A Call for Restrain: Refrain from Further Attacks on Hon. Deng Dau
14 min read
November 11, 2015 (SSB) — Twic East County is one of the few areas (if such exist) that does not require a lot of introduction in South Sudan. Our contribution to the national discourse in South Sudan cannot be over emphasized. First and foremost, it can be proudly noted that Twic East County is home to the founding father and Icon of our nation Dr. John Garang De Mabior. Secondly her sons and daughters have contributed immeasurably in the liberation struggle that lead to the independence of South Sudan.
Amongst these great sons are Hon. Deng Dau Deng, the current sitting member of Twic East Constituency No. 11 and Col. Philip Aguer De Panyang, our able and eloquent Spokesman for our gallant Forces, Sudan’s People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). These two competent gentlemen amongst others have declared their intentions to serve as the Governor of the recently created Jonglei State.
Every individual in South Sudan has an inalienable right enshrined in our precious transitional constitution to contest for any public office as long as he/she meets the required preconditions for that particular office. So there is no problem in this case. And like most elections, the continuing process for the nomination/election of the Governor of our newly created state is controversial, may be acrimonious. That is also okay too!
However, what is not acceptable is the incessant mudslinging on Hon. Deng Dau on various news outlet and social media by the so-called ‘supporters of Col. Philip Aguer’. While at it, the said group has dragged the good names of our Twic East Community in an uncalled-for manner into the media. The first stroke came when the group moved their attacks on Hon. Deng Dau from the social media, especially the facebook, to the printed media when they made up some wild accusations about Hon. Deng Dau calling the members of his constituency ‘rebels’.
The undersigned individuals carried out extensive investigations in the community with intention of finding out the truth and only the only truth. No one could confirm having heard the said utterances from the horse’s mouth first hand. There is no evidence of any kind to confirm the accusations labeled against Hon. Deng Dau Deng. Let it be clear from the outset that we would be in the first category of individuals who would want the Hon. MP held accountable if it is true the statement was made by him! On the same wavelength, any man with an iota of integrity would not allow an innocent man to be crucified on the basis of concoctions and fabrications by individuals who are widely known in the community to have had long-suffering personal vendetta against Hon. Deng Dau Deng.
It is in this spirit that we wrote on Friday, the 7th November, 2015 to publicly absolve our MP of the public accusations on the grounds of the investigations we conducted. In this sense we do not necessarily qualify as supporters of Hon. Deng Dau but as individuals who have honestly looked at the matter in various angles without prejudices. Neither does our open-minded approach to issue makes us deserving of being labeled as ‘goons out for economic gains’’ as insinuated by the so-called ‘Nairobi Diaspora supporters of Col. Philip Aguer’. Until now we challenge that the individual who heard the statement or who possesses any tangible evidence on the alleged comment to come forward!
Unfortunately, in our exposition of the investigation we conducted, we have contributed, albeit marginally, in dragging the good name of our community into the public arena. We apologise to our community for our part in this regard. We intend this to be the last time we find it necessary to make a public statement in this matter. Individuals from Twic East County are well known for their calm, level headed approach to issues. As a community, we are also renowned to keep private our differences whatever they may be. The events of the past few months portray some gravious deviation from our usual trajectory!
On Monday, the 9th November, 2015, the Nairobi-based group, which we know very well to be an extension of the very group that has been spreading rumors and hearsays against Hon. Deng Dau Deng here in Juba, came up with another far-fetched wild claim about Hon. Deng Dau using the constituency Development Fund (CDF) as his ‘personal emoluments’ in the Nation Mirror. It would be remise on our part to allow this yet another fallacy to gather momentum. As conscientious citizens of our constituency, we have been keen fully following events in our area including the CDF and we are more than glad to educate this wallowing ignorance of our grass root affairs.
