Attending my duty

Attending my duty
Me

Monday 21 June 2010

KIIR APPOINTS 32 MINISTERS IN NEW GOVERNMENT

The president of South Sudan appointed today 32 ministers for his new government.
The new cabinet has eight ministers more than the former government and it includes seven women.
Two ministers from the NCP are still to be appointed.
The new ministries created are Peace and CPA Implementation; Investment; Environment; Humanitarian Affairs and Disasters Management; Human Resources Development (that split from Labour and Public Service); Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (from Education); Culture and Heritage (from Youth and Sports); and one minister without portfolio.
The new list of ministers presents some surprises: Pagan Amum and Anne Itto (SPLM Secretary General and SPLM Deputy Secretary General for the Southern Sector respectively) became ministers and so did the former governor of Western Equatoria who lost the position to an independent candidate.
The key ministries of Internal Affairs, SPLM Affairs (now also with the Veterans portfolio included); Finance and Planning; Labour and Public Service; Agriculture and Forestry; Roads, and Transport; and Gender and Social Welfare remained in the hands of ministers from the previous government.
Some ministries were given to the opposition parties, including two for the NCP.
This is the full list of GoSS Ministers and respective ministries:
Mr. Kosti Manibe Ngai - Minister of Cabinet Affairs
Pagan Amum - Minister of Peace and CPA Implementation
Nhial Deng Nhial- Minister of SPLA and Veteran Affairs
Deng Alor Kuol - Minister of Regional Cooperation
Dr. Cirino Hiteng Ofuho - Minister in the office of the President
John Luk Jok - Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development
Gier Chouang Aluong - Minister of Internal Affairs
Michael Makuei Lueth - Minister of Parliamentary Affairs
David Deng Athorbei - Minister of Finance and Economic Planning
General Oyay Deng Ajak - Minister of Investment
Mrs. Awut Deng Acuil - Minister of Labour and Public Service
Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin - Minister of Information
Dr. Luke Tombekana Monoja - Minister of Health
Dr. Samson Lukare Kwaje - Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
Mr. Anthony Lino Makana - Minister of Roads and Transport
Dr. Michael Milli Hussein - Minister of Education
Mr. Stephen Dhieu - Minister of Commerce and Industry
Minister of Environment (NCP to nominate their person)
Mrs. Jema Nunu Kumba - Minister of Housing and Physical Planning
Mr. Madut Biar Yel - Minister of Telecommunication and Postal Services
Mr. Garang Diing Akuong - Minister of Energy and Mining
Mrs. Agnes Kwaje Lasuba - Minister of Gender and Social Welfare
Dr. Anne Itto Leonardo - Minister of Cooperatives and Rural Development
Mr. James Kok Ruea - Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disasters Management
Mr. Paul Mayom Akec - Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources
Mr. Joseph Ukel - Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology
Minister of Wildlife and Tourism (NCP to nominate their person)
Mrs. Nyalok Tiong Gatluak - Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries
Ms. Mary Jervas Yak - Minister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Makuac Teny Yok - Minister of Youth, Sports and Recreation
Mr. Gabriel Changson Chang - Minister of Culture and Heritage
Dr. Priscilla Nyanyang - Minister without Portfolio

Saturday 12 June 2010

George Athor Will Lose the War As He Lost the Elections.

By Ariik-Dut Atekdit

ariqdudic@yahoo.com



George Athor has shown to the rest of the citizens in the ten Southern States that he had really lost the competition during the last elections in Jonglei State . In the beginning of the so-called Athor complaint of riggings, other people could get convinced that the votes of an independent candidate might have been stolen by a caretaker governor, Kuol Manyang Juuk by using his available power to push himself to be the winner of the April Gubernatorial competition in Jonglei state. But due to the recent situation Mr. Athor has proved it beyond doubt to the entire population of Southern Sudan that he is a loser. Agree it with me, if George Athor was not a loser he would not opt a war against his fellow comrades. If elections were rigged in order to fail him he would better go to the court and the court approves him right. I never find a person solving a problem with another problem. That is impossible. The riggings of the April’s elections as said by Athor is a problem and the war he is waging against the people of Jonglei state is another problem and can not bring the solution at all. Athor will lose his war like he lost the elections.



He has no objectives for his war more than his personal greed for power. Now he is trying to collect a number of his tribesmen to go and fight against Bor Town , assuming that he is going to fight the community of Kuol Manyang, which is not true. In that city of Bor are the poor citizens who among them are his fellow village-mates. Some had voted for him during elections. They loved him and now they are betrayed by their own votes. He is threatening them to evacuate Bor Town because he wants to attack it. The citizens will evacuate leaving behind their properties and lands. They will have no place to resettle on, because they are not prepared to do so. A brilliant politician can not put his citizens in danger like what Athor is doing. He should know that lives of those who have died in his war from both sides are more important than him becoming a governor of Jonglei State . Every competitor in any race knows that he/she can either win or lose. These two opposite words can occur to any of the two racers and none can deny it. If a gazelle wakes in the morning it knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Likewise the lion wakes in the morning, it knows it must run the faster gazelle than the slowest one, or it will starve. It doesn’t matter whether you are a gazelle or lion, when the sun comes up you would better be running. What is wrong with George Athor? He can face any of the two phases. Why does he only think that he must be the winner? As if he was contesting with nobody.



