South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
By Ngor Arol Garang
April 4, 2011 (WAU) — As various groups continue to debate on the status of the interim constitution of south Sudan, authorities have assured the people that interests and views of South Sudanese would be taken into consideration when writing a new constitution.
“There should be no fear. The technical committee is composed of highly learned and experienced professionals from various fields and is working together with selected experts from neighboring countries to ensure all legal matters are thoroughly discussed and unanimously endorsed by the committee,” John Luk Jok, Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development in the government of South Sudan, said in an interview with Sudan Tribune on Monday April 4, 2011.
Jok was responding to some of the public concerns and arguments that little have been done to solve problems in the committee that transpired after the other political parties announced pulling out from the committee in February ,2011. The opposition forces accused the SPLM of “dominance over all decisions” and its prevention of “meaningful participation from opposition members”.
But Jok denied the accusations describing them as inaccurate and allegations. He accused the opposition of demanding a lot, saying they were asking for 50% power sharing in parliament as well as in the cabinet and in the state governments.
“The interests of people of South Sudan would be safeguarded at the time of writing a new constitution,” said Jok on Monday in statements with Sudan Tribune.
The minister said the committee has identified multiple challenges with the power sharing becoming one of the topical issues, and suggestion for more discussion on responsibilities of the parliament which include making sure that all government services are accessible to the ordinary people.
Joseph Lagu, a former President of High Executive Council for South Sudan and now a Special Advisor to president of the ruling SPLM, Salva Kiir Mayardit, said that cabinet members should not be part of the parliament if the doctrine of separation of powers should have much sense.
“I would advice that powers are separated so that it allows proper check and monitoring of performances of the cabinet. This will not compromise independent of the legislature from the executive,” said Lagu, in a televised statement seen on South Sudan Television last week.
He has further said for a new Act to re-check the current constitutional powers vested in two-thirds of all Members of the Parliament to approve changes in the constitution.
The adviser was participating in a public debate on the Constitutional Review due to be tabled in the Parliament in the next coming weeks.
Lagu also called on the committee to include the public outcry which urges immediate settlement of differences between political parties and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement over power sharing and composition of the constitutional review committee.
“We also want the constitution to limit the size of the cabinet to be in line with other countries where their constitution stipulates on the number of Cabinet members. Our new constitution should not remain silent on that,” he said.
Meanwhile, the stakeholders who attended the Conference expressed their dismay over the government’s silent to say when it will complete the work on the Constitutional Review.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune in a separate interview on Monday , various speakers including university students, academicians, politicians, lawyers, activists and the general public said the committee was prepared contrary to the people’s recommendations, therefore it has to be re-drafted and thoroughly discussed by the majority of members of the public.
Another concern raised by the interviewees was on the time-frame given by the government to discuss the review. They said that the time was not enough for most citizens to contribute with their views conveniently on the drafting of the new constitution.
Deng Mawien Kuc, a secondary school teacher in Wau suggested to publish the outcome of the committee through the media outlets for a public debate instead of rushing it to Parliament.
“The government has to respect people’s basic rights of expressing their views, freely and fairly. I propose that all people be given enough time to contribute towards the new constitution because this one has been so abrupt and confusing,” he said.
Angelo Deng, who identified himself as practising private advocate in Wau Town, said the four following things must be accomplished before to finalize the new constitution: a free constitution commission, a constituency assembly, a referendum and the National Assembly.
A representative of the ruling SPLM, Atem Biar said his party has agreed to have the constitution reviewed.
“SPLM has agreed to accommodate public views on the agenda but has insisted that all stakeholders including politicians have the rights to participate — not only specialists as proposed here. We also want a specific time-frame for the agenda to reach to an end,” he said.
(ST)
Ahmed Chol
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
This constitution should not be written under hasty conditions. It should treat everybody equally. It is not about parties. It is for all people including the current people and the future generations. Equality is what we fought for. So everybody, young or old, man or woman, whether s/he fought in the liberation war or not, should be treated equally. That will be only way to move forward. Any other alternatives that promote short term gains should be avoided. Some of these gains don’t even reach everybody in the society but suffering does. Lots of rooms should be left for amendment of the constitution because this society will drastically change and some of the laws may or may not work in the next 100 years.
