News
W. Equatoria missing from South Sudan independence book
July 19, 2011 (YAMBIO) – Newly independent South Sudan’s minister of information and broadcasting Barnaba Benjamin Marial has apologised to citizens of Western Equatoria State on Monday after the state’s referendum result was not produced in the “historic book” that was produced by the ministry to give thanks to all the ten states for having voted for the secession of the country.
The book was distributed on July 9, 2011 on the day which South Sudan was proclaimed an independence republic. Members of international community also were given copies of the book.
The caretaker minister said the special committee which was formed by the ministry to write the book excluded the name of Western Equatoria from the book. Marial says that the committee will correct the mistake and republish the book.
The mistake has angered many Western Equatorians with some calling for his resignation as acting minister of information and communication.
The book titled “Birth of a nation” on page 58 has all the results of the referendum results state by state and the percentage of votes but Western Equatoria’s results were not included. The document listed only nine states.
Western Equatoria voted 99 percent in favor of South Sudan’s separation in a referendum which was the culmination of a 2005 peace agreement between North Sudan’s National Congress Party, NCP and former rebels in South Sudan the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).
The citizens of Western Equatoria have expressed concerns over the exclusion of their state from the historic book.
The state governor Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro who is in Juba led the committee to meet the caretaker minister to understand how the complication came about.
After meeting the minister, the state governor Joseph Bakosoro said he understands that human error can occur but urged the ministry to cross check vital information before publishing it.
“I call upon all the people of the state to remain calm since the minister has explained what has happened,” said Bakosoro.
The controversial book’s foreword was written and signed by president Kiir and the book was prefaced by acting minister Benjamin Marial.
Both men have been sharply criticised in Western Equatoria for signing off the book without reading it thoroughly, saying such attention for detail was essential in governing an independent state, especially considering the ongoing disputes with North Sudan over citizenship, borders, currency, debt and oil.
(ST)
Cover Sheet of the book.
Foreword by Minister Marial.
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir’s note in the book.
South Sudan referendum results omitting Western Equatoria.
Man Koryom 2
W. Equatoria missing from South Sudan independence book
During the war, half of Equatorians ran to Uganda and claimed to be Ugandans. They never claimed that they were left behind but when there is an error in the book, they catch it within 1 second, and make it such a big deal. The minister should not be ask to step down because of an error which can be corrected. Everyone make mistake. Those who are stealing money are the ones to step down.
Aleu
W. Equatoria missing from South Sudan independence book
I think this is a lesson for GOSS Ministers not to signs anything in the future without reading it first otherwise, they must have to go back and check many documents which they signed just for acuarcy.
belle loboi
W. Equatoria missing from South Sudan independence book
Geat W.Equatoria should not be worried about book. Human error, computer error are always exist. Next time the minister need be careful with his work and they should never rash to the President to sign those kinds of important documents. I know that the President trust him very well and now he need be careful too.
Mi diit
W. Equatoria missing from South Sudan independence book
aleu,
blame the president himself who signed the book without first reading it. he knew he rules 10 states and yet he signed for only 9 states. what does that mean?
let me tell you i don’t think the president knows even what he signed in the transitional constitition. in the constitution he said he didn’t want arabic as official language with english and yet people still use arabic as official even on south sudan tv and he did not remind any one. he himself still addresses official meetings in arabic as i watched on tv yesterday.
last time it was said there was an order banning the use of ‘excellency’ with the exception of the president, and yet i watch on tv too many excellencies still being said to ministers and commissioners.
i believe most of our officials do not read and digest documents before they act upon them.
pathetic.
George Bol
W. Equatoria missing from South Sudan independence book
Why do you want to resign or request some one to leave his/her job for just the simple mistake that should be corrected. You know what? that kind of thinking increase the level of illiteracy—-,I am so sad indeed–.