George Athor must know that Southern Sudan has moved from being a battled field to a democratic nation. He should not threaten the citizens with war. We only fear democracy these days and we dislike leaders who only know war. Another thing that can prove him wrong is; the fact he asks for the dissolution of the elections results in the Government of Southern Sudan. I just can’t understand? Is Athor rebelling against the state elections results or the GoSS ones? He must better know his mandate. Why should the whole of the elections results be dissolved just because of Athor and his Jonglei state? The rest of the states have conducted their elections and have accepted the results peacefully. What power has he (Athor) to dissolve the accepted results in those states? George Athor is neither wise nor clever because a clever person solves the problem and a wise person avoids it. George has failed to avoid the problem that proves him not wise. He is now again trying to climb the ladder with his wrong leg and therefore he will not be clever a man, by asking for the GoSS elections dissolution. He is just day dreaming.



During his campaign Athor said that he would like to bring a good stability and security to the state citizens blaming Kuol Manyang of the then deteriorating situation in the state. Now who can say that he was speaking the truth? It was just a matter of elections interests to convince votes. If I am wrong. Why is Athor the first person to burst out the escalations in the state he once promise to bring good security to it? To me I believe that he is really an independent. He stood an independently and deserves his failure. I only ask him to mind the lives of others because they are not independents. They stand with people because they believe in togetherness. They know that the current situation in South Sudan doesn’t want minds which struggle for powers but it needs minds that share ideas in order to make South Sudan a strong state and a better place all.

Friday 11 June 2010

The Question of Whether to Separate or not Will be one For the South Alone to Answer.

By Ariik-Dut Atekdit

Many people these days have begun to be talking most about the forth-coming referendum of Southern Sudan. One can even see that the media is mostly engaged to report about the referendum struggles and some of the challenges that will face the world’s youngest nation (South Sudan) if the results be separation. The supporters of unity do not even like to hear people mentioning about the possible separation of South Sudan. They had forgotten that it is one of the choices during the coming referendum. More importantly, months are going very fast and the make Unity Attractive is just crawling; it never goes few steps ahead. So, the question is what will be the results of the coming referendum of south Sudan? Indeed there are only two inevitable choices, either Sudan becomes two countries or it attains a single nation system like the one of today. Whether the country remains one or divided into two, it is a personal decision for every southern Sudanese. The southerners alone will stand firm to answer the question during the referendum. This problem doesn’t concern any Sudanese living at the other parts of the country.
However, now you find some political parties have only decided to be campaigning for a fail unity. They just announce their position that they are for unity of the Sudan; and that is why the single language, single race and the single culture TV of Sudan propagates only about unity, of their (watan wahed) one nation motto. Moreover, they are not Southern parties or else they have never struggled for the rights of the southern people. In this way the poor citizens of southern Sudan are going to be cheated again just like in the past. Why do the parties which in the past were the south Sudanese killers now try hard to persuade southern Sudanese to vote for unity? Is it just because of our oil wealth? If it is because of that then the answer is NO for unity, YES for separation. Never love our oil money and hate us the owners of the land from which you extract out this wealth, it never happens at all.
In the Naivasha peace agreement, CPA it is mentioned that the Northerners should make unity attractive for the people of southern Sudan, but according to the current situation it is clear that the northerners have failed to make it possible. They have not come down to help us for the development of our poor South Sudan, which they participated in its destruction during the war of Al-mejadeen against (al kufaar) pagans in the south, and now they can not work for its development. That alone shows that Northerners are the great separatists more than southerners. Some people have talked many times that the south is not capable of managing its affairs. They use this topic to let the rest of the world support unity. Those were stories of long time ago and that shall never convince the generation of today to vote for unity. Which unity do we want again, ladies and gentlemen? The unity of Sudan which has denied us our freedom in our own country since independence! We have poured enough blood and we don’t want the coming generation to come across the history again. If you are cheated once shame on him (who cheats) if twice shame on you (who is cheated) and the saying goes. We have known more about unity; let’s try for separation this time. It has taken us so long to fight for our rights, and if we don’t take smart carefulness we shall lose the 21 years’ struggle in one minute of our voting for unity. Some people whether in the north or south, think that the separation of south Sudan is a problem. The separation of the south is not a problem and it is not against anyone as well, instead it is a solution to the problem. So why should we keep the enmity between the south and the north together. We better breakdown the unity and substitute it with the separation. If the North loves us as they claim why are they making the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) difficult? How far have they gone with the demarcation project? Why is it difficult to form the referendum commission? If you try to answer the above questions to yourself you will find that the north is calling for a fake unity and therefore nothing can stop you to vote for separation. We know that there people who want to sell our rights by uniting us with the foe Jallaba but their time is coming to an end.
The coming Sudan will be more than two countries in the coming days. The decision of ruling the country by a religious Law of Islamic Sharia’ will split the largest country in Africa to so many small pieces of nations. The ruling party in Sudan can’t forget that the region of Darfur is asking for secularism of which they shall not want sharia law to be imposed on them or they will ask for separation. It will be impossible for the Government in Khartoum to apply the Islamic sharia law in the nation after the separation of south Sudan because there will be Christians in the Nuba mountains and Southern Blue Nile and even inside Khartoum. If the country uses that law then these groups shall ask for their free nation out of Islamic Sudan. In this case the lovely map of the Sudan will fade out to some other small nations of their own. So the finishing of Sudan shall start on January 2011 when the South celebrates for its independence then the rest of the regions like Nuba Mountains, Darfur, Southern Blue and the other marginalized peoples in eastern Sudan and in the far north of Halfa shall wave for south Sudan and go to prepare for their tomorrow’s independences after congratulating their brothers and sister s in the south with their cheeks dropping tears of loneliness in the greater Sahara Desert of Sudan.
For sure the rest of the world can predict the challenges that shall face south Sudan later. But it doesn’t mean that the south can’t make its own country. Many countries were one time colonized and later got their independences, indeed they faced many difficulties in their times. The same formula will occur to us but it doesn’t matter we can still make a better nation in South Sudan of our own.