Ahmed Chol, whatever begins in anger, ends in shame
Bol Deng
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
Dear Southerners,
People misunderstood constitution especially the opposition parties. They should know that the constitutions are simply a law that should govern the ROSS.
We are not really there yet to that high level of understanding the rules of laws instead of arguing for nothing other there would be know bitter argument about the term of presidency, voting rights,who should run for presidency, what can disqualify a candidate from attending to run for presidency, what are the motif of the opposition parties, campaigning procedures. We have long way to understand the above and the rest because democracy far from us.
There are people who can review the constitution but the only thing that hinder the progress of constitutional reviews could be the mix of different ideologies that has no common ground.
The main obstacles are those who claim to be opposition and they think that they are working to promote democracy in the South,while they are after the high position.
The demanding of 50% from the constitution from the South is not the way to frame the laws that should government every civilians in the South.
I encourage capable people to reviews the constitution but not be base on how you disagree with SPLM or any other party.
Things that you need to know; democracy means negotiation and be conceived by full understanding of winning or losing and that is why i am not going to vote for someone who rebel in my life because he/she has no value to led the population. period!
Hero
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
We all fought for this country.And I find it absurd for any politician or a party not to listen people’s views.So I think it’s a sole responsiblity of the technical committee to argues for it, and if they don’t get their ways through, then people will make it to the prefection comes the time.
What I don’t necessarily buy, is the case of those who are advocating for “fifty fifty power” sharing as if we are still living under the old regime.In my opinion I see it as not something logical and worthy to do, since we are they same people and have many commonalities among us, even though we might’ve differing views,agendas or policies when its come to political sense.So guys, get together and do we wants.
dotcom
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
THIS IS MY SECOND MESSAGE!
It has come to my attention that some of you guys go far beyond the house rules, by resorting to comments that DO NOT in any way help or serve the interest of our online readers.
This is a follow up note/warning that,
we have now taken some tough measures to scrutinize some commentaries and delete them when deemed inappropriate to the topic of the discussion. I have also decided to delete some members with repetitive unprofessional/degrading comments (and thats why you don’t see some members you knew of). We are not in anyway limiting anyone’s freedom of speech, thats why we have given you “wonderful-years-of-anything-goes-comments” since the establishment of this website.
Please, route for positive and productive commentary to serve the truth and plural idealism for the enjoyment/betterment of all so as to avoid being blocked from accessing these wonderful features that we at ST provided.
I hope you understand.
Akuma
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
Why Do Southern Sudanese fear about the review of constitutions? It will be lawfull if all stakeholders participate fully without any hinders behind, that would make one party to benefits more.
However, All Southern Sudanese people are very eager to have a meaningful and conducive constitutions to make the difference from of the world.
It is good to fear at theis early time because at the the long run, parlimentarians will focus much on term proposals in office, as the time approach. Southern Sudan need to have two term with the primaries election like Amerrican constitution for an assessment of performance, in order to determined the elect leaders whether they are doing rights things or not.
Decide properly for the benefits of citizes who had suffer for long. Good constitution is a good nation.
Dr. Akuma
Chicago, USA
Mwoi
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
Thanks Dotcom,
This website’s commentaries have ever since been unprofessional and immature that most of the readers have resorted to deserting it altogether.
It is appreciative if you have taken the burden of deleting and erasing the names of those who have interest in such nonsensical commentaries.
Be stern and avert the likely collapse of this website’s image.
I like it that Logic Boy is no longer existing.
Fearless man
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
You must be incompetent wrong individual thinking that you will stop people from express their own views but so what maybe you are Member????? while you English is decent for a foreign speaker/writer, it is obvious that you do not have a full mastery of the language. Unless students want papers that are quite obviously written by a non-native speaker, they would need to avoid using your services. That, and it’s pretty f*cking clear that you broke the forum rules and should have known better. go to hell sudantribun.com is a nuer websit death to anyone oppose any by the way I know you very well leave alon that you called yourself Dotcom who care?
