Jonglei State trade unionists and other supporters march in solidarity of the decision to halt oil production [©Gurtong]
By Pow James Raeth and Gabriel Manyang
BOR, 26th January 2012 [Gurtong] – While speaking to thousands of citizens who gathered at Jonglei State Secretariat General in support of the decision to shut down oil production countrywide, Jonglei’s Deputy Governor said South Sudan can survive without oil revenue just like the many years of struggle for freedom.
The procession began at Bor Freedom Square, then marched peacefully to the Secretariat General where they were addressed by the Deputy Governor Hon. Hussien Mar Nyout and other supporters like the leader of the Jonglei Workers Trade Union and the chairlady of SPLM women league in the State.
Deputy Governor Hussein Mar Nyout said that, “Sudan has been cheating us during and after separation, enough is enough we the people and the government of Jonglei are in total support of the decision taken by the central government in Juba guided by President Salva Kiir.”
Hon. Mar Nyout urged the people of Jonglei to focus on other economic activities like Agriculture and business to sustain the country’s economy.
Hon. Mar advised the civil servants not to complain in case the government adjusts their salaries in future. He told the rally that their presence in solidarity of the government's plan to halt oil production is like being signatories in the decision taken by the National Government.
“The government of Sudan is now recruiting our University students into militias to come and fight their own homeland. I hope our students are wise not to engage into activities against their will,” Mar added while appealing to the people of Jonglei to maintain peace in their State.
“Other States in South Sudan are talking about Jonglei’s insecurity, let’s work hard to our level best to keep our people alive,” he added.
“We lost a vast number of children, women and elderly people in the recent militia attacks and ethnic violence as well as the Murle and Lou Nuer conflict without justified reasons. It’s now time for peace and development; let us stop killing our vulnerable countrymen.”
The trade unionists who formed part of the procession thanked the State Ministry of Agriculture for providing tractors and other farm machineries to boost Agriculture as an alternative economic activity to oil production.