United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Media & Spokesperson Unit Communications & Public Information Office MEDIA MONITORING REPORT THURSDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2013 SOUTH SUDAN MP accuses Governor, politicians of disunity in Western Equatoria State (Gurtong.net) Unity State increases oil production by five percent (Theniles.org) S. Sudan government tables revised 2014 budget before parliament (Sudantribune.com) Israeli court: Internment of refugees is unconstitutional (Eye Radio) Time mismanagement affects service delivery (Easter Radio) Boda-boda rider gets a Six-month jail for beating fellow suspected to be a foreigner (Gurtong.net) Inmates suffer boils in Aweil Prison (Eye Radio) Flood assessment taskforce visits Jonglei State (Gurtong.net) Zimbabwe firms for South Sudan investment talks (The Herald/AllAfrica.com) 21 chiefs sworn into office in Lainya (Easter Radio) S. Sudan budget proposes more for social services, half for security (Voice of America) SOUTH SUDAN/SUDAN Al Bashir directs studying projects to South Sudan (Malaysian National News Agency/Sudandaily.com) OTHER HEADLINES NISS gags Sudanese press on economic crisis (Radio Dabanga) Arman directs recruitment of ansar sect followers (Sudandaily.com) Sudan condemns US remarks on president, urges speedy visa for him to attend UN summit (The Washington Post) Human Rights tells UN to reject Al Bashir's General Assembly attendance (Catholic Radio Network) Two Iranian navy ships dock at Port Sudan - army spokesman (Sudantribune.com) Ugandan teachers continue nationwide strike over pay (Sudantribune.com) Ugandan man denies ICC witness intimidation (Voice of America) OPINIONS/ANALYSIS/EDITORIAL Suspended SPLM SG Pagan Amum should resign (Sudantribune.com) The Absurdity of peace-building in South Sudan (II) (South Sudan News Agency) LINKS TO STORIES FROM THE MORNING MONITORING REPORT South Sudan‘s Kiir begins three-day Bahr el Ghazal trip (Sudantribune.com) Elections to be held on time – Elections Commission (Radio Miraya) Rights Watch report ―not fair‖ says Minister Marial (Radio Miraya) Jonglei citizens face human rights abuses – South Sudan rights body (Bakhita Radio) South Sudan plans to borrow $1.6 bln to fund new budget (Reuters) South Sudan budget proposes more for social services, half for security (Voice of America News) Unity State official says 5% of oil revenue needed for infrastructure development (Sudantribune.com) South Sudan government delegation visits Jonglei to assess impact of flooding (Sudantribune.com) Kuron Peace Village hosts International Day of Peace (Gurtong.net) Eastern Equatoria State recruits 200 police (Emmanuel Radio) 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. SPLM-DC advises citizens to avoid tensions (Catholic Radio Network) Elders oppose Western Equatoria State government‘s move to create payam in Maridi (Eye Radio) Infectious disease attacks 100 Aweil inmates (Sudantribune.com) Over 50 rangers deployed to monitor influx of elephants (Radio Miraya) South Sudan to benefit from re-opened rail line (Eye Radio) Kiir seeks urgent foreign intervention over Abyei conflict with Sudan (Sudantribune.com) US Envoy Donald Booth: we all want peace (Eye Radio) ICC calls on US to arrest Sudan‘s Bashir (Reuters) Highlights MP accuses Governor, politicians of disunity in Western Equatoria State Gurtong.net Juba, 19/9/2013 – The ruling Sudan People‘s Liberation Movement (SPLM) MP from Maridi County in Western Equatoria State, Peter Bashir Banid, has accused his Governor Bangasi Bakosoro and a section of some politicians of fueling disunity in the state. Bandi raised his accusation as a point of information at the South Sudan National Parliament saying he would like to draw the attention of the leadership of the National parliament over the matter, adding there is already a growing tension in the State over the matter. Bandi said the State government has decided to create another payam in Maridi County which is being rejected by the people of the county. On Monday the Meridi representatives in Juba denounced the move to create the new payam in the county. ―As I speak now the constituency that I represent is bleeding,‖ Bandi told the August House. ―As I speak now leaders who have come to power now are trying to divide the people of Meridi by imposing their will.‖ ―Our Governor in Western Equatoria when he was Commissioner of Tombura he tried to divide Tombura; the Balanda and the asides. Now he has started again the same game in Meridi,‖ added Bandi. ―Those of you who represent Meridi…he said the politicians of Maridi are useless people who don‘t have use,‖ Bandi accused Bakosoro. ―I am raising this Mr. Speaker because if things go out of hand we should not blame the people of Meridi.