18th March 2015
Good evening. It is five o’clockand I’m David Lukan.
The Headlines:
- Police hold suspects over vehicle thefts in Juba
- Peace campaigners want more involvement of traditional leaders to end violence in Lakes State
- Northern Bahr el Ghazal State calls for peace with neighbors
Police in Juba are holding three men in connection with a series of car thefts in Juba.
The three are believed to have been part of a group that has been robbing vehicles at gun point in different parts of the national capital.
They were rounded up in an operation conducted by Police. Central Equatoria State Police Commissioner Maj. General Henry Danima cites a recent case in which a man was killed in the St Kizito area and his motorcycle taken.
Danima says the Police are now working with regional security bodies to investigate the markets where these stolen cars and motorcycles are taken for sale.
Henry Danima: “There are people who when they look at new car or a new motorcycle they envy the owners and want take them by force this has been happening and we have been following this we have recorded cases and some of them have been arrested we are now looking for the market where these people are taking these because there must be market how people get away with these vehicles our colleagues in the CID there is department which is responsible for tracing vehicles that are stolen our Interpol is also very active can identify vehicles with numbers that are stolen particularly those that are taken to Uganda can be traced and we can inform our colleagues on the other side to follow up for us.”
The Reizegat and Misseriya border communities are being called on to co-exist peacefully with local communities.
A cross-border conference is underway in Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, to address cross border relations with the communities from Sudan’s Eastern Darfur and Western Kordofan states respectively.
Salva Chol Ayat, Deputy Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal spoke at the opening of the conference in Aweil.
Salva Chol Ayat: “I want to tell you that take this peace seriously. This peace is for the future of our generations even though we separated from Sudan, our relations still exist. We as government, we will stand with you and call upon some of our colleagues in other states with conflicts we say that they should organize themselves and come here and ask these elders, the chiefs how do you coexist so that you can take this to your states so that people can coexist.”
The three-day conference was organized by the Ministry of Justice with support from Concordis International, a British based non-profit organization that supports peace processes.
A peace campaign in Lakes State is proposing that local leaders be given more powers to deal with crimes.
The campaign is spearheaded by Archbishop of Episcopal of Sudan Daniel Deng Bul and includes other religious leaders and youth.
They are moving to the different counties, calling on communities to desist from violence.
Mageng Wade Deng is in Lakes State and now reports
Mageng Wade Deng: “Archbishop of Daniel Deng Bul says the persistent inter-communal violence in Lakes State requires intensive awareness campaigns. Archbishop Deng Bul says local leaders like chiefs need to be empowered to address petty crimes at community level.”
Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul: “I think our government needs to give powers to the chiefs because the chief is the one who knows the notorious people in their areas who commit crimes. So I feel that to bring justice quickly, especially like in cases of a theft like if somebody has stolen my cattle, those are issues can be deal by the chiefs, it is not the judge in the town who deal who somebody who stolen cows, it is not work of the judge, like the case of marriages, these are not work of the judge – these are work of the chiefs in the area. It is right time now for the traditional leaders to be given powers to deal with those issues.”
Mageng Wade Deng: “Archbishop Daniel Deng says Church leaders as well need to be included more in reaching out to communities.”
Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul: “We need to send pastors to all the cattle camps in lakes State, we have big numbers of pastors, so I am encouraging them today that if they are responsible people then they should see into it that in every cattle camp at least we have five priests in each cattle camp and those five priests, what they will do, they will teach women , they teach children and the teach they people how the leave together, so if we do these all over for sure peace will come to Lakes State in a short time.”
Mageng Wade Deng: “This is the second phase of the peace campaign launched in January this year. I am Mageng Wade Deng for Radio Miraya news reporting from Lakes State.”
A youth convention expected to take place in Juba this week will discuss the role of youth in peace building.
More than 160 youth representatives from across the country will convene in Juba for the convention from Wednesday to Friday this week.
This will be the first convention of its kind organized by the National Youth Union. The provisional president of the Union, Lam Tungar says the meeting will also discuss youth policies and elect new members to the youth executive.
Lam Tangur: “The convention is called to get the new president for the national youth union and also to review the constitution and the pass it and the same time. And as well as to brainstorm… to collect the brainstorming of the youth leaders from all the ten states who will be gathering to gather, build the policies and create the youth policies which need to be passed and also forward to the national assembly for approval so that maybe youth could have something that they can get at the national budget every year. Other part which is really very important as well is the discussion about youth role in the national building as well as peace building.”
