Otuho's Blog

EES Parliamentarian Accused Of Instigating Tribal Animosity The Eastern Equatoria State (EES) Parliamentary Inquiry Committee’s Chairperson Tobiolo Alberio Oromo has revealed to Gurtong that investigations are underway to prove allegations labelled against Hon. Offis Asada over instigating ethnic tensions and cattle raids in his constituency

otuho — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:59:48 +0000

28 September 2011 Hon. Ofis Asada (wearing spectacles) briefing the Governor in his office during a past meeting [©Gurtong] By Peter Lokale Nakimangole TORIT 28th September 2011 [Gurtong] – The Eastern Equatoria State (EES) Parliamentary Inquiry Committee’s Chairperson Tobiolo Alberio Oromo has revealed to Gurtong that investigations are underway to prove allegations labelled against Hon. Offis Asada over instigating ethnic tensions and cattle raids in his constituency. The move follows a petition from Asada’s constituency number 03 (Torit North East), comprising of the Hiyala and Bur Payams addressed to the State Governor through the State Legislative Speaker, accusing Hon. Offis Asada of instigating enmity among communities within the constituency. Following the petition against the honourable member and after wide consultations, the State Governor with his cabinet and the Legislature finally agreed to have Asada be investigated by the Parliamentary committee constituted by the Speaker in consultation with the Governor. The Governor wrote a letter dated 22/08/2011 to the speaker empowering him to carry out an in-house inquiry through the Parliamentary Committee. The constituency petition states that Mr. Asada; 1.Was the mastermind behind the sabotage of Bur’s flag being hoisted at its headquarters, 2.Instigated Loronyo Boma to fight Loudo so that flag hoisting at Bur Payam be hindered completely. 3.Was an accomplice in the recent raiding of 25 cows at Loudo by Loronyo criminals 4.Involved in the ongoing conflicts between the people of Imurok and Nyong Payams respectively, 5.Involved in refuelling misunderstandings between the people of Mura-Hatiha and Tiriangore The Eastern Equatoria State Legislative Assembly (EESLA) Speaker, Right Hon. Emmanuel Ambrose Ocholimoi wrote a letter dated 08/09/2011 number RRS/EESLA/T/1.A.1 in which he constituted the 7-Member Parliamentary committee and stated that ‘the committee is mandated by Assembly Business Committee (ABC) to investigate any other allegations deemed necessary against the embattled honourable Asada’ The seven members to the ongoing investigation committee are Hon. Tobiolo Alberio Oromo, the chairperson deputized by Hon. Benjamin Lopeyok and Hon. Aventore Kenyi Bilal is the committee’s secretary with the following members; Hon. Elizabeth Adodo, Hon. Alma Thomas Maha, Hon. Anjela Ajana and Hon. Angelo Lomoi. Hon. Oromo who is also the EESLA’s Chief whip told Gurtong that since his committee was still receiving different petitions from various villages accusing Asada on different issues, the public will be updated accordingly as they are now busy studying and verifying witness reports. As part of reference, the committee is mandated to investigate witnesses of both parties and the Torit Commissioner will continue to assist the committee in obtaining any relevant information from the constituency especially from the villages mentioned. The Speaker commissioned the committee to submit its findings and recommendations to his office immediately as soon they complete the inquiry and thereafter, the Speaker will further present the report to ABC with supportive information then finally to the State Governor. In an interview with Gurtong, Hon. Asada claimed to be innocent since there was no reliable evidence. Asada was confident that his accusers from Bur had no documents attached to their petition to charge him of corruption. Hon. Offis Asada, an MP at EESLA, won the 2010 April election under the Independent ticket after losing parliamentary nominations to his present County Commissioner of Torit comrade Felix Otuduha Siro. After the elections results, the elected State Governor Loius Lobong Lojore appointed Felix Otuduha Siro to his present position as the County Commissioner. Posted in: Home

Otuho villages said to be at wrangles

otuho — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:40:22 +0000

http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ID/5709/Default.aspx

Peter Lokale Nakimangole
TORIT 13th September 2011 [Gurtong] – A reconciliation conference in Eastern Equatoria State (EES) for resolving wrangles in identifying and establishing a sub-County Headquarters for Payams in Bur, that had been deferred severally has now been rescheduled to take place this coming Saturday at CDOT hall in Torit County.

For nearly a month now, community members here have been in a dispute over a central venue which could bring together the competing villages for a common understanding on identifying and allocating their sub County Headquarters.

