United Nations Mission in (UNMISS) Media & Spokesperson Unit Communications & Public Information Office MEDIA MONITORING REPORT

FRIDAY, 16 AUGUST 2013

SOUTH SUDAN  South Sudan Law Society condemns threats against lawyers (Catholic Radio Network)  S. Sudan law body condemns threats against Amum’s lawyers (Sudantribune.com)  Police cuts down manga-ten in Tonj South (Don Bosco Radio)  Wau County SPLM secretariat dissolved (Gurtong)  Dr. Gai meets with the EU Ambassador (Goss .org)  Bor Commissioner expects no food shortages in his county (Sudantribune.com)  state: Education a priority to improve insecurity, says minister (Sudantribune.com)  Immunization challenges in South Sudan despite polio success (IRIN News)  South Korean peacekeepers hold U.N. medal parade (Gurtong)

SOUTH SUDAN-SUDAN  12 stranded S. Sudanese die in Khartoum flooding (Eyeradio.org) OPINION/ANALYSIS/COMMENTARIES/EDITORIAL  Our Chief Justice has lost his integrity, how...?!(Sudantribune.com)  An Insider’s Opinion on Jonglei Political Crisis (SSNA) LINKS TO STORIES FROM THE MORNING MEDIA MONITOR  SPLA investigating suspects over human rights abuse in Jonglei (Sudantribune.com)  Some foreigners’ security threats in South Sudan (Catholic Radio Network)  I’m not against the media, says new information min (Eye Radio)  Inspector tells journalists to report development issues (Easter Radio)  UNHCR protects vulnerable as South Sudan airlift helps thousands of displaced (Trust.org)  New South Sudan cabinet urged to first study citizens’ needs (Gurtogn.net)  Food and commodity prices on the rise (Gurtong.net)  Thousands displaced by floods in State (Gurtogn.net)  Hunger, insecurity pushes over 4,000 South Sudanese to Ethiopia (Gurtogn.net)  South Sudan optimistic oil shutdown can be averted (Reuters)  China offers to mediate Juba-Khartoum oil talks (Eye Radio)  Kiir to visit Khartoum for talks with Bashir over post-secession disputes (Sudantribune.com)

NOTE: Reproduction here does not mean that the UNMISS Communications & Public Information Office can vouch for the accuracy or veracity of the contents, nor does this report reflect the views of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Furthermore, international copyright exists on some materials and this summary should not be disseminated beyond the intended list of recipients.

Highlights

South Sudan Law Society condemns threats against lawyers Catholic Radio Network Juba, 16/8/2013-South Sudan Law Society strongly condemned death threats made against its advocates. In a statement issued on Wednesday the Society said two advocates received text messages threatening their lives and the lives of their families. The statement said the threats followed South Sudan Law Society petition to the Supreme Court to challenge SPLM chairperson in restricting the freedom of movement and expression of the suspended Secretary-General. It said the wrongdoers were not identified, but the circumstances suggested that public officials were involved. The Society called on the government to conduct an immediate investigation to determine the source of threats and to take necessary actions to protect the advocates. . (Back to Top)

S. Sudan law body condemns threats against Amum’s lawyers Sudantribune.com Juba,15/ 2013 – A South Sudan law body has strongly condemned threats against lawyers representing the ruling party (SPLM) Secretary General, Pagan Amum after he challenged President Salva Kiir decision to suspend him pending investigation into some of his actions. Kiir ordered that Amum be investigated for the manner in which he administered the party. Amum was also banned from leaving the country or speaking to the media.. Five lawyers have, however, petitioned the country’s Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality the president’s order restricting Amum’s freedom of movement and expression. Two of the petitioners, it has emerged, received text messages that reportedly threatened their lives and those of their families. The wrongdoers, according to South Sudan Law Society (SSLS, have not been identified, but the circumstances suggest “public officials are involved.” Samuel Dong Luak, one of the lawyers involved told Sudan Tribune Wednesday that indeed his life was in danger over the former SPLM secretary general’s case. “My brother, I had to flee the country for my dear life after I was threatened,” Luak said from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. South Sudan Law Society (SSLS), in a statement to Sudan Tribune, condemned in the “strongest” possible manner the death threats made against the advocates. “We call for the government to conduct an immediate investigation to determine the source of the threats and to take the necessary actions to protect the advocates as they carry out their professional duties,” the body said. (Back to Top)

