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Politically, some state and national For 2012 Christmas, let us embrace them. Now we are consuming our
leaders also used the festive season forgiveness to heal broken families, own products such as tomatoes, sheep
to sensitize the citizens and explain restore friendships and reconcile divided among others. After separation and the
government programmes. communities because it is in forgiveness borders were closed, we are still able to
Governor Deng is one such leader who that we feel the power of God’s love,” he sell and buy our own products,” he said.
made maximum use of the festive season said. The governor rebuked the gloom The governor also used the Christmas
to preach peace and dissuade the public and doom singers about the future of holiday to brief the citizens on what the
against revenge attacks that saw scores South Sudan. “Since the independence government of South Sudan is doing to
of people killed across South Sudan of this country, the enemies of peace improve the conditions of people who
last year. The governor attributes such
mindless reprisal attacks to the work of
enemies of peace.
Governor Deng’s
New Year Message
“2012 has been a very challenging one
on the economic front. Despite our
vast natural resources, we are still facing
austerity measures that have reduced
our capacity to achieve our objectives,
hopes and desires of our nation. The
spirit of friendship that we had counted
on from the North [Sudan] has made us
realize that at times the best way to move
forward is to be brave and find home
grown solutions based on a common
bond, shared beliefs, mutual values and
goals,” Deng said.
He added: “The people of South Sudan
are one family, through the lens of history.
We have memories of our tribulations Unity State Governor, Taban Deng Gai. [Gurtong | Luk Riek Nyak]
during the liberation struggle. My call to
all citizens is we should at all times be have been saying that the people of for a long time were denied basic services
ready and willing to support ourselves South Sudan will not be able to govern as a result of the long war between the
in the direst of circumstances…As themselves and that many of them will South and Khartoum regimes.
members of this nuclear family….all the die of starvation which was totally false,” “The National Ministry of Petroleum
different tribes of South Sudan should he said. is in the process of supplying us with
always look to the future, with a sense of Most of the commodities consumed in electricity from Tharjiath Power Plant
pride, warmth and mutual respect while South Sudan are imported from Sudan and Male oil field which that will serve
still maintaining their individualism and East Africa and the governor too the counties of Koch, Guit and Pariang
because ultimately our diversity is our could not deny this fact but says the for the time being before it reaches other
strength.” South Sudanese citizens can produce counties,” he said.
“Fellow citizens, although we are capable their own goods. The survival of South Sudan without the
of great acts of kindness, the birth of “This country was importing all types of oil revenue was yet another important
Jesus Christ shows that forgiveness lies commodities from the North [Sudan] assurance the governor could not miss
in our hearts, he was born as the saviour. as if we don’t know how to make mentioning as he urged the citizens to

Gurtong Focus Monthly February 2013| 39