Some members chose Torit while the rest preferred the affected villages to choose their venue for holding the reconciliation meeting. Initially, two-thirds of the population preferred the meeting to take place at Horo, a meeting place located between Loronyo and Loudo villages.

The conference had been deferred leading to several delays due to disagreements over a venue by the concerned community intellectuals. Gurtong media correspondent attended a preparation meeting presided over by the State Governor Hon. Louis Lobong Lojore at his office in Torit last Saturday 10th September 2011, where the matter was resolved.

Governor Lobong assured the community that his administration will cover all meals expenses during the Otuho’s intellectuals meeting from the 6 villages.

Lobong encouraged the community members to take lead in the peace process as opposed to his domination in the matter. He challenged them to have genuine reconciliation efforts. “You are there to see fruitful end results,” he asserted.

The conference’s aim is to prepare and bring together community intellectuals from the six villages of Bur Payam. This is to make them agreed by consensus and to reconcile over identification and allocation of the new headquarters.

According to the Commissioner of Torit County, Mr. Felix Otuduha Siro, the six villages wrangling over identification and relocation of Bur sub – County Headquarters include Loudo, Loronyo, Lohiri, Lohila, Longelet and Loiaju. He said Loronyo village was allegedly accused of plotting to relocate the Payam headquarters into its territory, prompting other five villages’ disapproval.

The upcoming Otuho intellectuals’ reconciliation conference which precedes the locals meeting is paramount since it will open a door for reconciliation and identify through mutual agreement; on a venue for another meeting involving all the 6 villages to reconcile among each other, the authorities confirmed.

A community member from one of the villages stated in the meeting that Otuho community has an internal problem, while Hon. Ofis Asada of EES Legislative Assembly whose constituency is part of the contesting villages, blamed the organizers for plotting secretly and had parallel programs as far as the meeting date fixation and venue allocation are concerned.

Hon. Asada briefed the community members that meetings scheduled to take place in Torit had been postponed for the last three Saturdays but welcomed the new collective initiative; he said that the participants will now air out their opinions and views on how to handle the matter.

The latest resolution to let the meeting take place at DOT’s hall in Torit favours all the mentioned village’ representatives while awaiting another meeting to take place at grassroots levels.

Commissioner Otuduha said there are four Payams in Eastern Equatoria State which have not been granted a warrant of establishment, among them is Bur.

He said if all the 4 Payams fail to identify and allocate their Headquarters; they will not only continue to be denied a warrant of establishment but also developing and constructing their respective Payams’ headquarters.

“This is very serious and has implications on the citizens who live here. For these areas to be developed; there is need to construct institutions for service delivery closer to the people in villages or rural communities,” Otuduha clarified.

Commissioner Otuduha confirmed to Gurtong that a representative from the Local Government will facilitate the upcoming intellectuals meetings.

The members also agreed that the number of participants expected for the upcoming intellectuals meeting will be close to 40 members.

Posted in: Home, Culture, Governance

Otuho For Peace and Development

otuho — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 10:37:23 +0000

Is an initiative born in Australia & USA by Otuho community members longing to see that their dream of a peaceful nation and homeland comes to fruition.In their quest to see this through we have identified that development holds key to realising this dream.

We are in early stages of developing a master plan for the the realisation of peace through development in our home land. On the 24th of September we will be releasing a mission statement that will guide through the initial stages of getting interested individuals of Otuho origin to play part in this ground breaking agenda. For this is the time to embark in this kind of Ideas especially when our people are vulnerable to politics of division and hate not out of their wish but because of external interest. We should stand firm and reject colonialism and believe in Otuho Nation as the only way forward!

Peace be with you all and look after one another, we are our brothers keepers……
Otuho Oyee, Fr Saturlino Oyee, South Sudan Oyee !!

CIVIL SOCIETY

otuho — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 05:04:04 +0000

http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ID/5603/Default.aspx

An inspirational day for people of South Sudan. I am glad the government of CES governor mentioned the importance of national development through promotion of activities of civil societies.

Unfortunately he mentioned a good Idea without backing it up ” either come to the resource centre or pick a hoe” well have you taught the vast illiterate populace the ways of better crop and animal agricultural practices? I suppose then they should come to the civic centre for workshops that teach them of better ways to cultivate and care for their animals.

We need not only straight talking politicians but those who know what their people lack and how to help them get their way around some of the difficult issues.

Thank you USAID and the government of CES, I hope the rest of the states will follow on from what you have done for the people of your state and South Sudan

Dynamyq

otuho — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:09:45 +0000

July was a phenomenal time for South Sudanese in Australia, they were lucky to have the famous US based Otuhoni, Dynamyq present his popular RUKA music.