Police cuts down manga-ten in Tonj South Don Bosco Radio Tong, 16/8/2013-Police cut down two mango trees known in Arabic language manga-ten in Tonj South County of State. Police Officer Hassein Benjamin said youths want to make manga-ten as a place for rape and crimes, Don Bosco reported. He said manga-ten was a gathering place for youths to waste time playing dominoes, watching video, drinking beer and smoking shisha. Mr Bejamin said cutting down of manga-ten was to stop rapes, robbing and get out criminals from the town.

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He said last week they got a report of one lady raped by unknown men at the river Tonj taken from manga-ten. Deputy police commissioner William Deng Wol urged all the video users to stop watching it at 10:00 PM and warned that any person found watching video or walking around 10: 00 PM will be termed a criminal. (Back to Top)

Wau County SPLM secretariat dissolved Gurtong Wau, 16/8/2013- Wau County Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Chairperson, Anthony Charles Ngberende, has issued a local order dissolving the SPLM County secretariat office. Speaking in Wau County on Wednesday, Ngberende said the order was impelled with the SPLM party’s delegate member’s powers to liquefy the secretariat and assign in a new body tasked with delivery of services to the people. The order has named Natalina Wadrif Ali the newly appointed member in the state Legislative assembly by the state governor as the County party secretary, Rita Andrea as deputy chairperson while Philip Akon Anai as Finance Secretary. Ngberende urged the new office to work for the welfare of the citizen warning that any member disobeys the party’s rules and regulations will be suspended from the party. “Anyone who appears opposing the party code of conduct, rule and regulation and manifesto would be considered a violation of the party’s norm,” said Ngberende adding that no official will conduct any party business without permission from the high party authority. Earlier in May 2013, state SPLM Liberation council voted down Paulino Adam Naro who was a secretary for one year in the office reinstating the 2012 dismissed state secretary Kamil Wana Uraj. The new changes in the state secretariat including the newly elected deputy SPLM state chairperson were contested by the SPLM state chairperson, Mark Nyipuoch Ubuong but current SPLM state secretary Kamil Wana Uraj in May described the decision taken by the state liberation council as the right of members to bring in people who can perform the party progress like him.

Earlier in May 2013, 26 out 51 members of the state liberation council shared a meeting without the state chairperson, the 26 members of state liberation council unanimously restated Kamil Wana Uraj to office. (Back to Top)

Dr. Gai meets with the EU Ambassador GoSS Juba, 16/8/2013 - The national minister of Health Dr. Riek Gai Kok yesterday in his office held a meeting with European Union Ambassador Sven Kuhn where they extensively discussions areas of cooperation in the health sector as well as strengthening bilateral relation between the EU and South Sudan. Dr. Gai reiterated his readiness to improve the health sector in the country. Though the challenges remain enormous, He said, the government is committed in ensuring delivery of health services to the people of South Sudan especially in rural areas. Dr. Gai further told the Ambassador, addressing the challanges currently the national referral Juba teaching hospital and developing the human resource are top on his agenda for the ministry. Meanwhile Ambassador Kuhn congratulated the minister on his new appointment and assured of the EU's continued commitment in partnering with the government in order to uplift the health sector in South Sudan. He said, EU will continue to avail funds for its ongoing projects so as to improve the health situation at both the national and state levels. (Back to Top)