Aliny pathou
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
As it is know to many of us, that constitution is supreme law of the land. There must be a check and balance and power limits in this constitution. Any abstents of those mentioned above, will casts doubts on this constitution and should be considered invalids and avoids. It should be free from conflicts of interests, because our current rulers are non experts. Therefore, technical committees should be very carefull and precisely reviews the constitution in the scientiffic ways with philosopical analysis, incudings six principle of political realism, that constitution should be written base on the traditions and customs of the society. All voices including voicless must be included in the constitution. Southern kordafon and southern Blue nile should also be considers for confederation States, to form a perpetual union between these two states, because they have fought with us during the liberation struggles. And there are no logics reasons why we should left them behind, while we died togethers and suffers togethers during the liberation struggles. We must established this baby Nation in the right footing rather than wrong footing. And also, all they opposition should be included. So, that it will represents the representative democracy. With all these considers, we will be a better nation and prospered one in the continent. And it be a home for all.
Thanks and may God bless you all.
Hero
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
Hi Mr Dotcom,
Look, You sound nice and polite! But, I think it would even be term as “delicious” to say the less, if can show us or everybody fairness instead to be seen as favouring individuals or tribes, when it comes to the deleting of such comments.Therefore, I personally would like the theme to ” fairness above all” no matter who’s who on this web.
Otherwise, you are highly welcome Sir!
Bol Deng
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
Junub Sudan,
I am not against any political party in the South but i have doubt about their services. Which opposition party the SPLM rejected in the South?
I know that those opposition parties did not do any single thing that South Sudanese know from them. What did they do apart from talking against the interest of South Sudan since the begging of the GOSS.
See for example, SPLM-DC has been running up and down awarding Khartoum government and talking about corruption that can not be solved by just talking but action like eliminating it while staying in the South but not in Khartoum.
The other parties where non-existence fro many years and no one know from now what are their intention about the interest of South Sudan.
Do not count about independent because they were just looking for position and these people where misled by their counterpart within the govt as per job search.
Addit Tera
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
[redshow]
Hi Guys,
Today, most of you comments as pure southerners.
Therefore let us not encourage any bad tribalism in South Sudan.
Thanks
Addit
In Warrap.
Aliny pathou
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
Also, oil rich States or counties should be given a 20 percent out of 100 percent for example, Unity State. That 20 percent should be splited between the three counties Panrieng county, Abhienom, Robkana with 6.5 percent for each county and remaining .5 percent go to the capital of the State. That will be fair distributions of the resource to the right constituenties and wealths sharing as stipulated in the CPA.
Prophet
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
look at this Gogrial prostitute called “Fearful woman!”. where is Nyandeng Garang? the girlfriend to incompetent Gogrial president? shame on you Dinkas. you gave a bad name to Southern Sudanese. your name is always associated looting, lies, coward, nyagatism. death to your likes
Dotcom, I see your website (sudantribune.com) aligning with Dinka idealogies so much. why dont you come out and show your true colour by calling Dinka website. I know this is a dinka website but why dont u just give it a name to serve the truth as you said? deleting my comment or not, its up to you. I fear no man.
Dinka folks, we will slice this country into pieces whether you like it or not. tired of your incompetence. food loving creatures who havent gave up on looting since Anyanya.
Lokeji
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
I sincerely appreciated your message in regards to the behaviours of many commentators of this beautiful website.Infact this website is one of my favourite things that i used to do every day once i get into my office, because it contain most of the news not personal opinions as in the other websites.But there is one thing that alway discourages me from it, the nature of comments posted by many commentators are not good some are insultive,childist and some are carrying tribal notions.
I personally believe that any news posted in this website, requires from us mature comments rather than most of the jokes some of us are posting.
Please go a head mr dotcom
Michael Anyong
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
I can say Sorry guys to you, I have learned and read that many of your comments are insults from tribe to tribe no it is impossible this is misunderstanding from you all. The subject matter of today is constitutional reviw of South Sudan as whole not one state. I can agreed with Bol Deng comment not all of us would be in the parliament or legal affairs to write the constitutions let them write it. Ours is reading it and implementation of it to all of us including writers. don’t fear at this time make sure that you writers of this constitution don’t inflicted yourselves after you wrote it let it be practice in your presence when it is bad will result all of us when it is good will be advantage to all of us.
Paul Ongee
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
Cibaipiath Junub Sudan,
I disagree with you because you seem not to understand the primary concerns of the other opposition parties. Bol Deng has at least tried to highlight some of the hidden opposition parties’ concerns. SPLM is not sidelining opposition parties but their intentions are not completely resonating with the objectives of the constitutional review (CR).