Meanwhile, youth in Central Equatoria have elected Moro Isaac from Kupera payam of Lainya County as their new president. Moro garnered 65 of the 116 votes, beating his closest rival - provisional president Lobojo Onesmo who got 49 votes.
Another 250 children, child soldiers including 4 girls have been demobilized from the South Sudan Democratic Alliance – cobra faction in Likuangule.
This brings the total number of children demobilized from the Yau Yau ranks to just over 1,300.
In a formal ceremony over the weekend, the children were demobilized by the National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission and their weapons and uniforms exchanged for civilian clothes.
They have been transported to an interim center where UN children’s orgnisation UNICEF will provide them with food, shelter and medical care as their families are traced.
The Cobra Faction has told UNICEF that they have up to 3000 child soldiers in their armed group.
You are listening to Radio Miraya news.
Persons with disabilities are being encouraged to enroll in school to improve their livelihoods.
Light for the World, an international non-government organization currently provides support to up to 600 persons with disabilities in schools in Western and Central Equatoria.
One of their beneficiaries, Alfred Amanya Martin from Mundri excelled as one of the best students in last year’s Primary seven leaving exams. Martin is appealing to the disabled not to give up.
Alfred Amanya Martin: “My message to my colleagues who are blind, Sudan Evangelical Mission has many branches in Maridi, Yei and so on. If you know any office of SEM in your area or in your county, you rush there tell them about your blindness and that I need to join school, they will help you. Mine I go through Light for the World and now I am to read, I am able to write my name, I am able to write A –B –C and even I am able to participate in the class with colleagues who can see.”
Kuajock hospital in Warrap State has been renovated and upgraded with new equipment.
A solar power system has been installed and the hospital’s water system has been improved.
A pit latrine has also been constructed for the maternity ward.
The renovations were carried out by the LukLuk Community Association for Development with support from the UN Mission (UNMISS) at a cost of 90,000 US dollars.
Deputy State Governor Akec Tong Aleu, called for investments in the State to increase services for the people.
And in foreign news, the head of the UN Ebola mission said the Ebola outbreak in West Africa will be over by August.
Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed admitted the UN had made mistakes in handling the crisis early on, sometimes acting arrogantly.
A year after the outbreak was officially declared, the virus has killed more than 10,000 people.
The medical charity Medecins Sans Frontiers says a global coalition of inaction led to tragic consequences.
In sports, the Juba Football Association has cleared Jubek football club to join the division three football league.
The club based in Rajaf West made it into the 3rd division after emerging champions of the payam tournaments.
Jubek club chairman, Gabriel Moga says they have 30 players and are ready to start competitions.
And Samuel Pawon is here with more sports.
Samuel Pawon: “We start with the local south Sudan cup championship taking place across the country, in Juba Etihad FC went through to the next stage after beating Gudele 1 nil while Nile defeated Sun 2-nil. Still in Juba, Kator beat Zalzal 2 nil at Juba stadium, while in Torit Kenite won its match against Jazeera 6-1. Still in Eastern Equatoria, Imatongt went through to the quarterfinals after 4-2 win over Red bull, while Torit united beat Red stars 3-1 and Rabita and Libati ended their match in a 1 all draw at freedom square. In Warrap, Feature boys team beat Black scorpion 2-1 and Amal el Hura beat Grasco 1-nil. In today’s games, Kator faces Nujum at Juba stadium, in Torit young stars will play Malekia at freedom square while at Lobong pitch Equatoria united takes on Hilal. In Wau, Amal el Hura FC faces Santos and Hi krish will play against lokloko at Wau main stadium in the opening match of the competition on to Warrap tiger team faces Eagle at freedom square. And In the ongoing division one tournament in Abyei, shwean Ayak beat good stars 2 nil and Ngok FC emerged victors over Mustagble after a 4-1 win while Nile Abathok defeated Tahrir 2-1 at Agok playground. Today Olympic team plays against Gelb el Ased. I am Samuel Pawon for Radio Miraya news.”
To end the news, here are the headlines once again:
- Police hold suspects over vehicle thefts in Juba
- Peace campaigners want more involvement of traditional leaders to end violence in Lakes State
- Northern Bahr el Ghazal State calls for peace with neighbors
Radio Miraya news.
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