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Bor Commissioner expects no food shortages in his county Sudantribune.com Bor, 15/8/ 2013 - The Commissioner for Bor County in Jonglie State, Agot Alier, said that he expects no food shortages in his county next year as locals can now work and get food under a programme called Jonglei Food Security Program (JFSP). The programme is being implemented by the Catholic Relief Service (CRS), Save the Children International (SCI) and Jonglei’s ministry of Agriculture, forestry, Livestock & Fisheries. Under this scheme, community members carry out such work as clearing roads and are in return given food. In an interview with Sudan Tribune on Tuesday, Agot Alier said the project is registering achievements. “In all Payams of Bor County, food security programme has been going on well, the population has been engaged in clearance feeder roads exception of two Bomas of Werkok and of Kapaat due to local disputes,” he said. The Commissioner said the project had also stabilised food prices in his county. “I think this year with the policy of food for assets which has contributed actually in stabilizing the food situation, there was excellent farming this year in all the Payams and Bomas.” Beneficiaries of the programme in Pariak told Sudan Tribune that they have received food since March this year. Pandek Mac, one of the Chiefs in Bor said one road had been cleared under the project. “We selected people to go for work on the road between Cueikeer and Pariak and at the end of some days, they come back and receive their food” said Pandek Mac. The food security programme aims at benefiting 149,661 foods insecure households in Jonglei by 2014. (Back to Top)

Unity state: Education a priority to improve insecurity, says minister Sudantribune.com Juba, 15/8/2013 - The new education minister in South Sudan’s Unity state, Peter Gai Joak, says he will work to improve the proliferation of quality education for all children in the nine counties of the state. Joak, who was the former commissioner of Payinjiar county, said he appreciated being offered the job by caretaker governor, Joseph Nguen Monytuel, after he predecessor Angelo Chol Dong Wei was relieved from the post. He told the almost 20 directors from different departments at the ministry on Thursday that education is the priority that will help address the ongoing insecurity in the state since South Sudan became independent two years ago. Only 27% of South Sudan’s population can read and write with most people’s livelihoods dependent on agriculture and cattle. Much of the violence between communities in South Sudan is related to cattle raiding between rival neighboring groups. Minister Joak said that education should be South Sudan’s priority in terms of nation building and addressing insecurity. “Since I was a former commissioner who was serving in this state, I have never heard any teacher going for cattle raiding. Why is it not happening? Because they were educated and they know very well they are one country citizens”, said Joak. He accentuated the need for South Sudanese to be unified in order to progress as a nation. South Sudan’s poor economic and social cohesion has in the past been caused by a weak education system that has failed to prepare people for employment. The minister says he will study the whole ministry for a month and has asked each department to provide a comprehensive report about the challenges they face in order to inform his future decisions about education in Unity state. 4

Joak warned civil servants that they must work hard and not take government money without performing the tasks that have been assigned to them. “I will not remove you if I find you doing great work, but I will have trouble with you when I learn you do not carry out your duties amicably” added the education minister on Thursday. Joak told all the ministry’s staff that they should feel free to contact him at any time. He urged the staff to join hands with him to create a better education system for all people of Unity state. (Back to Top)

Immunization challenges in South Sudan despite polio success IRIN Juba, 15/8/2013 - South Sudan is doing its bit for global polio eradication efforts, but huge gaps in immunization against other diseases remain Targeted polio immunization efforts started in the area more than a decade before the country’s independence in 2011 and have remained a top priority. There has not been a single case of polio for more than four years Health officials and humanitarian groups are trying to build on this success to improve other immunization efforts, including neonatal tetanus and measles, but more funding and a better health infrastructure are urgently needed To combat the re-emergence of polio, Anthony Kirbak, the director of the country’s expanded programme on immunization (EMI), said the Ministry of Health and humanitarian organizations have had to figure out how to circumvent low routine childhood immunization rates Every child in the country is supposed to be vaccinated against tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and measles by its first birthday. Kirbak said that only happens for about 65 percent of the country’s children due to a scant health infrastructure, poor roads and cyclical violence in some areas of the country To bump up the vaccination rates for polio, the Ministry of Health sends thousands of volunteers out across the country four times a year to immunize every child they can find who is under six. Kirbak said they regularly reach more than 90 percent of the children He said South Sudan’s specific focus on polio vaccination stems from the international pressure to completely eradicate the disease “The emphasis is because the whole world is supposed to eradicate polio,” Kirbak said. “The only way to do that where there is fragile health system and weak routine immunization, it has to go in the form of campaigns so that many children are reached in a short time” The global public health community was originally gunning for full eradication by 2000. They missed the deadline, but according to the World Health Organization (WHO) polio cases worldwide are lower than ever before - there were only 223 in 2012, down from nearly 2,000 a decade before. Kirbak said South Sudan has an international obligation to stay vigilant until well after that number hits zero.

