Kiir calls for peaceful Christmas celebrations, urges police to take charge
By Ngor Arol Garang
December 25, 2011 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir Mayardit on Sunday called for peaceful Christmas celebrations taking place across the new nation and urged police forces to take charge during the festivities.
With a festive mood on the streets of the country’s capital Juba on Saturday, market areas and shops remained congested with residents busy with last minute shopping, as police authorities urged members of the public to be careful when using roads.
“We have advised that people should continue to abide by traffic rules and regulations during Christmas and New Year holidays,” said General Acuil Tito Madut, inspector General of South Sudan’s police service, in a statement released to the media on Sunday. He also warned the drivers against alcohol consumption.
Salva Kiir Mayardit, in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune by his office on Sunday said all Christians in the new nation and all over the world were celebrating the birth of the Christ and must remain calm throughout during celebrations.
He called on the security organs specifically police forces to take charge of the situation.
“We thank the Good Lord for giving us another opportunity to saviour the joy that comes with the festive season. As Christians, the birth of Christ means a lot because it is the day that salvation came to us.”
He said the said the season was the time Christian’s give to the poor and the needy people in the society.
“Let us also seize the moment and give so that the Good Lord will also forgive our sins. Let our thoughts and deeds reflect our Christian belief,” Kiir said.
The president urged people to ensure that the joy of the birth of the Christ should not be turned into sorrow due to alcohol-related traffic accidents. “Most importantly, let us not turn our roads into death camps. If you drink, do not drive. If you drive do not drink”, he advised.
The South Sudan’s head of police Gen. Acuil Tito Madut told Sudan Tribune that there was a tendency among some drivers to handle vehicles when drunk during the holidays.
He said this situation has caused many accidents adding that extra police officers had been deployed on the roads during celebrations. There were speed radars, he said, to check those speeding especially on the highways and alcohol tests will also be conducted on suspected drunk drivers.
“We have enough patrol vehicles both in urban areas and highways leading upcountry and all over the country,” he reassured.
President Kiir on the other hand wished the country’s military, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), in their respected destinations special Merry Christmas and prayed for their safety and resolve to stay behind a common purpose to protect sovereignty and integrity of the new nation.
“May the joy and the birth of Christ bring us lots of Joy as the nation and the peace of God which passes all understanding rest and abide with us all as we hope for a new year filled with enormous heavenly blessings, Merry Christmas and may God continue to bless South Sudan”, the message concludes.
Rise in prices
While the Christmas celebrations carried on peacefully, a survey conducted by the Sudan Tribune revealed a sharp increase of commodity prices. Inflation is South Sudan has caused prices to increase dramatically since independence.
Residents express dissatisfaction at the abrupt hike in prices of essential commodities such as rice, flour, oil, vegetables, sugar, beans and spices.
Mohammed Abdullah from the north Sudan, who owns a soft drinks shop in Juba told Sudan Tribune in at Konyokonyo Market on Sunday that some people, despite saving could buy only half of what they wanted due to the increased prices.
“I think the festive season provides the opportunity for traders to maximize profits. Life has become so expensive that the purchasing power is diminishing, as long as the value of the local currency keeps dropping against the galloping dollar,” he complains.
Wani Sule Tongun, a retailer in Juba admits that this time of the year commodity prices have set a record. “A dress I bought for my daughter last year is three times the price this time,” he lamented.
“Food prices have increased. I don’t really understand why things are getting worse, he asked.
Episcopal archbishop Daniel Deng Bul told Sudan Tribune that churches around the country will hold special sermons to mark these celebrations as it is the Christmas since the independence of South Sudan.
Bishop Bul said Christian community have finalised all arrangements to celebrate Christmas with festivities despite inflation. He called for peace and unity among South Sudanese, specifically cattle rustling tribes in his home state of Jonglei.
(ST)