By Ding Yual
February 3, 2010 (Juba).
The youth of Upper Nile state have their eyes fixed, with new hope, new responsibilities and new beginning, on the upcoming general election. Their state is the only state signed off to the north during the signing of the CPA, and are dearly paying for this painful marriage--poverty, insecurity and lack of general services skyrocketed in Upper Nile than any other state.
To be proactive, Upper Nile youth in Juba formed a Core Group to make strategic decisions on behalf of the youth comes April election.
In this Core Group meeting, also attended by one of the revered and favored son, politician and leader of Upper Nile state H.E. Gabriel Changson Chang, a young man who attended described--rather eloquently-- the changing role of the youth:
“When I was a child, I used to chant along with other kids “Thurbilen! Makalen! Mach Thurbielen!”--which literally means “here is a vehicle, here is Malakal, and a light from its car.”
At a time, Malakal was so far removed from the rest; but today, I am so happy to sit among you here discussing the future leadership of Upper Nile state — “what a privilege!” said the young man.
On top of the youth’s agenda is the need to elect a credible candidate to leap Upper Nile from where it has lagged to standing on an equal footing with the rest of nine (9) southern states. These Upper Nile youth know, in the back of their heads, who has shown such unsurpassed leadership. They were decisive and committed to vote not just to relatives or those who make false promises but to those they believed have public interest at heart.
H.E. the incumbent Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Gabriel Changson Chang briefed the youth on his candidacy:
“It is in every candidate that he or she is the better choice and have the best programs for the people--as for my candidacy, I have the right programs for the state,” he stated.
Mr. Changson further discussed policies on security, health, education and on how to create employment opportunities for the state. But for Changson, the problem is not entirely due to lack of programs but unity. If elected, Changson pledged to form a unity government that represents the interests of the whole people of Upper Nile--tribes and political parties alike.
“The reason why there is tribal conflicts in the whole of Upper Nile is because those in authority do not speak in one voice” he said.
Mr. Changson assured that youth and women will have a chance to participate in his government.
In the heart of this election lies the fundamental challenges facing people of Sudan, Southern Sudan and Upper Nile state in particular. Among these are the implementation of the CPA, unity of Southerners, and unity of Upper Nile people (tribes and political parties).
At the Core Group meeting, Mr. Changson challenged Southern Sudanese youth to consider making democratic transformation their ultimate goal comes April election.
“Election is not about this year; it is a continues process if carefully safeguarded” said Changson.
In order to give it continuity, we must therefore, t this critical moment where everyone is doubting our ability, hold a free and fair election,” he added.
If we resort to violence, we will miserably fail the democratic transformation which we are all yearning for, and the military government will be the order of the day. We need to plant seeds of democracy within and out. Southern Sudan has a lot of riches, but without the seeds of democratic governance, all these riches will be lost.
When we took up arms against the north, we did that to reverse mistreatments and open discriminations employed against us. From 2005, Southern Sudan has been a country in the making. We have all the institutional powers for an independent country (police, army, flag etc).
But why are we still, until today, struggling to deliver much needed services to our people? Why are we openly practicing discriminatory policies against our people?
I encourage all of us, said Changson, particularly the youth to uphold the same principles we held dear when fighting the enemy.
This contributor is a staff member of MatMedia Sudan and can be reached at ding.yual@gmail.com