But before we do that, let it be known that there are indisputable symptoms these self-proclaimed supporters of Col. Philip Aguer Panyang are in fact not his supporters. Col. Philip Aguer is a noble in the real Dinka sense of the word. A man who abhors obscenities, lies, rumors and hearsay, Col. Philip Aguer would never permit anyone who claims to be with him to pile rubbish on Hon. Deng Dau Deng or anyone else for that matter, no matter how intense the competition or the differences between them. These opportunistic tendencies to use Col. Philip Aguer’s heavenly name as a platform to tarnish the honorable image of Hon. Deng Dau Deng is not only irresponsible and ludicrous but detrimental to the ambitions of Col. Philip Aguer Panyang.
We know that these posing, inspired by God knows who, are designs that have been cleverly crafted by a behind –the- scene puppeteer whose overarching objective is to destroy both Hon. Deng Dau Deng and Col. Philip Aguer Panyang for both have demonstrated exceptional leadership since the crisis began almost two years ago and have gain tremendous credibility in the eyes of all and sundry in South Sudan. It is not the first time this group has been used against Hon. Deng Dau Deng. If our memories serves us right, this has been going on since 2010!
The thrust of this public statement is to shed some light on the so – called CDF that is alleged to have been misappropriated by Hon. Deng Dau Deng. Again we are providing the information not as the supporters of Hon. Deng Dau Deng. To be active citizens, we understand very well that one must be adept at obtaining information so that your participation in the affairs of your country makes sense especially if you want to address critical issues.
Secondly we will recap on our views on where and how we believe our community erred when it conducted the selection process for the candidates for the gubernatorial position of the newly created Jonglei State. Finally we will take the opportunity to put a call on the self-proclaimed supporters of the candidates to cease from engaging one another in public especially in a negative manner. Surely we can find a better way of handling our dirty laundry!
The Constituency Development Fund (CDF)
The constituency Development Fund (CDF) gives the grassroots levels a chance to prioritise their developmental needs through the finances allocated to their area through their sitting MP in the national parliament.
CDF has only been allocated in one occasion to the members of Members of Parliament since the 2010 elections that brought Hon. Deng Dau to the August house. This happened sometimes in 2011. The oil shutdown of 2012 and the subsequent austerity measures, coupled with the December, 2013 crisis has made it impossible for any further allocation for CDF.
Along with Hon. Deng Dau, Hon. Akuany Deng, who also hails from Twic East area, was given some funds and the total between both was 1,200,000 SSPs, each MP with 600,000 SSPs. The two representatives conducted wide consultations with the county authorities, chiefs and the general public who reside in the area and it was resolved the CDF be used for the following purposes with their respective costs:
- Rehabilitation of 22 km Panyagor – Wernyol Roads – 472,842 SSPs.
- Opening up, upgrading and completion of roads within the county headquarters in Panyagor – 413,961 SSPs
- Rehabilitation of 34 km of primary dyke in the county – 300,000 SSPs
- Construction of Water point in Panyagor – 13,197 SSPs
- Completion of survey in Panyagor county HQs – 450,000 SSPs
- Construction of a women centre in Panyagor at a partial cost of 200,000 SSPs
Anyone with sense of numbers could easily discern 1200,000 SSPs is not enough to execute the above projects. So what Hon. Deng Dau did as a creative leader, was to go and seek assistance on behalf of his constituency from the current national Minister of Petroleum, Mining and Industry Hon. Stephen Dau (which was highly appreciated) who was able to locate 290,000 SSPs through their meager resources that are available for implementing critical community development projects.
These funds were used to complete the dyke work. Now if this is not a reason enough for a community to consider itself lucky to have a leader like Hon. Deng Dau representing it, than we do not what would be! We also believe this, in addition to his other numerous achievements, has earned him the right to ask for a higher political role so he can serve his community better.