Emergency campaign Meanwhile, health officials are rolling out an emergency vaccination campaign next week following polio outbreaks in Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp in April, and an outbreak in Somalia in May. There are now 110 confirmed polio cases between the two countries “Due to our proximity [to Kenya and Somalia] and the low immunization coverage in the country, we actually made an assessment of the risk areas,” Kirbak said. “It was found that we have four states (out of 10) that are at risk of importation, if at all any wild polio outbreak is brought into the country, then we’ll be in danger” So vaccines are being distributed to the four states and an additional county in South Sudan where people travelling from Kenya and Somalia are most likely to arrive. For four days next week volunteer vaccinators will immunize every child they can find Awareness up

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Kirbak credits the country’s efforts to keep polio at bay with strengthening the health system generally. By training volunteer vaccinators and health workers to immunize against polio, they have increased general awareness about the importance of all immunizations That does not mean the routine immunizations are always available, even if people want them, either because they are cut off from health centres or because there are no staff to administer the vaccines. Kirbak said there has been improvement - routine immunization rates were up to 65 percent last year from 20 percent in 2007 - but acknowledges that it is still too low, which is why South Sudan will continue to deploy targeted vaccination campaigns until the health system gets stronger.

Officials are borrowing the polio campaign model for an ongoing neonatal tetanus vaccination campaign that has so far reached seven states and a measles immunization outreach that should start next year

UNICEF provides almost all polio vaccines Polio eradication efforts are propped up by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which provides almost all of the vaccines in the country. WHO covers the logistics of transporting them. The government contributes money to cover some of the health workers’ salaries, but Kirbak said the resources simply are not there for the state to do much more. That is why the measles campaign next year is only tentative as EMI waits to see if funding becomes available Meanwhile, Daniel Babelwa Ngemera, an immunization specialist with UNICEF, said that as South Sudan searches for funds to launch campaigns or strengthen routine immunization coverage, it is falling further behind other countries in the region, like Kenya. Their basic immunization package includes vaccines against pneumococcal - a strain of pneumonia - and rotavirus, which can cause severe diarrhoea in infants and children “Our children in South Sudan, they are not benefiting on that,” Ngemera said. “We are trying our level best to make sure at least the country is able to catch up, to be moving also with the other countries in the region” South Sudan will soon submit a proposal to the GAVI Alliance, a public-private partnership that helps countries access vaccines, asking for money to help strengthen the health system. Kirbak would not say how much they were asking for, but said it should boost the health system enough to “avert the issue of campaigns” MSF action in refugee camp In the meantime, state officials ask NGOs and humanitarian organizations to introduce immunization coverage where they can. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) started a three-part pneumococcal vaccination campaign in Yida refugee camp in South Sudan’s Unity State last month. The camp holds more than 75,000 refugees, mostly Sudanese who have fled violence in Sudan’s South Kordofan region. “They’re living in makeshift structures,” said Christopher Mambula, MSF’s country medical coordinator. “It’s more densely populated. They’re not living under normal conditions in buildings and structures like that, which makes for easier propagation of pneumococcus from one person to another.”

Roughly a quarter of all in-patient treatment in the camp last year was for lower respiratory infections. Mambula said in the first round of the campaign vaccinators were able to reach about 4,300 children under two. They will go back out this month to administer the second dose and the third will follow in September.

