Demonstrators at the SSNA compound waiting President Kiir to address them [©Gurtong]
By Waakhe Simon Wudu
JUBA, 24th January 2012 [Gurtong] - South Sudanese yesterday took to the streets of Juba demonstrating against Khartoum role in stealing their country’s oil, and supporting the government’s decision to halt oil production in the country.
Hundreds of the demonstrators who joined the procession from the University of Juba marched to the South Sudan National Assembly; (SSNA) including the civil society organizations, women, youths, students both from secondary schools and the University of Juba, and government officials led by the Juba Mayor Al-Haj Baballa.
The demonstrators raised banners with messages condemning Khartoum’s move to overcharge South Sudan for using its oil production facilities and congratulated the government of South Sudan on the bold decision taken.
“Oil theft is a crime", “We support transparent oil export”, “Our oil is our right”, “We support Kiir’s decision”, “Thieves of Khartoum must be brought to book”, “You Bashir we need our oil now,” the banners read in bold words.
In a statement read before President Salva Kiir and several other government officials at the SSNA by the President of the University of Juba’s students Union, it stated that,
“As we stand here today, we want to inform both lower and upper Parliaments that we support the President and our cabinet for this crucial decision.
This country just achieved its independence six months ago and had been in existent without oil and will continue to be there should the oil cease to exist today. We request our government to never consider sending our oil through this Sudan pipelines, but should construct an alternative pipeline in sending our natural gas to world markets based on international fees,” the statement read.
However, the students also urged for transparency in the utilization of the non-oil revenues by the government.
“Moreover, South Sudan has an alternative avenue of agriculture and giving it a consideration will be far much better. Mr. President, our law makers should manage non-oil revenue collection with transparency for the better service delivery,” the students urged the president.
President Kiir in turn congratulated the demonstrators on the peaceful procession, he also warned all South Sudanese against mistreating or harassing any Sudanese in all the ten States.
“I urge you; any Sudanese staying with you in either of the ten States of South Sudan shouldn’t be mistreated. We know how Khartoum treats South Sudanese in the Sudanese States unfairly but we will not allow this here,” Kiir stressed.