The high taxation exacerbates the living conditions of South Sudanese By Lok Franco Kok, South Sudan
AUG. 23/2011, SSN; Tax is a central but neglected element of development policy. Lack of Taxation justice becomes the main problem that raised the commodities prices in the markets across South Sudan. The already deteriorating living condition of Southern Sudan citizens keeps taking a considerable extent, as the Nation imposed a high taxation on the consumption materials in the markets. The tax policy needs a critical insight in South Sudan which will guide all tax collectors not to increases the fixed percentages. Food sovereignty is the right of people to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and the right of their governments to define the food and agriculture policies of their country. Whereas, Taxation revenues always collected to meet the short-term need to address immediate problems of human development –the imperative that stems from a basic needs conception of poverty, including the provision of food, clothing and emergency medical treatment. Nevertheless, the revenues collected are used as pocket money by some individuals. Food prices keep raising every day throughout South Sudan and the government do not cares to act for better quality of life and prospects for its further improvement. The primary responsibility naturally does lie with government and toward the people of country to provide their daily basic needs. I would have reached out to the leaders of this country, and to let them know the kinds of changes that they still need to make. I certainly understand the difficult times of political instability we are living through. But we have to rededicate ourselves not to look behind on what Mr. X or Y is doing, but to concentrate on public interests, develop our ideas collectively to eradicate that nasty '' Big Stomach'' politics. The surge in food prices across the South worsen when the north made road blocked in north-south borderline which prevent the local traders from bringing goods to the South. The few smuggled items that are brought to save the citizens from starving were highly taxed by the government, and that high taxation made them to increase the prices to cover-up the taxes paid to the government. Local traders raise the prices in the markets as to compensate what they lost in taxation. In case you haven't noticed, South Sudan is on the verge of a horrific food crisis which needs an intelligent mind to correct. This is an issue that is on everybody's minds, but it is now on the minds of many people because of the crisis that is raging these months in South Sudan; which considered as a public issue and needs a joint effort from all people. What is happening is a severe humanitarian emergency, and the worst that South Sudan has never seen even during the twenty-two years civil war. The unfortunate food crisis continue to worsen day by day, and nobody dares to listen to the voices of citizens who are facing this severe food shortage. It 's apparently going to be a disaster as food prices keeps increasing gradually. With limited income from a small business and rising food prices, it is increasingly difficult for the people to ensure their children's regular meal and are unable to afford their school school fees. However, the immediate needs of those who are suffering the most must not be forgotten. Food commodity is becoming another for Wall street to make money after robbing local traders with their limited stocks smuggled from neighboring countries to save their fellow citizens. Now the elements delegated to perform the task of tax collection are turning their face towards the poor and how to make the poor even poorer. Unless the root cause is stopped it will not change. Financially unstable citizens and those living on a fixed income are harmed the most. Will food prices decrease when the food taxation prices go down again? I believe the cause of high foods prices in the markets is the consequence of high taxation imposed on the local traders by our government. If the government relieves the high taxation, all prices will imminently decrease. But I believe that we will all create a future heaven or hell based solely on our willingness to help others (our people) or our propensity to only help ourselves. If we all (or even just most of us) decided that we really do care about others, and we started living our lives with that attitude, then our species would have a fighting chance to not only survive this coming food crisis, but we would in the end create a sustainable society which would be based on justice, mutual respect, and equality. We've seen this situation coming for a long time, but the government failed to do something to avoid it. It looks like the storm clouds are gathering and it will be increasingly difficult to ignore the expected starvation, which is going to be a disaster. Of course, if the price of a loaf of bread in this country should suddenly skyrocket higher, the public will likely become engaged. But by then corrective action will likely be too late. So, take a step back for a second. If you think about all the factors that caused the food crisis, you’ll realize that the government do not cares for its own citizens. The best solution to this food crisis require a thorough insight from the South federal government. Right now, when the effects of food security are the most extreme, we must rededicate ourselves to breaking this cycle of food shortages, suffering, and dislocation that we see playing out once again in the South. The author lives in South Sudan, reachable through: [email protected] COMMENTS, PLEASE CLICK HERE Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author(s) and do not represent those of the website. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