Kirbak said the pneumococcal vaccine is one of many on the list of vaccines he plans to introduce to the country as soon as he can find the money

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Immunization data in South Sudan is patchy. WHO and UNICEF’s “estimates of immunization coverage” for 2012 note that immunization rates “are based on data and information that are of varying, and, in some instances, unknown quality”. (Back to Top)

South Korean peacekeepers hold U.N. medal parade Gurtong Bor, 15/8/2013– South Korea’s Horizontal Military Engineering Company, a peacekeeping force for United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), yesterday conducted a United Nations medal parade in Bor. The occasion conducted at UNMISS compound of the republic of Korea horizontal military engineering company was attended by state government representatives led by Gabriel Gai Riem the acting Governor and the UNMISS force Commander, Maj Gen. Delali Johnson Sakyi and some other members of UNMISS. The force commander said that this marks the sixth year anniversary of the end of the Korean War. “It was a war that shows the United Nations troops go on a major offensive alongside other multi- national forces. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the entry of the republic of South Korea into the United Nations peacekeeping operation,” Maj. General Sakyi disclosed. Delali was very delighted for the deep concern as a peacekeeper within the United Nations for the recognition of individual effort that brought peace in parts of the world. “As a peacekeeper myself, I am aware that it is always with a great delight some time in a point of deep emotion, we want to be recognized for the group and individual effort they play in bringing in the peace to the parts of the world,” Delali said. He said the contingent of dedicated and well organized men was induced into south Sudan on 1 May 2013 with main body arriving on 2 April to a largely new challenging environment of South Sudan. He appreciates the state authorities for the support and cooperation extended to the other UNMISS military contingents. The Acting Governor and Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Gabriel Gai Riam has said that are very happy for what the Korean army contingent forces have done while they have spend only few month in . “We have witnessed a very wonderful and effective work during the rehabilitation of roads and also they assist us in aerial assessment that we have conducted in recent time,” he said. In July, the contingent in Bor undertook various projects aimed at upgrading the infrastructure around the state capital of Jonglei. Thirty-five Korean engineers, as well as excavators, bulldozers, motor-graders and road-rollers are currently deployed to carry out the construction of the parking area scheduled to be completed in February 2014. According to a UNMISS, this construction work comes following a request of the state government for assistance in road repair. The Korean engineers had also started work on a waste disposal site in April, eight kilometres northeast Bor in an effort to improve local hygiene and keep the environment clean. The efforts of UNMISS Korean engineers are part of making improvements in the vital areas of hygiene and sanitation, and will help to transform the lives of the people in Bor. Roads and transport are key to stabilization and peace-building in South Sudan. Upgrading infrastructure will help establish the conditions for development benefiting all the people of Jonglei state. (Back to Top)

12 stranded S. Sudanese die in Khartoum flooding Eyeradio.org Juba, 16/8/2013-About 12 South Sudanese stranded in Khartoum have lost their lives due to heavy rains and floods that hit Khartoum this month.

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According to South Sudan embassy official, majority of the South Sudanese families are living in makeshift camps on the outskirt of Khartoum where there is no drainage system or water channel. South Sudan Ambassador to Sudan, Mayen Dut Wol told Eye Radio this morning that most of the people died after buildings collapsed on them in different parts of Khartoum. “So, the situation is actually very bad. We’ve contacted the international organizations and we have urged them so that they can deliver services to our people in the camps. “They agreed, but still, they were not given the green light from the government of Sudan so that they can go down to the places where these people are staying.” “We’ve written our report to our Government through the Minister of Foreign Affairs and I am quite sure the office of the President will respond today or tomorrow.” Ambassador Mayen Dut added that there are about 227,000 South Sudanese living in Sudan – mostly in Shejara, Hag Yusif, Jebel Aulia and Ombada in Omdurman. They’re awaiting repatriation. (Back to Top)

