South Sudan new capital Ramciel doesn’t need a claimer

By Isaiah Abraham

September 14, 2011 — The Republic of South Sudan leadership (represented partly by the Executive) has chosen a piece of land in Lakes State as the national seat for the government of the people of South Sudan. The decision was taken by the Council of Ministers couple of days ago, subject to Parliament endorsement. The President has formed a Task Force or Committee to look into the geographical area of the new land, and to map out strategies for possible planning leading to relocation. This is a second team (Task Force) within six month. Everyone knows every detail therein, yeah?

But the urgency of the matter at hand especially this year was felt by everyone, as the current city Juba isn’t anymore suitable to host the national capital due largely to land problem but also politics. The dice therefore has gone in Ramciel favor in the aforesaid state, and the issues at hand are: will the Task Force completes the mission more successfully on time, or will it end inconclusively like others before it? How about resources? I know some people have started to worry about financial support for that great idea, but the government is the government, we can start small, and if we want to leap, the government can borrow, why not! We have enough resources to clear our debts within no time when we settle.

On that land: who is the real owner between Aliap and Chiec (Dinka sections there)? This is so because there are conflicting statements made by the same people on that land (Ramciel). Chiec says the land belongs to them and the same is true with Aliap, who is to be believed here. The issue of who owns that land however is immaterial and insignificance; the government has chosen that place for its seat, period! Ramciel has become our National Capital irrespective of challenges ahead of the plan. What people are waiting is a road leading to the new place plus water. Ordinary Southerners would have gone there already before the Ministry of Housing and Physical Infrastructure.

Chiec voice is about participation and the question is why? Aliap wanted a plan about their cattle during wet season, and here again is another why? The later has enough land for animals during rainy season and has no valid argument to raise about Ramciel. But do we really need anyone to be part of the Task Force from Chiech? No! If yes what does that tell you and me about another land problem awaiting the government in Juba?

Land issue in our homeland has become a hot cake these days, as communities interpret land law differently. It wasn’t like that before. I have seen people beating their chest against the government that ‘unless we are part of land arrangement, any service done on that land isn’t needed’. The government has become so vulnerable before the people to the extent of begging them for any land for services. Some communities are becoming vocal for nothing, as politicians (State Legislative Assemblies) manipulate everything to ensure the national government stops short of providing services to the people. This is what am reading earlier now about Ramciel as it was the case today in Juba. Please my people don’t engage your government that way!

Interestingly though, I hearing Chiec or Aliap putting up conditions before the Task Force could have even sit down and start working. These people (Chiec and Aliap) have probably compensation packages at hand or ‘kick backs’ about their land, something I strongly don’t think should be done. May be the authors of the said conditions aren’t representatives of the people , but the fact that it was made public and no single politicians from there raised a voice makes it an official position of the Chiech/Aliap about the land Ramcial, something so ominous for the start. They are forgetting that the National Government isn’t joking about the future of South Sudan, someone must be affected to pave the way for a bigger advantage of many.

People should study afresh the relationship between the government and the governed as to land. The assumption by the people that they have to be heard loudly often on issues touching their land, isn’t anymore a threat given the Transitional Constitution. The government must be allowed to operate freely, and within its defined statue. It is not any good when people are so detached from the government even to stand on the way of the system. The issue of Ramciel has been in the news for most of the Interim Period before independence and no one then had raised the issue of Ramciel land to be anything that must be auctioned, otherwise. I don’t know whether we have become so materialistic and selfish about life against others. Something must be wrong, and I pray that the attitude of our people changes.

Take the issue of compensation (if that is the drive), must not be entertain; where will the government find money to do just that. We can moreover put back the clock after we agreed that the land should be a shared one. No one has the monopoly to sell or another to buy. People are running away from Juba because Bari people are tough on land though subtly. This isn’t a secret. They are to be left in the city and everyone wish them good luck here. Chiec/Aliap hence ought to spare us another Bari style in Ramciel. The government relocation there is not stoppable; and hope the tide must not be changed about moving away the capital from Juba to Ramciel whether the conditions are there or not. The place is extremely beautiful, so large and good, surrounded by all.

But did I hear someone from there saying that the land isn’t a no man’s land? If yes then the protester must get it right that it is not about the land having no owner, but the true meaning of ‘no man’s land’ is about any land where people don’t have permanent presence. ‘No man’s land’ dictum is an overstated phrase meant for any place that has less human activities, only animal and bird roam the land. It doesn’t mean that the land doesn’t belong to anyone. That is how Ramciel is and no fuss should be made about that statement (no man’s land).

The land yes belongs to certain group, but not inhabited regularly by the same. Ramciel people ought not to cough excuses aim at scaring the government from going there. Ramciel time has come, and no claimer has any right in this point to stop the government from moving its seat there. Juba bottle necks related to land were enough; we must learn to have the government space to work. Hon. Dr. Achol Marial can you talk to your people?

Isaiah Abraham lives in Juba. He is reachable at [email protected]