Tensions high in Bor market as demolition deadline looms
February 28, 2015 (BOR) – Tensions are running high among traders and residents in Jonglei state’s Bor municipality as the deadline looms to vacate houses and shops scheduled for demolition.
Former Bor county commissioner Maker Lual said the land had been gifted to certain individuals who now wished to build their own properties.
However, many Bor residents claim that the land if free and have accused politicians of making a land grab.
Traders have also expressed concerns about losing their main source income should their shops once again be demolished.
Deng Ajak, who owns a small shop in the same area, said the municipality had granted him permission to start his business.
According to Ajak, people like him should be helped by the government to grow their business.
“They [Bor municipality] gave me this place to sell my goods. I started with small business but now it has grown bigger in the last 10 months since I started,” he said.
“Now they want me to go, but I have not been shown a place to move to,” he added.
Another man, who owns a large lodge also demolished last fours years, said he had been again asked to move out of the area by the office of the mayor despite obtaining documents that gave him the ownership over the land he had built.
The man has vowed to take legal action against the mayor, saying he was prepared to die for his land.
“I fought for this country during the freedom struggle. When this mayor ran to Australia, I remained in the frontline. Now, who is trying to block me? When it was demolished in 2012, I followed the case with the ministry of physical infrastructure until I got my documents, and the place became mine,” said the man, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“This time, the mayor planned that this place should be demolished again. I will not allow that to happen again. I have all the papers needed. I have informed the police … and I have opened the case again him. The ministry of physical infrastructure was informed also in case of anything, I should not be blamed. I will either die here fighting for it or I [will] take the mayor to court,” he continued.
About 20 women who make their living by selling dry fish behind the Marol market have also threatened to go on strike.
Most of the women are widows and have few other options open to them.
“Now they want us to leave this place, and the store would be demolished. It cannot happen, or else, we will go on the road against him (the mayor),” said Deng Machar in Bor Marol Market.
Bor residents and traders say the government had never taken any steps to develop the land for worthwhile projects since the previous demolition in 2012.
On Saturday morning, a large contingent of soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) barracks was deployed to Bor town to implement the demolition exercise.
However, according to independent sources, the planned demolition had been postponed until Monday, adding that SPLA forces had instead cleaned the market and other government places in Bor.
Bor’s deputy mayor, Deng Akuei, has since confirmed that the demolition will go ahead no Monday, but referred all other comment to the mayor’s office.
(ST)