Our Chief Justice has lost his integrity, how...?! Sudantribune.com Juba, 15/8/2013 - The title of this article would raise a great surprise, particularly to the readers and the people of South Sudan at large. Our Chief Justice, Justice Chan Reech Madut is a renowned judge who was tasked with Referendum Commission which was mandated to supervise over the exercise of referendum that led into the independence of our Country. He is a qualified judge who holds a high degree in law. He has also served in the than judiciary of the Sudan up to the Court of Appeal with unquestionable experience. He is the third Chief Justice in the history of the judiciary in our country after Justice Ambros Riing Thiik and Justice John Wol Makec. The fundamental question that would be asked is how the Chief Justice has lost his integrity. Before I embark on my analytical explanations about the incident that took place on 7th august 2013 in the court premise at Juba, I would like to provide to the people of this nation some provisions of Articles in our Constitution related to the Judiciary Authority and how the Chief Justice could conduct himself when exercising his function or presiding over cases. Article 122 (1) of The Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan defines the power or authority of the judiciary as it is derived from the people of South Sudan and shall be exercise by courts in accordance with the customs, values, norms and aspirations of the people and in conformity with the Constitution and law, sub Article (2) of the same article provides the independence of the judiciary, sub Article (5) (a) of the same article also provides that justice shall be done to all irrespective of their social, political or economic status, gender, religion or beliefs. Also Article 124 of the Constitution provides for the independence of the judiciary authority. However, Article 124 (4) provides a very powerful provision that the judiciary shall be subject only to the Constitution and the law which the judges shall apply impartially and without political interference, fear or favor. Furthermore, under sub article 7 of the same article provides a mandatory provision that justices and judges must uphold the Constitution and the rule of law which shall be administered by judges without fear or favor; they should enjoy such immunities as shall be determined by the law. This illustration or abstract is to provide our readers and the entire people of South Sudan with the provisions that provide for the mandate of the judiciary in the Constitution and what would be expected from the head of the Judiciary who is the Chief Justice. Coming to the incident of 7th August 2013, a team of lawyers walked to the Supreme Court of South Sudan at Juba and I was among those lawyers who filed the constitutional petition on behalf of our client Mr. Pagan Amum Okech challenging the SPLM Chairperson’s orders restricting our client’s movement outside Juba and not to speak to media. We believe that the Respondent (SPLM Chairperson) in such petition has violated our client’s constitutional rights and freedoms as a citizen of this Country. On that date several houses media local and international were in the premise of the Court thereafter the petition was registered by the registrar or court clerk awaiting further directives from the chief justice. What is important in this article is the incident that took place after the petition was filed. The journalist who were present tried to capture some picture of lawyers within the court premise including filing of the petition as well as recording some short statements.