Lorolokin
W. Equatoria missing from South Sudan independence book
The minister must explain himself clearly to the people of W.Equatoria and even Mayardit himself signed the document, what the heck is this president doing, The president is to apologize to the W.Equatorian as well or the minister is to resign.
Kinkak
AdierCien
W. Equatoria missing from South Sudan independence book
In The Name Of The Trinitay God Amen
W. Equatoria citizens take just a moment to pardon our leaders on what happen like this. Your contribution is very great for this country though it is not jotted in the book it is still known. You’re not forgotten.
There is a saying ‘mistake is human being’ it is true that is why you find many Authors do consider 2nd edition to be genuine.
To our ministers, you’ve a problem of professionalism. Don’t mislead the president it is your work you’ve to go through your work before you a signed to the higher authority.
Secondly, avoid employed foreigners on such fields. You may never know that others come with intension to cause misunderstanding.
God Bless Western Equatoria.
Land-of-Cush
W. Equatoria missing from South Sudan independence book
Running faster with lack of confidentiality will massing more mistakes. How a huge state like W. Equatoria should be excluded out from all states of South Sudan independent historical book? How a president of state can sign book without reading? Lack of cooperation among ministers is a failure to the government. If this book is written and present it to all ministers then this mistake should be correct before the book distributed to the public. The same to state new Currency; President should not signed them before his minsters view how they merely look before issuing them to public. Now how unpleasant do the government receive the reaction from public? And how long the government will keep apologising to the public?
W. Equatoria is the first state that offers it congratulation to president of new state and they have also point out that they will support the president of new state Salva Kiir Mayardit. None of other states never yet congratulated president or supporting him. Jonglei said bit part of it but not enough like what has been say Western Equatoria citizens.
We need one another!!!!!!!!
kuac Agol
W. Equatoria missing from South Sudan independence book
Dear W. Equatorians.
The mistake being done by the committee not the minister could be forgiven, otherwise Mr.minister and the committee are not an Angels of God who can not make any mistake.
The Republic of South Sudan
W. Equatoria missing from South Sudan independence book
Midiit,
There is thing your are missing brother, how do you expect Salva to read the book. Yes, I agreed that he is a PhD holder but he is not in a position to read that book.
To relief the pain and correct the mistake fully, some committee including the minister should be fired and Salva now can apologized to the citizen of Equatoria
kuac Agol
W. Equatoria missing from South Sudan independence book
Dear W Equatoria this mistake would have come with the referendum result atherwise marial have to sort this out before the formation of south sudan goverment.
Gangura
W. Equatoria missing from South Sudan independence book
Those Danks really are Joking with Equatorains, how comes that to hopen?
Ima sure the hatrets of Danks which made us last to be in conflict is the one coming,
Anyway we shall see after this we are going for colwar in the south sudan.
Good Citizen
W. Equatoria missing from South Sudan independence book
You morons,over there, this is not just a mere mistake/error to be taken lightly! it is a conspiracy against the good people of western Equatoria and Equatoria in General.why? because Western Equatoria is one of the most important states in South sudan and we have only 10 states, not 52 or so like in USA. what if those were counties how many would have been forgotten,excluded? it is not an error, it is deliberate act by the ‘Liberators’! why the useless, Warrap was not forgotten? why why why? this is the gravest insult and humililation to the greater equatoria, we call for the resignation of all those involved in this evil act.distorting history like what Arabs did!
Bush
W. Equatoria missing from South Sudan independence book
That’s what I’m always saying that our participation in this movement has not been recognized by those dogs at all, we fed them during the time of war but they are now turning their backs on us. There is no problem but that minister is no longer welcome in my state. How can you forget one of the great states in the South Sudan from that book? was that lack of competence, lack of professionalism, a deliberate act, an insult or provocation?
Marco A. Wek
W. Equatoria missing from South Sudan independence book
Good Citizen, I agree with you that whoever is linked to this shameful mistake or intentional omission of Western Equatoria have to go. Our people in the ten southern states deserve full recognition for their history votes for our independence.