Campaigning for development in South Sudan; what was done?
By Philip Thon Aleu
April 1, 2010 (MALAKAL) – For the first time since 1983, southern Sudan politicians are spending weeks with voters in villages where basic necessities such as water and clinic are luxuries. 10 days to April 11 – 13 polls which are already in balance after SPLM withdrew it candidate for Sudan’s presidency, the undecided, unaware and above all inaccessible voters question whom/or which party that has done what, will win their votes?
In areas where there is no clean drinking water like Ayod, Pigi and Fangak Counties, like is hard and citizens are disappointed with the government.
To residents of Korwai payam in Pigi County, Jonglei State, muddy water stream for multipurpose there, has contributed to human infertility. A container filled with dark liquid, which is said to water fetched from a nearby stream, shocked visitors to Korwai in a rally. The ordinary color of water and it taste are considerably shifted.
The Sudan Tribune witnessed that, given no alternative; cattle drink from the same source as well as is washing of cloths and bathing. “We don’t have borehole,” said a woman fetching water with a broken he said.
JERRYCAN.
Another woman, speaking as a female representative in an SPLM rally in Korwai, says: “Drinking from dirt water is a cause of infertility here.” Ayod, Fangak and Pigi Counties, formerly known as Greater Fangak, are among the areas in Southern Sudan that people drink from natural rivers.
Korwai Payam is in a constituency where the SPLM legislative candidate Gier Chuang Aluong seeks votes. Mr. Chuang, in a personal initiative, has cleared a road contacting neighboring Atar Chuei Payam with Canal to solve the problem of road network here. He says the construction will continue to Korwai. State Government has committed funds for road constructions to continue to Pam, Fangak County Headquarters, Sudan Tribune confirmed that funds for road work are released.
On the other hand, Jonglei State government pledged drilling boreholes in Korwai Payam and other locations in Greater Fangak as quickly as possible in what could be good elections coincident. Five boreholes are already completed in Ayod in February, 2010 – the first post war clean water site there.
But to the Jonglei State Presidential campaign team for the government of Southern Sudan, the SPLM has made a sufficient commitment to serving the people of southern Sudan but acknowledges that there are crucial areas of need unattended to “because we don’t have enough money.”
“Our resources are being processed and our shares [50% of the resources] decided in Khartoum,” said Deng Alier, Jonglei minister of land & physical infrastructures who is also a member of GoSS presidential campaign team. About oil exploration and channeling to northern Sudan for export he told the audience attending a rally in Wangleel, Fangak County that “that is why the people [of southern Sudan] should for the SPLM so to bring and manage our wealth. How can you fund like project road without money?”
“The SPLM have programs that other parties do not have,” Gen. John Kong Nyoun, the chairperson for the team told the Sudan tribune when asked why he thinks the SPLM is a favorite. The readiness to organize and carryout referendum in the south for self-determination is a factor Gen. Kong says the SPLM have no substitute.
“We [SPLM] the signatory to the CPA with NCP but not the SANU, UDF or independent candidates,” he added.
A United Democratic Front candidate, meanwhile told a rally in Fangak that his party aims at securing southerners an independent nation which, according to him the SPLM is not prepared for. But the SPLM slam the comment saying “we fought for the right of marginalized people in the Sudan but UDF never.”
The main problem politicians will face in this election is not who does what to the people. The real battle is that the illiterate voters are not aware of their candidates’ symbols including the SPLM. Mobility and insecurity are other factors Sudan Tribune established hinder the polls barely days away.
In one case, a rally organized by National Congress Party candidate for Governorship Joseph Duer Jakok in Keer, Ayod County, turned violated on March 23 and a person was killed. On March 23 and 24 when Sudan Tribune reporter was in Ayod Headquarter, a number of people were arrested by police and soldiers. A scramble over control of funds donated by NCP to facilitate the rally is said to have caused the wrangle. A civilian allegedly grabbed a police riffle and open fire on the crowd near the venue of the election rally being addressed by Mr. Duer. The NCP hopeful declined to comment when contacted in Ayod on 24 March.
However, safety during polls remains a threat and a priority to the government of southern Sudan, the acting minister for internal affairs Gier Chuang Aluong said when asked in Atar Chuei on Tuesday March 30.
“We are aware of insecurity and the police will be deployed in all the states,” he said. Running out of time, Mr. Gier says a police plane will be used to dispatch the forces.
In Pigi and Fangak Counties, where disarmament just has began, the elections safety remains an issue of concern. Indeed, not only are voters not sure of voting, the politicians are even not certain on their security despite being highly guided.
In related development, the SPLM decision to withdraw from national presidential race is another complexity to April elections. For voters in here in Malakal, who had decided to vote for SPLM’s Yasir Arman, the move amount to fresh campaign for the party. Questions now hang as who to vote for? Bashir for CPA? What about other NCP candidates who are popular and campaigning for CPA in the South?
(ST)
Time1
Campaigning for development in South Sudan; what was done?
There is development but south sudan has not yet reached that stage of luxury, GOSS is focusing on the basic services only, the budget is very tight and the money is not enough, especially due to the fall in oil price last year which cut over 60% of the government budget, so it is not possible to offer everything with just 60% reduction in budget of last year, with stable oil prices this year there will be more services and more development, GOSS has put more funds into training police and training the SPLM, buying equipments to the army, reconstruction of key ministries and also maintaining the smooth running of the civil services, parliament, judiciary and regional cooperation, all this cost alot of money, roads have been open now connecting all states, there is now free primary schooling for everyone, this means that GOSS is working and is trying to build the country from stratch with the small budget available, as you all heard the world bank had failed to offered the government of south sudan the money that was promised than 25% have been given for development and has been very slow, GOSS now has its own executive plane and vehicles, the train has reach wau, the roads linking Uganda and south sudan to be completed next year, but this are all basic services only and not enough, but with time the services will increase, the big problem facing some states and counties is the issue of manpower and skill personal that is lacking, let hope more southerners in Sudan and abroad with badly required skills and qualifications can join their brothers int he vaious states and counties to help them in the rebuilding and development process, especially the states and counties that lack enough skilled manpower, development and rebuilding the country is not just the job of the government but also of its citizens, all sides work together to bring development and rebuild the country, government alone cannot do everything.However the SPLM will continue with the vision or rebuilding Sudan and improving lifes, GOSS has to continue with that vision and the people have to be patient and support their government.
Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
Campaigning for development in South Sudan; what was done?
Some people still allowing themselves to be fouled by SPLA like a unknown greedy party. Action speaker louder than words, why would Southerns believe in SPLA? what really convince you to vote for Kiir? where is the development in South Sudan since 2005 up to date? Is it true to hide the corruption and insecurity that has been merely all around the states? actually not a right time for fouling people to vote and afterward they benefit nothing out of their votes. We have had the experience under Salva who is just a symbol to represent, Kiir has been so active in negative performance, what else can we said about this insanity leader? sooner not later we will see Kiir buying a Jet worth U$ 90,000,000 with all money that is meant to be used for some development.
Controller
Campaigning for development in South Sudan; what was done?
To All Jonglei State Citizens.
I urged you if you need clean water, brand new Jerrycans, clinic and peace in your State, then, vote for Independent candidates, if you need change that you can believe in again like President Obama for change in U. S. A.
If you don’t need change and wanted to continuous living that way, then vote for SPLA candidates who providing you with nothing but taking away whatever you have.
Remember, a vote for independent candidates is a vote peace and future of the country.
Then, a vote for SPLA candidates is a vote for looting and killing civilians.
Thanks