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As we were waiting for further directives in regards to the petition and approximately after twenty to thirty minutes, suddenly and surprisingly, we saw the chief justice heading toward us under a tree where we were standing together with some journalists who were trying to take some photos and statements related to the petition. He (the Chief Justice) was running towards us in a hysterical conduct which made everybody frightened. He said to journalists (the Chief Justice) “take your nonsense, who allowed you to take photos and statements in court premise?, where is your accreditation cards?, he asked the journalist who were very much scared about the way his hysterical conduct. “Take the journalist’s cards and copy it, bring it to my office, the Chief Justice ordered a police personnel, he further ordered the police to delete all photos and statements captured by Aljazeera journalists” . He also turned to abuse and insult a group of lawyers whom I was among them, I reply to him in a professional manner of lawyers when they address judges in courtrooms that “moulana “an Arabic word” means “my lord”, “what is wrong with the journalists to take photos or statements in the court premise and yet they took your photos in your office?. What is wrong I repeated? He (the chief justice) turned to me in an insulted gesture asking “are you a lawyer?, I said yes, where is your ID?, I told him that I don’t have it now, I asked him do you want my license?, can I bring it to your office?, because I won’t want to talk or react to him in the same way he was talking to us. “He further insulted us saying “will anyone come to court with a neck tie and called himself advocate”. He did not cool down until one of our colleague who seems to be a relative to the Chief Justice decided to play the role of mediator which he managed to do successfully and excellently. Nevertheless, the Chief Justice continued to conduct himself hysterically and exaggeratedly. Shortly after that, he (the Chief Justice) ordered the same colleague of ours by calling him namely in our presence, Aljazeera journalists and other court’s users, who were watching such drama, saying “make sure that all materials, photos and statements are deleted” the Chief Justice ordered. Aljazeera journalists were detained for not less than two hours until some officers from CID came. Finally, the photos and statements were deleted in the presence of a Judge. Surprisingly and unexpectedly, this was the end of the Chief Justice’s incident. Such incident, if the picture is clear to the readers, was what happened when Mr. Pagan Amum filed his petition before the Supreme Court. A lot of fundamental questions will come up as we are trying to analyze the manner in which our Chief Justice conducted himself. Among such questions are, whether or not taking photos and statements in the court premise is an offence?, if not, is it because the petition was related to the case of Mr. Pagan Amum?, if so, what make Chief Justice to conduct himself in manner like a police personnel?. Is he (the Chief Justice) the same judge who is going to preside over such constitutional penal that will determine Mr. Pagan’s petition?. The conduct of the Chief Justice proves without reasonable doubt that he was acting on a political influence without considering himself as judge. Despite the fact that, he is going to preside over such petition pursuant to the Constitution. His conduct was a gross misconduct, non-impartiality which contrary to the Article 134 of the Constitution as well as Article 124 (4) that obliges him as a judge to apply the Constitution and the law impartially and without political interference or influence, fear or favor. His conduct was also a gross violation of sub Article (7) of the same Article that mandates him as Chief Justice to uphold the Constitution and the rule of laws and to administer justice without fear or favor. The same Chief Justice was widely criticized in the Country as well as in the region in a separate incident last year, when he entered and sat in a courtroom during court proceedings of the case between Mr. Pagan Amum and Hon. Arther AKuen presided over by his junior judge to the extent that he interfered with court proceedings according to the eyes witnesses. Such act was an act of influence and interference from Chief Justice as a senior judge which is not allowed ethically and professionally. Subsequently, the case was later ruled in favor of Mr. Pagan Amum. Such conduct was also an indication that he was acting under political interference and influence. With these two incidents, it is very clear that our Chief Justice has lost his integrity and because of the way he has been conducted himself. However, he has put the judiciary under question in term of its independence as well as the integrity and impartiality of judges is concerned. Such conduct demonstrated by the Chief Justice is amount into gross misconduct, incompetence and incapacity. These two incidents have shown that our Chief Justice is a politician rather than being a judge with integrity. As the result, he has shown his biasness and therefore he should either resign from the Judiciary and pave the way for other competent judge with integrity to provide justice to this nation or 9 to disqualify himself from presiding over the constitutional penal which is suppose to determine the case of our client Mr. Pagan Amum on the grounds that his reaction to the presence of journalists was under political influence. Mut Turuk is an advocate based in Juba. He can be reached at [email protected] (Back to Top)

An Insider’s Opinion on Jonglei Political Crisis. Sudan News Agency Juba,15/8/2013- In the wake of series political miscalculation and ideological differences within Jonglei political maneuvering and South Sudan at large, there are few things we the citizens of the South Sudanese should reflect on and analyze critically if we wanted our society to live in peaceful environment. It is my privilege and honor to announce to you that Jonglei politics will have an enormous impact on “other eleven counties” politically, socially and economically; given to the serious trust and believe invested on former Governor, Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk by the Country national leadership Speculation Instantly, there was speculation that Governor, Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk was coming to the national government in Juba and that was the second time for Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk to be proposed; however, he finally made it to the national government successfully while leaving behind one of his big leg in Jonglei. The question by then, remains in menu to who is going to replace him? Former Governor Gen. Kuol Manyang was appointed as the governor of Jonglei in 2008 on the death certificate of Former Governor Philip Thon Leek. However, the removal of Mr. Philip Thon Leek still shed some red spot blames on him. When he came from Khartoum, following the attack of the Makuach village by some elements of the murle guns men, which left a number of people dead and cattle driven away, Kuol directly when to his home area in Jelei and boycotted the state Capital. While Kuol was in the area in the following morning, the youth of Makuach and Jellei stormed the town in search for any members of the Murle community. Indeed seven patients from the Murle were killed in cold blood in Bor Civil Hospital in broad daylight. This incident justified Gen. Kuol’s campaign that Philip Thon had failed to maintain security and protect lives of the citizens. Notwithstanding though that the public have had a great impression that the former Governor should have restore the law and order in which he has not managed successfully as expected by the public. He has failed miserably to bring the issue of insecurity, development and peace to reality. Perhaps the Jonglei society at large may salute and appreciate H.E for his immediate action of rescuing the Jonglei communities; but there are fews questions and scenarios that remain in brackets. Among those many dilemmas and questions are of two scenarios in the minds of Bor communities/people. 1. The community of Bor would feel comfortable only if Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk himself recommends his successor without consultation from the Nuer politicians, Murle politicians and Anyuak politicians within Statewide. 2. If the nominee would be accepted only by Bor community in particular without the consent of the Murle, Nuer and Anyuak. These are tactics of divide and rule of the majority within the Jonglei State. Brief Argument Jonglei’s community is blessed for having a good number of politicians in national and regional level. It would be very unfortunate if the opinions of the intellectuals, politicians, academia and elders were not needed in the situation of state leadership. Former Governor, Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk is an elder off course, and a politicians like anyone else but his game theory in the politics of Jonglei is worst to digest. Gen. Kuol Manyang came to national government with great interest of running the two governments at ago: The Jonglei government that he has invested his time and energy financially, and the national government. It is regrettable by then that the Former Governor, Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk is fighting teeth and nails to bring someone who will protect his financial assets and someone whom the Bor community has interest and assurance.