So how do we, the undersigned persons, become privy to all these details about CDF for constituency No. 11? Is it possible that that Hon. Deng Dau fed us this propaganda so we could churn it out on his behalf? Absolutely No! Far from it, this is not privileged information. The Hon. Member provided a report regarding the CDF in one of his numerous community briefings. This report is available and anyone interested in the details should ask for a copy of the comprehensive report from the following institutions:
- The CDF office in the National Legislative Assembly in Juba
- The County HQs in Panyagor
- The office of the Governor in Jonglei State in Bor
Better still, one may contact Hon. Deng Dau in person and we are confident he will be more than willing to oblige. The approachable demeanor of Hon. Deng Dau has earned him a reputation of being one of the most accessible leaders in the country.
The second part of the CDF for Twic East that deserves some mentioning herein is that which was allocated to the constituency through Hon. Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior and Late Hon. Uncle Hon. Philip Chol Biowei. This was dedicated to the survey of the payams head quarters as well as the county HQs.
The Elections
Too much fuss has been made about the selection process of Hon. Deng Dau and Col. Philip Aguer from their boma (Makiir) upto the county level. However we would just like to highlight some fundamental points.
It is true Col. Philip Aguer, Hon. Deng Dau and Jima Arok Maketh fronted themselves for the governor position at their sub-boma (Nyopiny). From the word go, Jima’s candidacy was not given serious latitude in the Nyopiny section election and he was largely ignored when the community were conducting their elections. This is how Hon. Deng Dau and Col. Philip Aguer got a tie vote of 16/16. The chairman of the meeting was Gen. Garang Mading Agok. After the vote was taken, Mr. Jima Arok Maketh suggested that he was going to caste a tie-breaking vote. This was rejected by the chair of the meeting. Nevertheless, Jima, driven by his usual loathe for Hon. Deng Dau and in a manner consistent with his trademark aggressive and emotional self imposition went ahead and declared he has given his vote to Col. Philip Aguer Panyang – after the process in which he was a candidate was concluded.
This is the fallacy spreading around as suggested by the Nairobi group that Hon. Deng Dau had lost the elections at their boma level, perpetrated and spearheaded by none other than Jima. It is worthwhile noting that even at this point in time, Jima still considers himself a ‘youth’ candidate for the Gubernatorial position while he professes to be a supporter of Col. Philip Aguer at the same time. What a contradiction!
The only person who could have cast a tie-breaker was the chairman, Mr. Mading Garang Agok. Jima Arok could not be in a position to cast a vote for Col. Philip Aguer because that vote had been already for himself when he (Jima) nominated himself. The first vote that goes in favor of any candidate in any election is the candidate’s own vote. This is the very reason the argument that Hon. Deng Dau got zero vote in the sham election he boycotted at Gen. Bior Ajang’s house does not hold water. The electoral commission could have done themselves some justice and conceal this unfairness by at least giving him his vote and not going public that he got a zero vote.
Everyone would like us to believe that the process was a community affair, and therefore all members are entitled regardless of the political creed. So let put aside the argument Prof. Ajang, a well known USAP cadre could not hold a position as sensitive as being a chair of an election process that is exclusively an SPLM gubernatorial affair. However what we would like to put to test is whether the process, as held Gen. Bior Aswot’s house, was consistent with the principles of conduct of community affairs.
In communal occasions, cautious exercise of consensus building amongst the membership is a virtue. The maxim that ‘the end justifies the means’’ does not apply; rather the end is the overriding objective. But alas! This went largely went ignored when haste overtook reason and the process went ahead without paying attention to some of the concerns raised by the candidates, especially Hon. Deng Dau. Yes, it is true that Hon. Deng Dau accepted in principle for Twic community to intervene to break the deadlock amongst the Ajuong payam candidates after Col. Philip Aguer’s refusal to participate in any kind of election held at their payam level. The next step would have been an exhaustive discussion of the modalities that would constitute the form the intervention of the Twic community would take. This acceptance at Kush Resort Hotel does not preclude Hon. Deng’s right to seek further discourse on the matter before any vote could be taken especially in the light of the overwhelming evidence that the process was not going to be free and fair. As it turned out to be!
