navigation through Nile River tributaries – or by small aircraft.

As the plane descends to the earth, a joyous crowd yells to welcome their leaders. The people look healthy. They say they enjoy what the Comprehensive Peace Agreement has provided for them, including the elections and referendum in 2011.

But the security situation here is not good, says county leader James Maliet in a meeting with the visiting governor and minister. “The government must intervene,” he pleads citing the latest murders by trackers from neighboring counties.

In interviews, local residents tell Sudan Tribune that uncertain security is one problem here. A local resident, when asked about the daily activities here, says Fangak “is a good place but we live in hardship.”

Local communities are not disarmed as the army prepares to launch a planned peaceful round-up of guns. Yet it is evident that tension is high here given the presence of heavy military deployment of SPLA soldiers surrounding the office of the commissioner.

In response to security concerns, Gov. Kuol says the state government has sought to accomplish disarmament from the beginning but met resistance from the international community about using SPLA forces.

HEALTH AND EDUCATION

“I have three points to talk about,” an elder says firmly in a discussion with the visitors. He mentions lack of clean water, inadequate schools for children and health units.

Indeed, there don’t seem to be any drilled boreholes in Fangak. A stream near the SPLA soldiers’ camp was frequented by children fetching water. From the few minutes we spent there, it became clear that people were drinking and bathing from this stream.

On education, Fangak center, which is well-off compared to other counties in Jonglei, has a permanent school and health unit structures. It was not immediately possible, however, to assess the quality in those buildings.

Later at a rally, Kuol announces an arrangement to transfer Fangak Secondary School in Malakal back home. He also says the standard of quick intervention – as seen by the action of health experts to quell Khazar cases in 2009 — will be maintained during his leadership. On roads construction, he announces commencement of work in a week from Ayod toward Fangak.

Minister Gier, meanwhile, says disarmament must start immediately to ensure peaceful elections campaigns this year.

Despite all these problems, Fangak is not a chaotic county. Authorities in Jonglei state believe that the people of this county understand that the Government of Southern Sudan is a young government without resources.

So even without much apparent share of the ‘national cake’, Fangak residents live isolated by road but connected patriotically to Jonglei’s state capital at Bor, where health and school facilities are more common.

(ST)