Demonstrators listening to Governor Rizik Zackaria Hassan’s speech in Wau [©Gurtong]
By James Deng Dimo
WAU, 24th January 2012 [Gurtong] - Various South Sudanese Political parties in conjunction with Western Bahr el Ghazal State (WBGS), civil society groups and members of State Legislative Assembly yesterday held a peaceful procession in support of the National Government’s decision to shut down oil production in the Country.
The procession was officially organized by the country’s leading political Party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in WBGS which started from the State’s main Secretariat office to the Governor’s office.
The National Parliament’s decision to shut down its oil export pipeline through Port Sudan in the North follows recent notification that the north had stolen more than 300,000 million Dollars worth of its oil since the country’s independence.
Addressing the gathering at the Governor’s office, the State Governor Hon. Rizik Zackaria Hassan welcomed the right of the citizens to support the decision to shutting down oil production to minimise theft.
“This is a national issue because the oil resources are part of your national economy. Therefore, no one can stop you from voicing your views publicly,” Hassan assured them.
"The North has been disagreeing in all dialogues with the South Sudanese leaders over the transit fees on exporting the south’s oil through Port Sudan while stealing more oil but as our national parliament’s decision states, we have began constructing our own oil pipelines through Lango port in Kenya to reach the world markets,” Hassan added.
“South Sudan is our land, we fought for it and lose our beloved relatives, we will not allow our oil resources to the north even a single gallon,” the SPLM Secretary in WBGS Mr. Kamil Wana said.
“We appreciate our president’s order to shut down oil production and we will stand firm with you to support our national interests and to protect our properties from enemies,” he added.