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The recommendation he has offered to the president is nothing but bias and personally motivated concerns that will either encourage differences or bring the greater failure to the State in particular. I am concerned and I am here to assure you that the suggestion he has made was mainly to recycle those who will never solve the problem of Jonglei. In case the Former Governor, Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk recommends his successor for any reason from Nuer community, then the system in Jonglei will remain Kuol Manyang Juuk’s term twoby proxy, similar to that of the President Jaafer Al Niemeri’s term two when General Swahr Al Dhab took over power from him in 1985. On the other hand, the other communities in Jonglei especially the Nuer who are the majority would raise some concerns and put the following argument forward: 1. If the community of Bor could only accept the governor of their choice from nominees of other communities, then why did the Bor community members refused to accept their uncle Akuot Atem when Samuel Gai Tut chose him to be their leader in the movement in 1983? 2. The population of the Nuer in the State is highest than any other communities; and therefore, the principles of democracy or the rule of the majority must prevail in Jonglei State instead of reversing the logical and natural order of life by disallowing the rule of the majority in favor of minority. In comparison, if you look back to the system of the old Sudan under Sudanese Socialist Union (SSU) in the recent past, Jonglei was a province headed by a commissioner with five secretaries of the Sudanese Socialist Union (SSU). There was no problem of power sharing among the communities of the four districts of Fangak, Akobo, Bor and Pibor because there was fair distribution of power; and we hope that the situation should have been improved better under the SPLM system of governing than it was under the SSU. Governor Kuol was not elected As a matter of fact, the communities in Jonglei did not elect Kuol as their favored governor in the election of 2010. He has miserably failed in eight (8) counties of the State out of eleven counties. But because he (Kuol) was in charge of the State affairs and with the help of his Bor community intellectuals who were the only members of the electoral commission in the State, he has managed to manipulate the election result in his favor. What was the reaction of rigging? Yes, there was reaction from late General George Athor Dut and David Yau Yau who opted to pick up arms against the government; instead to follow the rightful procedures through the court of law as was the case in Central Equatorial State. Peace in Jonglei Peaceful settlement of conflicts in Jonglei State is fragile because the rightful formula and procedures for peace are denied. In short, Former Governor, Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk was asked to resign recently which he did; but surprisingly he has been appointed as minister for national defense instead of facing charges on violation of human rights and atrocities he has committed in the State through his divide and rule tactics. This divide and rule tactic had resulted to the loss of over six thousand innocent lives. Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk is to be held responsible for the UN Helicopter that was shot down through his order by the SPLA soldiers in Jonglei, 2011 (soldiers confirm). I rest my case here and its up to the audiences to digest this concern intellectually.God bless you! Please reach Jackson at [email protected] (Back to Top)

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