‖ Speaking on Radio Miraya FM yesterday morning, Bakosoro denied that the move to create a new payam in Maridi County was a resolution passed by the State parliament denying accusations that, the move was fuelled by some pockets of politicians. Hon. Manas Magok Rundial, the Speaker of the South Sudan National parliament called the MPs of Maridi County to mobilize them and sort out the matter. (Back to Top) Unity State increases oil production by five percent Theniles.org Bentiu, 19/9/2013 – South Sudan Minister of Petroleum, Mining and Industry Stephen Dhieu Dau travelled to Unity State on Thursday, September 12, to reopen oil fields, increasing the country‘s production. The reopened fields had been closed since Juba shut down its oil production in January last year amidst political post secession tensions with Sudan. (Back to Top) South Sudan government tables revised 2014 budget before parliament Sudantribune.com, 18/9/2013 – South Sudan finance minister, Agrey Tisa Sabuni, presented a ―revised draft‖ of the national budget to parliament on Wednesday in the capital Juba. "The 2013/14 budget consists of an overall resource envelope of SSP 17.3 billion, financed through a combination of oil revenue, non-oil revenue, loans and budget support from donors," 2 Minister Agrey told a combined session of both houses of South Sudan‘s parliament - the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and the Council of States. ―If oil production returns to full capacity, income from oil will reach up to SSP 10.6 billion, and a stronger economy will help raise SSP 1.5 billion in non-oil revenue,‖ he added. Nevertheless, loans of SSP 4.9 billion will be required to bridge the remaining financial gap, Sabuni says. Minister Sabuni presented a full breakdown of the budget. Spending on security and law enforcement has decreased to 50% of the budget down from 58% in the 2012/13 budget. The share of spending on capital investment increases to 16% of the budget compared with 7% in 2012/13. Transfers to states have also increased by 24%, reflecting the new and additional grants to states and counties, he said. National monthly spending limits must remain at the austerity level of SSP 555 million per month during the first 6 months of 2013/14, and will increase to SSP 985 million in January 2014 if sufficient resources are available, minister Sabuni added. Other spending items include: Construction of large and small-scale infrastructure is budgeted at SSP 741 million with more than 52.6% (or SSP 390 Million) allocated to maintenance of roads and bridges. SSP 291 million is set aside for National Assembly‘s Constituency Development Fund (CDF). This is the funding to each Member of Parliament for development projects in her/his constituency. SSP 130 million is earmarked for agriculture and creation of jobs. SSP 580 million is allocated for what Minister Sabuni calls ―other priorities‖ including preparations for census, the elections and constitutional review. ―Overall, the changes introduced in the 2013/14 budget will accelerate development progress in South Sudan,‖ Sabuni claimed. If oil production continues, he says, sufficient additional resources can be mobilized and it will be possible to significantly increase spending in the second half of the fiscal year. Members of Parliament who Sudan Tribune was able to speak to on Wednesday say they will support the approval of the budget. Mary Riro Juac MP from Upper Nile State, SPLM—DC said too much time has elapsed for the assembly to delay passage of budget. "Our citizens are waiting for this budget. It is very important to know what is set aside for a fiscal year," Juac said. Bashir Bandi MP from Western Equatoria state says the budget is comprehensive despite half of spending going to South Sudan‘s security agencies. ―You cannot develop if there is no security. Through stability, you will be able to invest locally and you will be able to attract investors. Investor cannot come to South Sudan if there is no security,‖ Bandi said. The budget is now referred to parliamentary finance committee for review. Under the National Legislative Assembly Code of Business, the budget has to be approved or disapproved within 45 days. Sabuni replaced Kosti Manibe Ngai as part of the reshuffle in August, having previously served as an advisor on economic affairs to president Kiir. (Back to Top) Israeli court: Internment of refugees is unconstitutional Eye Radio, 19/9/2013 – The Israeli Supreme Court has ruled that the ongoing internment of refugees is unconstitutional because it disrespects their dignity and personal freedom. 3 Israeli human rights organizations have consistently criticized forced deportations as being unlawful. According to estimates, there are more than 60,000 illegal immigrants and refugees from Africa living in Israel – many of them from South Sudan, Sudan from Eritrea and Ethiopia. In June last year, hundreds of South Sudanese were deported from Israel as a part of larger operation to expel migrants from the country.