Jonglei’s new governor, citizens discuss development plans
January 31, 2016 (BOR) -The local population in South Sudan’s new state of Jonglei have been consulted by their newly-appointed governor on issues directly affecting them.
“I am here seeking help from you people on what you think should be done to make our life better. My government is using bottom-top approach to collect views that will constitute our plans for the next two and half years”, governor Phillip Aguer told chanting citizens.
“My song is clear; unity, protection and development, that is what we should do. But you have to help find me find the best ways of working them out, that is why I am here”, he added.
ADMISTRATIVE POLICE AND SECURITY ROADS
During the meeting, citizens collectively cited insecurity from Nuer and Murle as being major threat to their wellbeing in their various communities.
In 2015, several people were killed and over 200 children reportedly abducted in the three counties by suspected Murle and Luo Nuer militias.
Also, over 2,600 heads of cattle were allegedly stolen in the same period.
However, in order to end these tragic incidents, the community suggested and agreed on construction of what they called security road from the boarder of Uror in the norther-east, behind Gadian at the border with Murle, down to Terekeka state border in the south to meet Juba-Bor road.
“If the attackers come in to do anything inside here, police would be sent from different directions to confront them. This way, the attackers can never move out untracked”, said Maduk Deng, a chief in Duk county.
The chiefs had expressed their willingness to contribute to the development of the roads proposed using their available resources.
Another issue the governor suggested was recruitment of administrative police that would be based in the payams and commandeered by chiefs.
Each payam was earmarked to register 200 men, to be supported with incentives and uniforms and communications devices to monitor and report threats coming toward their communities and fight back in defense.
“Panyang payam is boardering bad neibhours. We appreciate the idea of administrative police to be instituted, but the numbers should be increased to 400 men. This will be good for us. In addition to this, we need a car to rush them to an area where is a threat”, said an area head chief.
Thousands of people in the state are still in refugee camps in Kenya and Uganda and internally displaced camps inside South Sudan. The communities had requested the government to help their relatives returned homes to start building their villages from rubbles after the crisis.
According Aguer, South Sudan police was still weak and could not protect people and their properties in the counties, thus the need for administrative police.
“The government’s police is weak, and unable to protect you. So we must take the role of the police ourselves”, said the governor.
Meanwhile, the new governor is expected Monday at the headquarters in Bor for a conference to review customary laws to be applied in local courts.
(ST)