Minister Awut Deng: A New Iron Lady on a fake war on corruption
- Details
- Created on Monday, 01 December 2008 17:02
- Written by Dr. James Okuk
DEC.
1/2008(SSN),
Alongside
Angela Merkel of
She
behaves and speaks like the Prime Minister of the Government of Southern Sudan.
And she really proves it every single day that she is not only the GoSS premier
but also one who is ruling
A
grade-8 basic school dropout, Madam Awut has of late been embarking on what is,
in her view, a Public Service Reform. The chief objective of this program is to
purge the public service of any corrupt practices. Her stated objective looks
good but they are far from being genuine.
In
fact, her surge and purge program could benefit from the track record expertise
and knowledge of hundreds of Southern Sudanese whose educational and career
credentials are no match to Madam Awut’s. But her refusal to accept the obvious
has now plunged her into unnecessary confrontations with the Ministries of
Interior, Legal Affairs and now the Parliament of Southern Sudan. This is in
addition to her many unprovoked animosities with many senior GoSS officials
including undersecretaries.
Typical
of her whimsical decisions, Awut recently recommended the suspension of General
Alfred Akuoch, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife
Conservation and Tourism. This recommendation underscores the magnitude of the
administrative disaster that Awut has brought to the GOSS Cabinet. It shows
that she is not aware of her limitations as she has no mandate to recommend the
suspension of an undersecretary.
Moreover,
it shows that she has no political sensibility. If she knew any politics, she
would have discreetly avoided being a party to the suspension of the only
serving undersecretary from the Shiluk (Chollo) community, especially at a time
when there is no single Shiluk in GoSS Cabinet.
In
the course of her fights with the ministries and the parliament, Awut Deng has
demonstrated remarkable arrogance towards her colleagues, seniors and
subordinates alike. This must not be allowed to continue. Her latest battle on
salaries with the representatives of the people of Southern Sudan shows that
Awut must be suffering from an illusion that she is above the institutions of
There
are two factors underlying her behavior which the people of
1-Awut’s
claim that she is reforming the Public Service is simply false. If this call
was genuine, she would have sought an informed opinion on the matter. And in
due process, she would have been told that public service regulations are never
applied unvaryingly on all institutions. For example, some of these
institutions such as the Parliament, the Armed Forces, the Police, the
Judiciary and the Legal Affairs are established by their own laws. Therefore,
they are not subject to public service regulations. Awut’s “innovative
ideas” that salaries of the honorable members of the Assembly of Southern Sudan
be cut, or that committees must be formed to supervise salaries of the police
personnel are simply ridiculous. These ideas are as stupid as her other idea that
undersecretaries of the various ministries must rotate positions within the
system! Tomorrow, Awut may come up with another idea that her ministry should
supervise payment of the SPLA salaries.
2-Awut
should not have been in this position in the first place.. She neither has the
qualification nor the ability to handle this important job. Her failure to
understand that she has no mandate to tamper with salaries of the Assembly and
the Police shows that she is unfit for the job. Yet she brags publicly that she
discusses these ideas with the President, and on many occasions, her
listeners would be bored to death with her never-ending references of “the
president told me”; “I discussed it with the President”; “I know what the
president wants,” etc etc
All
these phrases are part of an attempt to convince her interlocutors that she
alone owns the heart and mind of the President! Ah, Mama Awut! We expect a bit
of shame. Extramarital relations are secret things that should never be
confused with public affairs.
Finally,
we agree with Mama Awut that there is an urgent need to shake up our entire
system. But certainly not the way she does. Nevertheless, since Awut claims to
have the ears, mind and heart of the President, she would be well-advised to
take up serious issues of governance that affect the people of
Mama
Awut, corruption is walking among us gigantically like an elephant. We can see
it and so do you. So please let us stop whipping the shadow while leaving the
elephant.
If
you really care about corruption, then you must investigate:
- why and how renovation of government houses cost 700 million dollars.
There is no house in the whole world that is renovated for half a million
dollars. Please show us where this money has gone.
-why and how GoSS spending on cars alone reached 230 million dollars
during the last three years.
-why and how a GoSS Minister was allowed to take up to 20 million
dollars from Public Money and divide it among members of his sub-tribe and
clan.
- why and how land grapping is encroaching to include even plots of
senior colleagues in the government while the government looks on.
- why are some officials still in hotels even when living conditions in
These
are just few examples that you can do to save money on behalf of the people of
In
conclusion, you owe us an explanation as to why your Review Committee included
your would-be son in-law Dr. Lomumba Stanislaus. Isn’t this corruption? And why
are you paying this committee double digits per diem plus expensive hotel
accommodations?
