Friday, 07 September 2012

Written by Daniel Sebit

Juba – South Sudan once again shone at an international forum. This time it was 24-year-old Atong Demach who brought pride to the world’s newest country.

A university student, Demach emerged fourth at the Miss World Beauty contest, which took place in China on August 18, out of contestants of 116 countries.

That position earned her the crown of Miss World Africa.

She attained the highest points from all the contestants in the interview session and also won the top model contest.

That brought her into the top 15, which included contestants from Jamaica, India, Australia and Brazil.

She cruised into the finals with remarkable ease, ending at a respectable fourth position and bringing the world’s attention to the country she represents.

“I feel very proud and privileged to represent my country,” she said in a short press briefing upon her arrival at Juba airport on Tuesday.

Demach, who is in her final year at the University of Juba, was born in Bor, Jonglei state, and hails from the Dinka community.

Her name reflects the difficult situation she was born in, at the height of the civil war.

Atong alludes to a mother who was beaten by her husband not longer after birth, while Demach comes from ‘match’ and means fire.

The last born in a family of nine, she was crowned Miss South Sudan last year and speaks Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, Arabic and English.

Her hobbies are singing, playing basketball and writing. She describes herself as simple, loving and caring.

She now wants to use her fame to encourage young people to pursue education and realise their ambitions.

"Never give up on your dreams in anything you do," she advised the youth.

“I want to use this opportunity to pursue the vision of education for all. I urge the youth to stop wasting their time and indulge in too much drinking.”

She also advised people not to count only on the Government to make the world a better place.

“Have fun but be the best person (you can be) in your life. Focus on yourself. We do not need the Government only to make the world a better place.”

Friday, 07 September 2012

Written by New Nation Reporter

A series of armed robberies have been registered in Juba in the past two weeks in which several foreigners were shot, according to the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

A Kenyan man, a Ugandan woman, an Eritrean woman and the manager of a construction company were shot in the last two weeks, mostly after withdrawing money from the bank.

“It appears that armed criminals have been conducting surveillance at Juba’s banks, perhaps waiting to target individuals who withdraw large amounts of cash,” UNOPS said.

“The ‘shoot first, steal later’ pattern of behaviour is especially disturbing. These incidents may suggest an emerging pattern of daylight robberies as the economic situation continues to deteriorate in South Sudan.”

Friday, 07 September 2012

Written by John Actually

The United Nations mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has condemned an attack carried out by rebels of renegade soldier David Yau Yau in Jonglei state, in which at least 24 SPLA soldiers were killed.

Many more soldiers were injured in the August 23 attack, which took place in Lekuangole payam in Pibor county.

“I strongly condemn this attack and reiterate UNMISS’ call on all communities, institutions and actors engaged in the Jonglei peace process and related security operations to stay the course,” UNMISS boss Hilde Johnson said in a statement.

The UN mission believes that the attack was deliberate, intended to undermine the progress made in improving security and forging reconciliation in the troubled Jonglei state.

A second attack in the same payam on Thursday was reported by Jonglei governor Kuol Mayang but details of casualties were not known by press time.

“We have just received information that they have launched another attack on Lekuangole and the fighting is still taking place”, Mayang told the press in his office in Bor.

He accused the Khartoum Government of supporting the insurgency with ammunition, military logistics and helicopters.

“There is nowhere else they can get ammunition to fight the Government. David Yau Yau was in Khartoum and it is Khartoum supporting him, with the intention of undermining the security of the south”, he said.

His accusations were repeated by SPLA spokesperson Phillip Aguer in Juba.

“The attack to our information was conducted by few elements of Yau Yau who are currently based in Khartoum,” he told a press conference on Tuesday.

Aguer added that the rebels were joined by some Murle youth who were resisting disarmament.

He said they received information that elements of Yau Yau's militia had entered South Sudan through Upper Nile in July to recruit Murle youth.

"About 30 of them were intercepted by the SPLA force in Kilo Ashara, in Adar oil fields. They were dispersed but a few still managed to sneak into Jonglei," he said.

