Atar community response to Sudan Tribune article on the resignation of Pigi Commissioner. Audio clip and letter from the Governor’s office may be found at the end of the article.

June 28, 2012 - At the time when Jonglei state people had started enjoying peace and stability as result of successful disarmament process carried out by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and the government of Jonglei state presided by H.E. Koul Manyiang Juk, the government of the state, and after the relative peace which the state is witnessing now as a result of Peace and Reconciliation Conferences carried out by the Government and its partners, the Atar Community is shocked by irresponsible and baseless allegations and statements labeled against the Community by James Aleu Mijak, the ex-Commissioner of Pigi County, who was forced to resigned by the Community after he failed in ruling of the county.

His allegations which had appeared in the Sudan Tribune website of June 21, 2012, included among others the following:

(a) The "community’s refusal to the rule of law"

(b) He has resigned because the local chiefs had refused to hand over raiders who stole cattle from neighboring counties, to be tried by the court of law.

(c) He claimed that members of the Shilluk ethnic who attempted to return to their properties after fleeing the Pigi during conflict that erupted in 2010, have been denied access by the Canal community.

All mentioned allegations are illogic, baseless and lack evidences and cannot be stated by a responsible person who onetime had been representing the community as a Commissioner. The Atar Community was and is known by all neighboring communities as peaceful and law abiding people who do not tolerate any member of the community who may commit any crimes against its neighbors and who could not harbor or protect any criminal person hiding in the community.

In conclusion, the Atar Community would like to assure its neighbors that the county is open to all South Sudanese citizens, regardless of their races, tribes, religion and color or states and they have right to work and live in the County as a long as one respects and abides by the laws of South Sudan and as long as one could not support or work for militias who are fighting against the people and the government of South Sudan.

The Atar Community would like to assure their son, James Aleu Mijak, the ex-Commissioner of Pigi County that he is still a member of the community and has full right to represent them in any other positions and for him as a leader he should work for peace among his Community and their

neighbors. His removable from the position should not make him create problems between his community and their neigbours at the time when our government is trying its level best to unite the people of South Sudan to face the current challenges of war imposed against us by the NCP.

Finally, the Atar Community would like to assure the governor of Jonglei state, H.E. Lt. Gen. Koul Manyiang Juk and the government of the state that the Atar area and its people shall remain loyal to principle of the SPLM and to the government of the state as they did during the hardest time of struggle which had led to the independence of South Sudan.

It worse mentioning that Mr. James Aleu Mijak was deported from Canada to Khartoum, where he had worked for the NIF/NCP as security personal against the SPLM/A, using the name of Ali Omer after he had become Muslim. He was made a Militia Commander who commanded a militia’s force that had been attacking the SPLA base in Atar and was punished of adulatory crime at traditional court in Khartoum.

Atar Community in Juba

Information Office

Audio clip: Pigi county commissioner, Aleu Mijak has resigned from his position over what he described as the "community’s refusal to the rule of law", June 21, 2012 (ST)

Jonglei state Governor’s Office: Relief of Mr. James Aleu Mijak