FROM:
Martin Damkaar, Maker
Ajok, Ladule Laku, and Nyanut Baak;
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03-12-2008 09:18:03 |Unregistered| Nyaopun Aban Aban
Thanks, but not complete bravo; for your massive works on corruptions upon Goss. to be honestly to the southerners you are suppose to begin with our president Salva Kiir to proves him rights at the face of corruption, if you meant to be called "iron lady" and why are you targeting specific people in the government of south Sudan ( GOSS ). You are going blind as the Kiir issued you "Going ahead" on corruption. First Kiir should be an exemplary on these issues.
And you had not proved yourself too, if you wanting to stop corruption.
Any way brothers and sisters we were fighting each others for ours-home post, Jieng have turn the political crises on us after all lobbying.
We all know that, in politics no one can climb a political ladder without full support from those who have already reached the top.
I scratched my head when was passing thought the article and I wondered, what is going on real. if people like Wad Omol is stop from serving, then I will blames the Chollo's intellectual in the Goss system. Shames on you, kept on. Tommorrow will be yours with supprise.Nyaopun Aban Aban
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03-12-2008 14:12:00 |Unregistered| Omony Albino
The core figure for the existence of the SPLA Afred Akwoch ,from 1991 to 1994 SPLA forces were flashed out by the enemy from it most key town of Kapoita,Torit, Kejokeji Kaya, Morobo, Pachulla etc. Then they were siege to Nimule, and the enemy advanced to capture Nimule in which they collided with the SPLA forces under command of Oyay Deng Ajak. They halt at Achwa River they were not able to penetrate. Achwa is 12 miles from Nimule therefore Achwa became the front line. Alferd was in Nimule, Nimule was the head quarter of wildlife forces. The SPLA forces in Achwa again encountered anther enemy (hunger) which was almost weaking them from the enemy. Afred Akwoch thought wise and brought the modality to situation.
He sent his wildlife forces to for animals in both par and River then dispatch these meats to the front line, there was no grain by then soldiers were surviving only on meats of gazelles and hippopotamus until they defeated the enemy. I don’t know where was Awut by that time? and what contribution she did to SPLA. What I know to the best of my knowledge the suspension of undersecretary of ministry of Environment, wildlife conservation and Tourism is politically motivated and orchestrated by some individual for the sake of his position
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04-12-2008 03:24:44 |Publisher| Wadawang
I think Collo need a new political leadership who can put aside the fear from fellow human being like them and arise to confront the humiliation Collo is facing now from GOSS,UNS, and commissions etc.
Or the current politicians need to change their attitude and face the reality every Collo members now. This government doesn't respect Collo or even collo politicians. We know that.
They should ask them selves if they think they're partners in that government and arise to the moment. Or they keep hidding from the fact til the fire reach them too.But I think Collo should not wait til that moment.
If there is not change then new leadership must arise.Collo politics need to be re-define : Who do we feel good calling him or her our politician? or Who do what are our politicians?
I think the term South sudan or Southners need to be define. Does it includes Collo or not? What it stands stand for? and Is this current south Sudan government is a Southner government? or there is a Southner government Collo should wait.
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04-12-2008 10:09:01 |Unregistered| Dr olaw
what is happening is a direct result of our own deeds.for instance some of our politicians worked hard to remove their fellow collo from positions and replace them!!!!well and good ambition is desired in politics,but to our surprise the ambition endup with surrendering a high portfolio to others!!!!now we remained with the position of the SG,chief of staff and the one of alfred which is now needed.who knows tomorrow the SG and the chief chairs may be requested ,no body is immuned from these hungry wolfs.learn from Nuers please how they protect their positions.
Oh I almost forgot we have a ministry of higher education.
Latest News/Articles
What concerns me much in this article is this paragraph:
"Awut recently recommended the suspension of General Alfred Akuoch, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife Conservation and Tourism."
The writer gave a good answer to H.E. Awut who has been noticed as one of people working for the downfall of Collo in GoSS and GoNU.
Alfred Akwoch Omol has been known as the most professional and experienced wildlife expert in Southern Sudan before and after the CPA era. He has been protecting the wild life in liberated areas with a sincere commitment far from any tendency of corruption. Not only this, but also Hon. Alfred Akwoch was one of key figures in the formation of the SPLM/A in 1983. He was the one who sneaked Dr. John Garang out of Bor town to the Bush with his wildlife official Tayota. But now after the struggle is close to the the end, the Dinka Opportunists in the person of the so-called Minister Awut are forgetting those who have been doing the donkey works and even threatening them with dismissal from GoSS offices. What a dangerous provocation to the Collo people! I feel bitter for this!