Sunday 6 June 2010

Mr. MP Remember Your Promises

By Ariik-Dut Atekdit

ariqdudic@yahoo.com


The elections in Sudan which were almost to create permanent headaches are now over, “amzilallah!” During the campaign period, the election candidates traveled from town to town, from village to village as well as from house to house with mouthful of attractive words that begged for votes. Others had organized public rallies to shout out their objectives and how they are going to implement them if elected to power. Pictures of candidates were displayed at public places and even at gates of people’s homes. Anyway these are common events which had happened in many places in Sudan and witnessed by all of us in the country. All those activities were done in order to attract our votes for them.


Thanks God the National Election Commission (NEC) announced the election winners; we have now known who they are in the assemblies of various levels. We as ordinary citizens in Sudan extend our heartfelt congratulations, BRAVO, to all the election winners across the country. “Your fellow countrymen and women had entrusted to you a big responsibility.” The voters in Sudan had done their parts, by electing you to powers, you cried out and the responded to you positively.


However Mr. MP, remember your promises. You had convinced our votes with a lot of elections interests. The elected people have not to deceive the high expectations of voters. It will make no sense otherwise. It is like you agreed on a contract that mandates you about five years in the parliament but unless you bring development to our local areas. So as you will soon attend your august house, Mr. MP, do what you had promised us to do. It will give us long trust in you. The leadership of this time has come to our hands the ordinary people; we have some power to vote you in or out. As per your campaign you told us that you will bring us clean water, hospitals, schools, good security… adding that you will pave roads up to our door posts. However these promises are not new in the ears of the Sudanese people. People of different leaderships had once pronounced them but managed to implement none. We hope the elected people of today shall carry with them different spirit, which does not cheat.

Use your mind and apply a well-modernized wisdom to succeed. Some MPs had already failed in the campaign by forwarding wrong programs to their citizens. One candidate in a certain constituency in the Sahara desert in Sudan , told the community, “I will build for you khalwas, schools, hospitals, roads and bridges.” The community cried out angrily, “We don’t want bridges for we don’t have rivers!!” Immediately the MP, who seeks to be elected, realized his mistake and swiftly thought out with his cleverness and lied, “I will dig for you rivers and cross them with bridges.” In fact it is something which is not the reality.

Another MP swore to his community and the chief (Omda) that he would make sure clean water would reach the community by his effort if elected. The community elected him to the parliament since the past elections in Sudan . He went and forgot his promise. During the last 24 years in Sudan no elections were conducted and the MP did not want to show up to the community he had lied to. In the recent elections, he sought to be re-elected to power by the same community. So he came to the chief of his village who still remembers the man’s failure. The chief ordered his wife to prepare some food to the ex-MP but without water. The MP was there waiting for water to be brought to eat his delicious food but he was waiting in vain.” “No water.” The chief told him, “We elected you to the previous parliament because you told us that you would bring water. Until now you didn’t bring any so why do you expect some water now?” the mp learnt that move but still went for elections and failed he had lost the race and his popularity.

I am sure; any MP is awaited by the above challenges otherwise. Anyway lying is the fashion of politics in Sudan this year! But I hope the best for the new elected personalities in Sudan .