Well done dynamyq, for your information your music CD compilation sold like hot cake……!!

Otuho community welcomes the new executive team

otuho — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:44:14 +0000

Mahjoub,Solomon and Butrous

Exactly 3 weeks ago members of Otuho community of Australia went to the polls, to exercise their democratic right entrenched by the constituition. The following were elected to manage the busy affairs of Otuho community of Australia Incorporated. Mr Abraham Arkadio Ohidye -chairperson, Mr Andrew Bosco- Secretary general, Mr Fonse Oyeck-Treasurer, Mr Taban Anil- Assistant Treasurer, Dr Shabana Ahamed -Information secretary,Ms Sadia Cholong-Secretary women’s office.This was followed by a colourful handover ceremony on the 25th of June.
We wish the new office all the best and will satnd along them in their 2 years of administration as we propel OCA to great heights.

Counting days… to 9th July 2011

otuho — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 13:05:27 +0000

The magical number is 9.

Chinese culture
Nine (九 pinyin jiǔ) is considered a good number in Chinese culture because it sounds the same as the word “longlasting” (久 pinyin jiǔ).
Nine is strongly associated with the Chinese dragon, a symbol of magic and power. There are nine forms of the dragon, it is described in terms of nine attributes, and it has nine children It has 117 scales – 81 yang (masculine, heavenly) and 36 yin (feminine, earthly). All three numbers are multiples of 9 (9×13=117, 9×9=81, 9×4=36)[1] as well adding up individually to 9 (1+1+7=9, 8+1=9, 3+6=9).
The dragon often symbolizes the Emperor, and the number nine can be found in many ornaments in the Forbidden City.
The circular altar platform (Earthly Mount) of the Temple of Heaven has one circular marble plate in the center, surrounded by a ring of nine plates, then by a ring of 18 plates, and so on, for a total of nine rings, with the outermost having 81=9×9 plates.
The name of the area called Kowloon in Hong Kong literally means: nine dragons.
The nine-rank system was a civil service nomination system used during certain Chinese dynasties.
Ancient Egypt
The nine bows is a term used in Ancient Egypt to represent the traditional enemies of Egypt
European culture
The Nine Worthies are nine historical, or semi-legendary figures who, in the Middle Ages, were believed to personify the ideals of chivalry
In Middle Earth, there are nine rings of power given to men, and consequently, nine ringwraiths
[edit]Greek Mythology
The nine muses in Greek mythology are Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (erotic poetry), Euterpe (lyric poetry), Melpomene (tragedy), Polyhymnia (song), Terpsichore (dance), Thalia (comedy), and Urania (astronomy).
Japanese culture
The Japanese consider 9 to be unlucky because it sounds similar to the Japanese word for “pain” or “distress” (苦 kunrei ku)[citation needed].
The character Cirno from the Touhou series is often called “nine,” “⑨,” “circle-nine,” or “nineball,” because in the game manual for “Phantasmagoria of Flower View,” she was labeled (9) Idiot (⑨ バカ ⑨　baka?).[2]

My question is when are the Chinese coming……

What a weekend

otuho — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 12:50:23 +0000

I woke up late, rushed and did some prep,dashed to the car, found difficulty un-parking, bse someone parked too close!! Idid’nt want extra expenses from a fortnight of already bad lucks! will tell u in brief….

Fr Akio Mutek

otuho — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:09:59 +0000

Dear Bishop, the people of Torit in diaspora are with you in prayers with regards to your health.It is our understanding that you have had a rather rough ride in the last 6-12months.We believe that by the grace of God your health problems and other ongoing difficulties as you work for our people will improve for the best.

We in Australia stand with you and the Diocese of Torit in such difficult times.

May God bless you, the people of Eastern Equatoria, and South Sudan as we strive to become an independent nation for the betterment of our children’s futures.

Support from Otuho community of Australia toward 'Hunger campaign' delivered to the Diocese of Torit

Love is the answer

otuho — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:49:56 +0000

This is a message to U and your compatriots.It is basically calling for your input as the people of South Sudan turn the page this July.
I was talking to several North Sudanese brothers and sisters including a doctor colleague.They Unanimously agree that we southern people have been treated unfairly.But are saddened by the separation! Besides that they say it is clear Mr Omar El Bashir does not love Sudan!! for he did he would have compromised etc.
With the page turned….does Salva Kiir love South Sudan? I would like to meet him in person to ask this question, for if he does then we shall be sure to prosper even with the meagre resources at our disposal.I challenge him and the SPLA leadership to prove me wrong