S. Sudanese boycott independence celebrations in Norway
July 19, 2014 (JUBA)-The South Sudan Community in Norway boycotted the young nation’s third Independence anniversary, citing the wrong timing in the wake of the country’s crisis.
Its embassy in Norway, in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, said members of the community’s executive committee earlier met and agreed they would not hold any celebrations as planned.
“We all agreed to how important this day is to all South Sudanese where all felt a sense of belonging to a free nation and as one people, the importance of honoring the fallen heroes, who sacrificed their lives for us to live a life with a sense of dignity,” partly reads the community’s 16 July letter.
The letter addressed to ambassador, Bol Wek Agoth, noted with concerns that foreign countries showed more concern than the leaders of the country to expeditiously end the seven-month old conflict.
“For example like here in Oslo, Norway, including Britain and Canada where you the Ambassador and deputy Ambassador has lived. The system functions,” says the letter.
The community leaders claimed South Sudanese leaders, including president Kiir, had let down the country and its people since 2005.
“And it was unfortunate that a senior politician and a member of SPLM in the person of Dr.Anne Ito dared saying the people of South Sudan are better off than three years ago. Whatever yardstick did she use to measure that performance? How are they better off when 1.5 million people have been forced out of their homes?” it queried.
Adds the letter, “How are they better off when people are trapped in the compounds of the United Nations Mission in the country? How are they better off when corruption is rampant? How are they better off when nepotism is at large? How are they better off when security is bad? How are they better off when Unemployment is high among our youth”?
South Sudan’s recent ranking as the world’s most fragile state, they said, was one of the reasons the community in Norway boycotted the Independence Day occasion.
“There is little to celebrate. Hopes give way to gloom. The dreams to live a dignity life to live in freedom are not there” the community said.
(ST)