The Puppet Government in Bor
By Malith Alier, Juba
March 22, 2015 (SSB) – The purported democracy in South Sudan is now a thing of the past. It was a pretext used to enlist the international community to believe that the young nation is indeed a young democracy to add to the list of democracies in the east African region. That said, it unravelled within a short period of time.
Some governors were removed without elections as stated in the constitution. The 60 day limit was exceeded and the leadership defended the non-adherence to the constitution in a way that left many baffled. One of the governors who benefited from this illegal continuation of the term of service is the current governor of Jonglei, John Koang Nyuon. Some people would like us to keep quiet about it but strangely it keeps coming up until it is addressed.
Even if it is threatening, truth must be told whenever necessary. In everything we do, there is an inherent danger but we do not shy away simply because it is dangerous. The soldiers carry guns despite the danger associated with them. People of opinion continue to express their views within what is acceptable and for the common good.
Sometimes these opinions may be misconstrued and misinterpreted under unhealthy perceptions. We have known individuals or groups that faced these dangers in the past and today. This country has its own people who suffer under these circumstances. This author wrote an article about a situation in Jonglei after the division in to two of the erstwhile largest state in the country.
The said article queried why Greater Pibor officials still subsist in Bor while they have decided to have their own home. That article solicited angry reactions in the quarters of the beneficiaries a long with godfathers.
Last January, a group of women decided that enough was enough with the puppet government that continue to oppress them longer after the disentanglement of the State. Though they were labelled names, arrested and abused they have many supporters in the crowd of the silent majority.
The fact that they are now temporarily off the radar does not mean that the grievances they expressed are abandoned. There is a saying that nobody will release the bull if it does not by itself. That is the situation these women and others are in. they must release themselves because no one else will do it.
A puppet government has the following Characteristics;
1. It has no real connection with the people it governs
2. It only receives orders from above and has no power of its own
3. It is afraid of the people it governs and as such, it has a huge armed force for protection
One of the reasons expressed by striking ladies was the fact that this government does not represent them in anyway and has no real connection with the people who remained under the government after 2013 fallout. Both the governor and his deputy have never visited the displaced in the camps and cannot travel freely in Bor.
Some people might think that it is good to maintain this government intact to score points against the rebels but they should think of losing points with the constituency of the area. One of the chiefs of the area (name withheld) refused to attend a meeting called by the governor on condition that the Jonglei government lacks moral authority to call such meetings.
He said that someone who has no cows (abuur) cannot be made a cattle camp leader. That summarises the feeling of some people about the Jonglei government. The government has no power even to reshuffle ministers. Many States have reshuffled their ministers many times but our puppet administration cannot do so. Western Bhar el Ghazel and Central Equatoria have reshuffled ministers more than three times.
If the June elections are indeed postponed, then the people of Jonglei will endure the next two to three years under this government that is imposed on them. The option is for them to take the bull adage and release themselves once and for all.
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