2021 Diary: Why 2021 is Chagor’s year to forget

Denay Jock Chagor climbed to the summit of the Jonglei State government as the governor, ushering in the hope for youthful leadership. But for Jonglei’s first in command, the youngest governor, the 2021 stint has not been rosy.

Chagor’s year began with chains of engagements of peace when the conflict escalated in Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA). Massive killings and displacement took centre stage, with little steps being made.

In January, Chagor took part in the three-day conference, which was attended by 250 delegates, including youth, women, chiefs, and intellectuals from Bor, Gawar, Lou Nuer, Anyuak, and Murle.

In March, Chagor’s leadership made steps when the communities in Jonglei State and GPAA vowed to the peace agreement in the 10-day grassroots peace conference at Pieri in Uror County.

There, the delegates resolved that all the abductees should be returned to their communities to create a chance for free trade, adding that those found to be sabotaging the resolutions should be punished. But these efforts are futile as long as the peace process remains worthwhile.

This peace agreement has become a white elephant as killings continue and attempts towards the peace process boomerang on him.

Retaliatory killings

Recently, there was the killing of two people from Anyidi who were travelling to Anyidi from Bor on a motorcycle by unknown gunmen.

This led to retaliation in which seven traders from Pibor were murdered in Bor town. It also subsequently led to the killing of Jonglei traders between Gumuruk and Machabol in GPAA.

According to the data from the office of Governor Chagor, 34 people have been killed in November since the incident in Bor, which claimed the lives of seven traders from GPAA.

Throughout October and November, the state witnessed a spate of killings stemming from retaliation even as the governor engaged other administrators to help support peace initiatives.

Peace trials

Nearly two weeks ago, Chagor called for the peace accords signed between Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) to be revisited and killings to be avoided.

He said that the government of Jonglei State remained committed to the Pieri Peace Agreement and other peace agreements signed. He asked his counterpart, Lokole Amee, to give peace a chance and strive to stop the killing of innocent citizens.

“The peace between us and the GPAA is bigger than everything. However, we feel that little is honoured by the Greater Pibor Administrative Area for not doing enough to cease recurrent attacks,” read the statement from the office of the Governor.

The Chairperson of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area Steering Committee, Juma Laduz, said that they were committed to the peace process. He added that the youth were committed to peace with Jonglei State.

He also condemned the killings in Jonglei State, saying that the GPAA administration was trying hard to investigate such attacks if the criminals were from Greater Pibor.

“Currently, the youth in GPAA are still in the provision of having peace with Jonglei State. Everybody is expecting that peace to be implemented. The suspicious eye could be on the side of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, which we could not deny and we cannot accept because there is no proof that shows that these people are from Greater Pibor, ” he said.

Prescription

Apart from the stinging insecurity, Chagor received criticism from health workers, trade unions, and activists and shot his way through the better part of the year.

For example, last month, he was heavily criticised after ordering a probe into the killing of seven (7) traders from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).

He asked Bor Chiefs to refrain from “inhumane, brutal, and cowardly acts of revenge” and further ordered security forces to urgently investigate the incident.

Chagor was criticised for taking one side and ignoring the cause of two people from Bor were killed while travelling to Anyidi.

He stated, “In my capacity as Governor and Head of Security Committee in the state, I, therefore, order all the security forces to thoroughly investigate those who are indirectly or directly behind this cruel incident and quickly bring them to book as soon as possible so that justice is served.”

The Jonglei State Workers’ Trade Union (WTU) last month wrote a petition giving Chagor 72 hours to revoke his decree on the appointment of Director Generals for the state ministries.

They claimed that the process of appointing the Director Generals did not meet the right procedures since it was not decided by the council of ministers but was the governor’s own decision.

“It is, therefore, upon this understanding and realising how un-procedural this order is, that the leadership of WTU, on behalf of the entire Jonglei Civil Servants, hereby petitions your esteemed office to unconditionally revoke the Gubernatorial Order No. 4/2021.”

They said the appointment was an utter violation of public service laws and procedures that regulate the employment of civil servants.

Three days ago, the Workers’ Trade Union in Jonglei State issued a statement asking the state government to implement the  100 per cent salary increment announced by President Salva Kiir for all civil servants and organised forces.

The union claimed the salary structure had been modified by the state government to suit their interest. They referred to the alleged act as “denial of their civil rights.”

“On the contrary to this new salary structure, the government of Jonglei State in the letter dated December 9, 2021, omitted the additional allowances for all civil servants, despite our numerous appeals. This is unacceptable.”

The union called on the civil servants within the state to go on strike to claim their civil rights.

“It is important to note that we are exercising our rights and we anticipate our government to uphold and respect them, especially in these trying times, Jonglei state government should also understand that if it is still denying what is rightfully ours, we may consider demonstrations to continue demanding.”

The acting governor of Jonglei State, Tuong Majok Deng, said the salaries were prone to deductions because they were gross salaries and some taxes should be removed before they are paid.

He said the civil servants were claiming an allowance called the “nature of work allowance” which was introduced by the state government but had never existed.

“My concern as the acting governor of Jonglei state is that there are allowances which have not been in the system of Jonglei since 2005 called “nature allowances.” It is not there to be added to the salary, it was introduced by the new state government, ” Tuong said.

Bol Deng Bol, a civil rights activist, said the civil servants and workers’ trade unions have all it takes to claim their rights because other states have already received their salaries without hindrances.

“There should be no deduction from the net salaries. “The acting governor is not honest on this. If the undersecretary is honest enough to say that the civil servants have the right to demand what they have given them at the national level, just as it is in other states, they are receiving it without issues,” Bol said.