Forget about relocating the Capital City to Ramciel and prioritize roads and people-driven governance
By Steve Goi Gatluak, RSS DEC. 02/2011, SSN; The manner in which our government came to conclude that Ramciel is an ideal place for a national capital city is conspicuously questionable and very controversial in a sense. This is not to say that the government might have not thoroughly thought about the viability of such decision but I think someone somewhere undermined the importance of involving the common citizens through their elected legislatures or via national referendum. Logically, there is nothing wrong moving to a new place but such move should not stir up or aim to enforce a sense of marginalization precept neither should it be used as an excuse to suspend urgent national needs such as schools, roads, hospitals, enabling security, construction of oil pipeline, just to mention few. In the same line of contention, Aliab community from the onset of the decision by the government to relocate to Ramciel, had expressed legitimate reasons (including their threat to reject government decision if there is no wider consultation with them). Such concerns required government attention but it seems like the government is ignorant to such calls. I don’t know whether Aliab community concerns are exaggerated in content or someone is truly knowledgeable that they are faking ownership. It is up to the interested parties to clarify this dilemma. Again, is it true that Ramciel is a No Man's Land? If it is a no man's land then who created the name Ramciel? A lot needs to be ascertained here. One of the reasons cited by some prominent politicians in their quest to justify the executive decision to relocate the capital to Ramciel is that there is no enough land to build on around Juba while the un-grabbed ones (land) is under control of Bari community. Hence the luring questions are; what is the geographical land territory of Juba? Is Juba limited to Gudele, Gumba and Tongpiny or does its territory extend to Mongolla on the other east side of the Nile? In my view, still there exists vast land out in the territory of south Sudan. What we need is a transparent management of land transaction that will enhance equitable land restitution. Otherwise, Ramciel will not be the best solution to the land issue. Contrary to the national interest, the decision to re-allocate the capital City to Ramciel is unpopular; it also transpired from the recent Governor’s forum that each tabled their own immediate needs of which the issue of building a new Capital in the name of Ramciel did not surface in any deliberations of the forum. Equally important to ask, how certain are we that the same big fish will not grab Ramciel land and sell it out? How will the Government ensure equitable access to land for all citizens without salting its possession? Instead of wasting national resources in the name of Ramciel, I think the government should reverse the decision on Ramciel and wisely institute a comprehensive plan to spend state revenue to complete the already abundant donor-pleasing-Juba Airport project, build roads that connect all ten states, build schools, hospitals and promote strong public service Institutions. Finally, instead of projecting another episode of foreseen marginalization in Ramciel, the government should leave Ramciel alone to the Ramcilians and then focus on immediate needs. Individually, we all know our roots (village-wise) in South Sudan, those villages could become our small Washington DC if there were good roads and security. Steve Goi Gatluak is residing in south Sudan and he can be reached via [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 "South Sudan Info - The Kob" 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/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