What these parties really want first is 50% power sharing for flexing the muscles of making argument that suits their interest other than the interest of South Sudan as referred to by the Minister of Justice, John Luk Jok. Why in the first place do we want to replicate the 50% of the CPA of Naivasha here in Juba?
The issue here why do we have to have equal power first to “argue” over the CR before making actual amendments that would have a negative/positive impact on the integrity of the constitution, political or public life? The issue is not about how many positions held by the opposition parties on the CR committee but about critical contributions that would help South Sudan move forward constituionally.
Paul Ongee
Khartoum, Sudan
Paul Ongee
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
Cibaipiath Junub Sudan,
I disagree with you because you seem not to understand the primary concerns of the other opposition parties. Bol Deng has at least tried to highlight some of the hidden opposition parties’ concerns. SPLM is not sidelining opposition parties but their intentions are not completely resonating with the objectives of the constitutional review (CR).
What these parties really want first is 50% power sharing for flexing the muscles of making argument that suits their interest other than the interest of South Sudan as referred to by the Minister of Justice, John Luk Jok. Why in the first place do we want to replicate the 50% of the CPA of Naivasha here in Juba?
The issue here why do we have to have equal power first to “argue” over the CR before making actual amendments that would have a negative/positive impact on the integrity of the constitution, political or public life? The issue is not about how many positions held by the opposition parties on the CR committee but about critical contributions that would help South Sudan move forward constituionally.
Paul Ongee
Khartoum, Sudan
Janafil
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
we only know the SPLM party in the South to be the party helping the Southerners to cross the river, the other parties were a proved by the NCP to oppose the SPLM in the South and for that they are not the right parties to be involve fully for moment, I suggest SPLM to continue for the moment and later after the announcement in 9th July for the South Sudan to become seperate Country then new applications to creat the new parties should be summitted in for approval, otherwise the existing small small parties are not the right parties, now you can see them puting their demands a head to fullfil their interest rather then the people interest.
Mr.president we need the reform of these small small parties after the seperation.
mack waweru
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
This Interim Constitution ends on 9th July and I don’t think there is a need to retain it, or reviewed as is being said. After independent I propose that, a new constitution have to be drafted, hold a referendum on it and eventually elect the parliament which will pass it and after that new general elections commence; otherwise things will not be as the common person wants it.
Mack
mama justice
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
Dear South Sudanese,
Just be patience, to the process of the interim constitution. it is not good to be anxious about it because it will create public discontentment and increase in security, which take can a way the life of the innocent people. Lets wait and see how the interim constitution will be, if it doesn’t reflect our interests, we will have another way to do it. We are a new nation affected by war both psychological and spiritually. I request our leaders, be it an opposition or the SPLM to understand the situation of our country and work to restore peace not ethnic war, and for those who are inspire for leadership, please be patience you will have you chance, but give this chance to the SPLM in order to restore peace in the South and you will govern in peace tomorrow.
Hero
South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
Warning Actiongatkuoth: Your action here is not worthy at all. Generalization is what we were told to refrain from if I’m not wrong and it’s seem as if you’re above the rules or law, whatever you might call it.Anyway it’s not something unprecedented to me and maybe to some of my colleagues here on the web, to find that some of us are or will not heeds to they moderators call and accepted to lived up to the ” web’s rules”to be fair and honesty to each others. So that we can all called it a place for “fair go” for every South Sudanese, who’s like to joins in and have his/her voice heard.
To my dismay, I find it naive and too primitive for some of us who attack Mr DOtCOM as if he’s outrightly favoring any single community, Tribe, and individual on this web,yet he was making a decent call of which he thought is a right thing to do given the present status quo.To all, I think it’s fair for us all to embraced the web’s rules and let’s not make it a reality.
I want they moderators to know that, leadership matter in whatever you do, whether in your house or in the public arena then you must show some leadership to wins the heart and mind of the people and that’s what you need here if you’re determined to wins over they zealous people.Moreover, I want to tell they Tribal’s addicts, that this web doesn’t belong to NUER as some of you claims but it doesn’t belong to they SHILUK and it was found be LAM AKOL and now we called it ours, in other word it’s for “South Sudanese” and it’s our duty all to cleans it no matter what’s they idiot says.Finally guys, be proactive and don’t let-up, keeps cleaning all the shits and everything will be okay.