Aid group stops activities in Lakes state after land seized by government
October 25, 2013 (RUMBEK) – The Lakes state government has confiscated land belonging to a non-governmental organisation, which had been operating in its Rumbek Central county since 2001.
The surprise move, she said, came after her indigenous South Sudanese organisation, formerly known as the Association of Napata Volunteers (ANV), was offered the land in 2001 by then county commissioner.
“The building has been apprehended now by the government” she said, pointing out that during the war the building was “badly damaged” and was officially allocated to APARD to be used as an office.
“APARD rehabilitated this building over a number of years and was brought into a modern office in 2012 through [the] organisation’s own resource mobilisation. Now the state government seized and no compensation being promised. All office material are throw under the trees. We have ceased our work until further notice” said Adeng.
APARD wrote to the governor appealing for to him to reconsider the eviction order and also allow the organisation time to relocate so as to enable them continue to provide services to the communities in the region.
Adeng explained that no alternative site had been provided by the government nor has there been any agreement on compensation. She added that, the Lakes state minister of physical infrastructure had offered verbal promises which proved of no help.
“The office assets were thrown outside on Thursday when the soldiers took over APARD building”, she said, noting that the deputy governor authorised the handover of the building without notifying APARD about the process.
Adeng said the history of what APARD did during the civil war to aid the liberation movement is very well known to the Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Association (SSRA) – the forerunner of the SSRRC – which used to give the travel documents to members of the former rebel movement going abroad for treatment or conferences.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 as part of a 2005 peace deal between the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Khartoum government. The SPLM has governed South Sudan since 2005 with the armed wing of the group – the SPLA – becoming the official army.
On October 12, a foreign company operating in Lakes state’s Rumbek Central county announced it had been forced to close down due to government-imposed restrictions on its business activities since June.
AFEX Group was the first company to begin operating in Rumbek Central county after the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
The company, which began its operations the following year, reported that “restrictions and high taxes” had forced them to completely shut down their business interests in the region.
(ST)
ST – Long-serving foreign company closes down in South Sudan’s Rumbek