Sudan: Anyuak community response to the accusation of charges made by the commissioner of Pochalla County against the King

We refer to the article posted on Sudan Tribune on December 12, 2008 in which the Pochalla Commissioner spoke irresponsibly against the Anyuak King.

We deeply deplore the language used by the Commissioner against the King. Even non-Anyuak origin person would not have uttered such irresponsible voice. We, the Anyuak community leaders, intellectuals, elders, totally reject all the charges made by the Commissioner against the King and the Anyuak Community at large as baseless and pure lies. It is a cheap defense against corruption.

In the first place, a chief, leave alone the King, cannot be accused or insulted by an ordinary citizen such as the Commissioner himself.The Commissioner might be carried away by the political appointments. But he is still a part and member of the Anyuak populace. Political appointments end. But Kingship does not. It is here that he will go back for refuge when the appointment ends.

The thirteen (13) charges we made against the commissioner which include corruption , tribalism, nepotism, lack of good governance are correct and we stand by these accusations. It was not just the King but the Anyuak Community that made the report against the Commissioner.The commissioner is a servant to the people. If he does not deliver the Community has the right to ask for his removal. He cannot administer people who do not get services from him. He  cannot escape away from the thirteen problems he created.

It is known that Pochalla is not accessible from Bor by road.And it is also true that the inaccessibility has hampered development, but that he opened the secondary school and five primary schools is not true, because the secondary school has not yet been constructed but functions under trees founded by church initiative  through Elbrook USA and the five Primary schools are funded by USAID and implemented by the UNOPS. The Commissioner has nothing to do with them. The fifteen boreholes were donated by The Pact Sudan and not by the Commissioner. What did the Commissiner do with the budget from the GoSS?

We, the community, would like to reiterate that the Commissioner is Corrupt and the community demands from the state authority to audit and investigate the Commissioner to prove his innocence.

50 People on Military training

This allegation categorically is false and the Anyuak community refutes it as untrue.

The Anyuak community has no need to train people because there is no need for such military training. Since the beginning of the war of Southern Sudan struggle the only tribe which did not form any militia is the Anyuak. It was done purposely in support of the SPLA to succeed in the Liberation struggle.How come now for the Anyuak to form Militia after the achievement of the CPA? How does Eriteria fit into all this?

That the Anyuak King interfered in government affairs is wrong and we strongly condemn that statement because by virtue of his position,  the King of Anyuak has a political authority, judicial powers and as a spiritaul leader among the Anyuak. Also in the new political setup of the SPLM the Anyuak King is a member of the National Liberation Council (NLC) at the national level. By that he has the overall supervision to ensure the welfare of the Anyuak Community. He makes sure that everything taking place in the Anyuak land is in line with the GoSS policies.   It is absolutely wrong for the Commissioner to say that the King interfered in government affairs. Bad things cannot be done in the County while the King keeps quiet.

The commissioner said he cannot be removed from power in Bor or Juba. This is a blind statement. If he was appointed in Juba in 2006, he can also be removed by Juba authority. Now that he is under Bor, nothing prevents Bor from removing him. If he were appointed in Pochalla, it would have been the people who appointed him. Today, the same people can remove him

His claim that his removal from the office may open room for illegal armed groups, in which he named somebody by name of Baara Agiid including Gen. David Okwier, likely to cause conflict in Sudan-Ethiopia Border, is acompletely a lie and false accusation. It is already stated above that the Anyuak has no reason to fight anybody at this time. The Anyuak don`t know anything about such border issues between the two countries. Gen. David Okwier   is nominated temporarily to  take charge of the county until the election takes place.If the Commissioner is already panicking, let him find solace somewhere.

The good security situation existing today between Ethiopia and Sudan border is because of the good policies and leadership of the King Adongo Agada who is committed to see  that the two sister countries live together in peace and harmony for the development of the Anyuak community and the entire region.The King is for the people and with the people always. The Commissioner is with his money and corruption of the first order.

We would like to  ask the commissioner. Where is the security report about the alleged training of the 50 people in Eritrea, which you submitted or presented to state  government or GoSS? We would like to ask the government of Jonglei state and GoSS to investigate the Commissioner about this serious allegation.

The commissioner said that he will stand before the court of law with the King. This reveals his total ignorance of the Anyuak custom and culture. Nobody or subject can take or sue the King before the court of law. By this statement (the commissioner) has committed a crime (offence) against the Anyuak customary laws and he will be charged accordingly.

Finally, we urge  the  government of Jonglei  State to immediately summon the Commissioner to answer the (13) thirteen charges made against him and many other charges and to explain his own charges against the Anyuak people.

Thanks to Sudan Tribune contributors who used their time, money and energy to respond and gave support to the Anyuak King against the slap made by the irresponsible Pochalla County Commissioner.