To support November 2011 THE PEOPLE’S VOICE the peoples EDITORIAL TEAM INVITES Road accidents in South Sudan: Muslim community calls for religious tolerance COMMENTS, OPINIONS AND LETTERS. voice call, Who is to Blame? BY AGELE BENSON AMOS THE EDITORIAL TEAM RESERVES THE RIGHT TO PUBLICATION. +211957100855 By Yuggu Charles ordered me to surrender my car log book,” said Lupai. He added: “When I refused, they The Muslim community in Yei River by upholding harmony between the two County has called for religious harmony religions. The Arch-Deacon for Yei Over the past few years, there has been a threatened to remove my number plate. marked increase in the number of road They later forced me to pay the 30 and tolerance amongst various religious Episcopal Church Rev. Cosmas Gwagwe November 2011 Issue 9, Volume 0 001 Produced by UJOSS Free Copy accidents in South Sudan with many people Sudanese pounds but never gave me any groups in the young nation of South Samuel blamed the suspicion between losing their lives and others suffering receipt, an indication that this money Sudan in order to ensure a peaceful and Christians and Muslims on idle talkers terrible injuries. As the carnage continues would end up in their pockets. Such frustration makes drivers cause accidents”. prosperous future for all. The chairman who criticize other religions. Religious across the new country, The People's Voice of Muslims in the County, Kasim Yusuf, conflicts, he said, can always be resolved sought the views of citizens about the Although Lupai's logic may seem a bit far- Civilians continue to suffer at hands of rebels in Jonglei situation and who or what they think is to fetched, there is certainly some truth to the said it was only by respecting other through dialogue. “Freedom of worship blame. Most people reacted angrily to the fact that the traffic police are part of the religions that peace could prevail in the should be exercised for all the religions By John Actually failure by authorities and motorists to problem, in that if they spent less time new nation which has just emerged without discrimination and political extorting money from innocent drivers, Today you see them, surrender and vote for them. He accused him of killing reduce road deaths. Jale James, who works from a prolonged civil war. He said differences,” he said. The Arch-Deacon they would have more time to keep the tomorrow they are gone. end the war. innocent people who knew nothing in the Customs Market in Juba, attributed disrespect of other religions has in the warned the people of South Sudan the alarming increase in road accidents to roads safe. Colonel Kon John Akot, the They are ruthless and no one Director of traffic police at the South Sudan past led to unrest between Christians against criticizing other religions and In an interview about politics and taking revenge careless driving. “There are too many cars knows why they are fighting. on our roads and the drivers appear to love Police Service, however, defended his and Muslims living in South Sudan. Yusuf stereotyping members of rival during an inter- against his own people who did not vote speeding. This is what is killing our people,” officers and noted that it is the claims that religious tensions in the denominations as this could bring These are the rebel fighters c o m m u n a l for him during the elections. “They have he said. “Many drivers are careless and responsibility of citizens to avoid accidents. of South Sudan's Jonglei He said that traffic officers are entitled to country had been brought about by serious tensions and problems. Peace Forum in no ideology. They just want to cause cannot even do simple and routine things discrimination against certain religions Halima Kalifa, a Muslim, expressed State whose activities have like indicating when they are branching or put signs along the roads and bridges and at Ayod County mayhem so that they can steal from exercising care when over-taking other black spots to warn motorists of dangers. and advises that this contributed to serious recently, a youth p e o p l e , ” h e a s s e r t e d . The police, he explained, were also allowed vehicles. They don't even slow down when should come to an end. insecurity among villagers. l e a d e r , M r James Chuol, who is the leader of Ayod negotiating corners or round-abouts,” he by the law to stop and interrogate and even “We, at times, feel arrest motorists breaking traffic rules. He It all started in 2010 after added. Furthermore, most drivers are not isolated simply because James Chuol Youth Forum, said they held a meeting said there was a need for cooperation some former Sudanese trained and use bribes to acquire driving some people consider d e s c r i b e d in Ayod in October to persuade the licenses, James asserted. To improve the between the ministry of roads and us Arabs and yet we are People's Liberation Army A t h o r ' s youth against joining the rebel group. “I situation, James wants the government to transport and the traffic police in order to introduce tougher traffic rules and stiffer safeguard the lives of people. South Sudanese and not (SPLA/M) generals failed to r e b e l l i o n a s told my people that we should not join punishments for reckless drivers. He also Kon urged road users to be careful while Arabs,” said Kasim. He win posts during South Paramount Chief Chuei Leek Kachuol speaking to borne out of a Athor Deng's movement. We are from feels that the high number of motorcycle driving on highways such as the Nimule added that it was wrong Sudan's hotly contested selfish quest for the independent state of South Sudan. taxis on the roads contributed to many road –Juba, Nadapal – Juba, Yei – Juba and Juba – to associate Islam with senior reporter John Actually. Kajo Keji roads to help minimize road general elections. They p o w e r . I n There is a need for peaceful co- accidents and wants the government to the Khartoum regime, control the operation of these two- accidents. He added that traffic officers instead rebelled against the their traditional enemy the Murle, as Chuol's opinion, the Jonglei rebellion is ex i ste n c e a m o n g t h e p e o p l e should be deployed along these highways saying that just like wheelers. “There are too many motorcycles government by taking up well as the SLPA, surprised many people simply a matter of political greed by a themselves,” said Chuol. being operated by youths, many of whom to check and monitor speeding motorists. Christianity, the religion who thought he had been vanquished. have not attended any driving school,” said However, he observed that lack of also has a massive arms and heading for the few disgruntled politicians. He claims Chuol asserted further that Ayod youth Athor had refused to respond to a James. Isaac John, a businessman based in equipment has hindered their work. “We following in the South. bush. Those who rebelled that people like Athor rebelled against would not allow the rebel group to Rumbek, the capital of Lakes State, said the lack radios, Motorola, motorbikes, tents, against the government government amnesty, issued on ambulances, generators and cameras to “Some people think Chairman Muslim Community Yei River the government as a retaliatory move, continue terrorizing the people. He said poor road network was among the factors Independence day on July 9, to that have contributed to road accidents in facilitate our work effectively; that is why mosques in South County Kasim Yusuf. included General George and aimed at killing civilians who did not that although the youth were not South Sudan. “A few months ago, two trucks we sometimes have problems,” admitted S u d a n h a v e b e e n Athor Deng and David Yau Cont. p2 carrying goods destined for Wau town, the the police officer. Kon stated that South b r o u g h t i n b y happiness that the new South Sudan Yau of Pigi and Pibor capital city of Western Bhar El Ghazal, Sudan traffic rules state that drivers are by Khartoum, yet this is not the truth. True law required to drive 50 km per hour while was already offering a free environment Counties respectively. overturned along the Rumbek-Wau road, belief in Islam, for example, is very much due to the poor state of the road,” stated in town and on a highway the required for religious tolerance and growth. General Deng was selected Mixed reactions over proposal to move capital from Juba speed is 90 km per hour, and those flouting in existence in Yei River County,” he said. “There is now a lot of religious freedom John. Garang Kong, a student at the as the leader of the rebels in University of Upper Nile, expressed his these rules should not complain when He also urged the government and non- compared to what happened in the old By Agele Benson Amos discomfort with the conduct of some arrested. “They know they should not government organization to involve Sudan,” Halima asserted. She also urged 2010 in his bases in Pigi Should the government relocate the University says: “We, the people of which needs bigger buildings and many drivers. “I'm not happy with the way some overtake at junctions, yet some still ignore Muslims in nation building activities, in County in northern Jonglei.