If the election commission was to take a cue of prudence from Gen. Garang Mading Agok who chaired the process at Nyapiny section level and whose main object was to hold the fabric of his section together, a reason he deliberately to cast a tie-breaking in favor of either of the candidates, they would have been well advised to follow one of the following courses:
- Sent the candidates back to their payam of Ajuong and compelled them to abide by any decision that would be taken by their community. This is so as to ensure uniformity and consistence in the manner candidates are selected from the Boma level to the county level in the whole Twic community. What we have now is a situation where every one of the five payams except Ajuong has elected their representative starting even at the sub-boma to the county level. This has spoiled the credibility of the whole process.
- In the event, Ajuong payam fails to find an amicable resolution to the situation at their level, disqualify their candidates and pick up the process at the county level with those payams that have fielded one candidates after successfully conducting their political processes at their payam.
- Forward the names of all the candidates that have been brought forward from Ajuong payam plus those from the other payams of the county to the newly established state level for further deliberations. Somehow this could have been the favorable option.
Since neither of the above considerations was given a thought, Hon. Deng Dau Deng justifiably boycotted the screening process as he perceived there were going to be irregularities and predetermined selection of candidates. Thus, the two processes for the nomination of Ajuong Payam at the county level and the overall Twic East Candidate were all conducted in the absence of Hon. Deng Dau Deng. And the way events are continuing to unfold have undoubtedly vindicated Hon. Deng Dau’s earlier prophecy!
A Call for Restrain
Finally, we would like to take this opportune moment to call on all the members of our community to exercise caution and restrain as they continue to exercise their democratic rights. This call goes especially to our brethren who have been unrelenting on their assaults on the high standing of our elected MP Hon. Deng Dau Deng Malek. This commenced with unfounded fabrications that he described the constituents that elected him as rebels, followed by further accusations that he has misappropriated the constituency Development funds. It is irresponsible as much as it is in bad taste to put the name of a sitting MP on the basis of ludicrous and baseless assertions.
We, the undersigned individuals, have completed our civic duty by ensuring the wider public is educated by hard facts as they transpired on the ground and not misled by self-interested parties. We believe we have achieved this honestly without any pre-depositions whatsoever! Therefore, with a crystal clear conscience we would like to our case at this juncture. We will not reply to any further commentary on this matter.
As a note for future reference, we must recognize that apart being a leader, Hon. Deng Dau Deng Malek is an individual who has rights like ours that are enshrined in and protected by the same law. The same laws that afford us the right of self-expression also protect Hon. Deng Dau from defamation and falsified accusations. Every individual is encouraged to verify every bits of information whatever the occasion before he can put it in the public domain. The procedures for doing that are well established as much as the bulk of it is dictated by common senses.
Signed;
- Anyang Atem Agoot Pakeer – Payam Youth chaiman
- Bul Chol Aguer- Lith Payam Youth Chairman
- Akok Mading Ajuong – Payam Youth Chairman
- Garang Malual Deng – Member
- Mathiang Bior Duot – Member
- Reech Achiek Deng – Member
- Ajak Duom Ajak – Member
- Biar Yaak Dut – Member
- Thon Aguer Bior – Member
- Deng Malual Dut – Member
- Atem Aru Kuany – Member
- Nhial Garang Ageer – Makir Youth Leader
- Garang Aleu Gak – Member
- Alier Garang Ajak – Member
- Barach Thon Jok – Member
- Ataak Piot-adiir – Member
- Reech Agok Deng – Member
- Guor kiir Guot — Member
- Akoi Chol Akoi – Member
- Kiir Atem Kuchjok – Member
- Mark Deng Garang – Member
- Ajok Garang Manyok – Member
- Alier Wer Deng – Member
- Manyok Manyuon – Member
- Mayen D jok – Member
- Anglo Atem – Member
- Emmanuel A. Mathiang – Member
- Garang Chol Aguer – Member
- Chol Makuol Mayom – Member
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