Aguer said that when the local authorities and SPLA command in Pibor heard that elements of David Yau Yau were recruiting, they sent about 200 soldiers to investigate. However, the forces were attacked by the insurgents so they decided to withdraw.

“During the withdrawal, 24 SPLA soldiers were killed, 12 were seriously wounded and more than 17 went missing,” Aguer stated.

WHO IS DAVID YAU YAU?

David Yau Yau’s rebellion in his native Pibor county, home to largely disenfranchised Murle, stands out from the other insurrections launched in the post-elections period because of his notable lack of military experience.

He studied theology in Kenya and South Sudan before taking a civilian job in Pibor county with the South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission.

He competed as an independent candidate in the Jonglei state elections.

After his electoral defeat, reportedly by a large margin, Yau Yau and forces allied to him launched a series of attacks beginning in mid-May 2010.

Many of his armed engagements with the SPLA over the next several months resembled minor banditry attacks more than full military operations.

Yau Yau agreed to begin negotiations with the government in 2010, but these talks came to a standstill after he was accused of attacking a group of civilians in late October 2010 in a remote area of Pibor.

In April 2011 the SPLA initiated a second negotiations process through the 8th Division commander Bol Kong and Pibor county commissioner Akot Maze.

In mid-June UNMIS transported Yau Yau to Juba, where he told reporters that he had already signed a ceasefire agreement and was prepared to finalise details of the integration process of his troops into the SPLA.

As the army prepared for full integration of his forces, he sneaked back to Khartoum in April this year after requesting for sick leave to Nairbobi.

According to intelligence sources, Yau Yau is now in Oundurman. He reportedly sent some forces to recruit youth in Pibor when they clashed with the SPLA.   

Friday, 07 September 2012

Written by Emmanuel Data

President Salva Kiir last month signed the new petroleum act governing the oil industry, the Minister of Petroleum and Mining, Stephen Dhieu, said on Thursday.

The act makes oil companies responsible for maintaining health, safety and environmental standards, which the ministry will monitor, he said.

It will also help ensure information about the oil industry is widely available, he added. "This transparent approach will ... work to reduce vulnerability for bribery by making corrupt practices more difficult than even before."

The act says that petroleum is owned by the people and managed on their behalf by the Government. “Management shall be conducted in a manner that contributes fully to economic prosperity and human development,” it states.

The people should benefit equitably from the oil revenues and its value should have lasting benefits for current and future generations.

Best international practices and technology should be used to minimise damage to the environment. The law further says there should be enough supply to serve the needs of the local people.

In addition, it says, fair competition should be promoted to increase productivity and efficiency in the petroleum sector.

The Petroleum Act provides for the establishment of the National Petroleum and Gas Corporation, which will participate in all petroleum activities.

Petroleum agreements should be signed following an open tender process. When a contractor decides to dispose of its interest, the National Petroleum and Gas Corporation will have the first option to buy.

The exploration period should not exceed six years, according to the new law. Whenever oil is discovered, the contractor should immediately notify the ministry.

In the event that the discovery is found to be commercially viable, the contractor needs to submit a plan for development of the oil. An environmental and social impact assessment then needs to be carried out and approved.

The ministry issues an annual production permit for pumping the oil. After termination of oil activities, the contractor should restore the area and remove causes of damage or danger to the environment or surrounding communities.

According to the law, the ministry should provide a community development plan for the petroleum area. “The plan shall include programmes for activities such as construction of roads, hospitals, schools and water and sanitation facilities.”

The law also provides for the establishment of a safety zone around petroleum wells, and oil companies need to have an emergency preparedness plan for dealing with accidents.

The law further states that the contractor is liable for pollution damage and should create a pollution damage fund for clean-up and rehabilitation of the site.

In addition, the law provides that opportunities are given for employment of South Sudanese who have the required qualifications, and that unskilled jobs should not be given to foreigners.

Finally, the act says that information about petroleum activities should be public. This includes information about oil production, revenues, expenditure, petroleum agreements and licenses.