Telar Deng calls to review Dinka customary law
By Manyang Mayom
May 27, 2010 (RUMBEK) – The Caretaker- Governor of Lakes State, Telar Ring Deng has appealed to the next elected Governor, Engineer Chol Tong Mayay, to initiate a traditional chief’s conference in greater Bahr-El-Ghazal to amend a Dinka customary law known as “Wath Aleel”.
Wath Aleel, a Dinka costmary law was established in 1999 in Wunlit. It imposes forceful marriage in the Dinka society and blood compensation in the form of cows.
The law means “A gate of stone” and it only covers Bahr-El-Ghazal region in South Sudan.
During Daniel Awet’s term as governor of Lakes State, one article was amended in the law by changing the number of cows paid by adulterers from 15 to 31 cows. . The compensation for killing someone was changed from 51 to 71 cows. However, others states such as Warrap in Northern Bahr-El-Ghazal and Western Bahr-El-Ghazal were not involved in amending this article.
Telar made his call in a speech delivered on Wednesday when he was sworn into the legislative assembly of Lakes State’s Lawmakers. He noted that the “Assembly is charged with the responsibility to protect the community welfare, bring peace and unity to the people of this state.”
Telar Ring Deng affirmed that he realizes that the law was amended, however, in respect to law-making processes, and particularly a common law like “Wath Aleel” which covers the Dinka of Bhar El Ghazal, he urged the new Governor of Lakes State and the Assembly to request that the governors and assemblies of Greater Bahr El Ghazal and their chiefs hold a tribal chiefs’ Conference in order to make any amendments that are deemed necessary.
He said that for Lakes State Legislative Assembly to revise the “Wath Aleel” Dinka costmary law of Bhar El Ghazal without the participation of other Greater Bahr El Ghazal States is null and void and should immediately be repealed.
Southern Sudan is close to holding the Referendum in 2011 to decide whether the country will remain united or separate into two countries. The South Sudan Referendum is only 225 days away; however, Deng said that Lakes State must lead its citizens in making a well informed choice in both cases. The citizens must be made aware of the pros and cons of their decision in the referendum.
Since its foundation in 2005, the Lakes state government was overwhelmed with improving the infrastructure, education and the health services, so the security was neglected resulting into killings and corruption as well as nepotism in various institutions.
(ST)
parajok
Telar Deng calls to review Dinka customary law
In Nuer common law, an outlaw was a person who had defied the laws of the realm, by such acts as ignoring a summons to court. No such thing called Dinkas customery law, because Jaang is Nuer slaves, the Law has been set by Nuer customery law how many cows you got when your Dinka slaves has been kill. check Nuer expansion and Nuer Livelihood.
Malual Jongbai
Telar Deng calls to review Dinka customary law
Thanks to Mr Telar Deng for his consideration into Dinka Customary Law that need amendment due to society change in culture and the fact that the law is broaden to the vast majority that initiated it. We all know when this tough rule “wath aleel was introduced back in ’99 to succumb criminal act which is good. However, it has to be look into so that it is more effective. As a result, the new elected Governor ans his adiminstration should look into it and this will a good step to identifying a single area of law to address all necessary law in our society.
Bol Joseph Agau
Telar Deng calls to review Dinka customary law
Ya Manyang Mayom, why don’t you make research before you release some important information to the public.
The figures in the Wanh Alel Dinka Customary laws are not equal to what you have provided here. The lack of Dinka Language knowledge by you of translating Wanh Alel as ‘A gate of Stone’ itself is your poor knowledge of what you are writing.
Wanh Alel is a river and a name of place where the customary law came to promulgation. Wath means shore, alel means stone. Wanh Alel is the shore of stones not gate of stone as you put it.
I have a feeling you should go back to school of journalism and learn how to write to the public. Always not ashamed of yourself. Get to know first before throwing into the net the crude information.
maketh
Telar Deng calls to review Dinka customary law
I think the step taken by Telar Deng is the right way forward, there are many challenges facing southern Sudan today, but most of those challenges can be address if we have leaders who might know what they are doing. A decency of any nation defends on how they treated their wreaker members of the society. At this point I have to confess that the marriage institution of Dinka community have become a burden for the women of Dinka community. Things like under age marriage, forces marriage, arrangement marriage (with economical motive) ,forceful wife inherent, separation of the families because of unpaid dowry and right of a brother or father to divorces a female relative from her partner against her will. the Dinka community must look into those issues, and if they are not willing to make changes, than I think the government have to step. with laws which will regulated all those issues that I have mention above. . I know there might be some people on this forum who might disagree with my view, because they feel that customs are important part of the any society, and the government should stay out of tribal affairs. and I agree to that, However I argue that, if the customs or tradition practices violated the rights of some community members, in my opinion, it is justifiable for the government to step in. the marriage system in the Dinka community is not only against women right, but I also believe it is making our woman lest productive and powerless. I love the culture, but at this point, we must be willing to make some tough choices, given the position, our country comparing to the rest of world, it appear to be like we have a serious gap to bridge. For southern Sudan to win in 21 century, we need our women to be part of the team. But the only way they can be part of our team is for the government to protect them from the negative practice of the society. The problem of the women is not only tribal problem but is a national problem.