Unity state government denies links to pro-opposition intellectuals
November 24, 2015 (BENTIU) –Authorities in South Sudan’s Unity state have denied reports they are sponsoring activities of Unity state Intellectual Forum (UIF), a an entity claiming to be working for peace and reconciliation among people in the oil rich region.
“We are aware of the pre-mature activities they are doing in the capital, Juba, including fundraising in the name of peace and reconciliation and calling petty group meetings in the name of Unity state intellectuals for the sake of reconciliation for Unity state people with no basic historical foundation about the conflict that is going on in Unity state currently,” he said in a statement.
According to Lam, the intellectual group went as far as accusing the national and state government for allegedly failing to protect the constitution rights of Unity state citizens.
Members of UIF, he said, were quoted saying “as the fighting increases in Unity state, communities of Bul, Leek, Jagey, Dok, Jikany and Panarou collided against each other, relationship went sour, trust diminished, Unity and nationhood was nowhere in the memory of many”. He described such statements as “provocative” and “a big lie”.
The youthful minister said the state and the national governments were fighting “disgruntled” rebels who were against the current leadership of President Salva Kiir.
“We understand the motives behind these groups which consisted of many Unity state naïve politicians who basically residing in Juba and never step foot in the land of Unity state since the crisis began and we also know that they are here campaigning for either the opposition or the former detainees,” said Lam.
He claimed the group conducting meetings in Juba were not part of the government, but werebstrong supporters of the armed opposition and the country’s former detainees.
“Most of the members of the same group walked out even after the president deliberated and shared ideas with them on how the 28 states will bring about development and sustainability to our people across the country”, stressed the minister.
He said UIF was an obstacle to the progress of the national agenda as well the demands of the people of South Sudan which is the baseline of opposition and the rebels.
Tunguar say the same groups held a meeting on 21 November at White Nile Beach hotel and raised some issues against national and state government during the gathering.
“We in the Unity state government understand now that this group by the name Unity State Intellectual forum is not on the side of the government instead they are of the incitement and spreading of rumors to stirs more problems between the community of Unity state so that a sustainable peace will not be achieved,” he said.
Lam assured the public that the state government was working on the ground to achieve lasting peace among its citizens through officials that were appointed by the governor.
“Unity State is doing everything as planned by the government in uniting the people of the state and resolves their tribal differences as much as the government still have all the mandates, we still expanded and extended our mandates to the willing peace makers in the state for the sake of our people,” he added.
However, artist-turned minister, has warned of serious consequences on those working on parallel line with state government initiated peace, referring them as
individual who are thirsted of leadership and power struggle.
“We are aware and understand the citizen roles and responsibilities in the development and even in this current crisis, however the state laws doesn’t allows defamation of the government through false intervention in name of reconciliation and uniting the people,” he said.
He urged “pretenders” not to disrupt the state and national government’s peace efforts.
“We are calling you to stop negative propagandas and false campaigns which contribute to the high confusion and misleading of the citizens of Unity state,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Lam said the state leadership is fully in support of agreement signed by president Kiir, adding that they need peace which is not a threat to the people, but one that unites every citizens from Unity state and the rest of the country.
(ST)