South Sudan army accused of hindering humanitarian aid
(ST)
Southern Sudan soldiers have been looting convoys of humanitarian assistance, aid workers said in statements published by the Associated Press on Monday.
"Officials from four aid groups said in recent days that that their work is becoming increasingly dangerous. They said they could not speak out publicly because of fears of reprisals from the government and military" the AP reported.
Aid groups said they documented some 80 cases of obstruction, vehicle hijackings or harassment of aid workers by SPLA soldiers since February.
The spokesperson of Sudan People’s Liberation Army Kuol Deim Kuol admitted that aid workers from Tearfund, an organization that used to work with local churches, had been beaten and detained by SPLA soldiers in Upper Nile last June.
The southern Sudan army is accused by opposition parties of intimidating their members and preventing them from conducting their political activities.
As the semi-autonomous region is preparing for a referendum on self-determination, Southern Sudan officials accuse northern Sudan ruling party of working to destabilize the south and supporting rebel and opposition militias.
SPLA official spokesperson denied hindering the activities of aid groups but says the beaten humanitarian workers were supplying food and medication to hostile militias.
The U.N. Deputy Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Southern Sudan, confirmed some "interference" but said the SPLA is working to redress their grievances.
"We know that this is a matter of concern of the SPLA and we’re very pleased that steps are being taken to address that," Lise said at a news conference.
However, SPLA chief of staff, Gen. James Hoth Mai, told AP they might expel aid workers if they criticize the army in a ruggedly tough manner.
"I said please don’t be harsh to us like that because tomorrow we can tell you to quit this country and you can go," Mai said. "But now, for you to continue with your work, you come tell us your problems in a polite way so that you continue with us."


Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail Addresses Meeting for Briefing on the Donors Conference for East Sudan
(SUNA)
The Presidential Advisor, Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, has affirmed that east Sudan obtains tremendous wealth and potentialities that can make a change and a qualitative shift if they are exploited
Addressing a meeting for briefing on the ongoing preparations for the Donors' conference for East Sudan, scheduled for in next November in Kuwait, Dr. Ismail lauded East Sudan Agreement which focused on the development and stability of east Sudan
He said that all the arrangements were finalized for establishment of the projects through funding from the donors in the fields of services development
The Director General of tEast Sudan Development Fund, Engineer Abu-Obieda Duj, affirmed completion of the arrangements for implementing development and investment projects at a cost of three billion US dollars for the three states of east Sudan


Southern Sudan issues assets and income declaration forms
(Mirayafm)
The Southern Sudan Anti-corruption Commission has issued assets, liabilities and income declaration forms to senior government officials in Jonglei State. This comes after a workshop organized by the commission with senior government officials and legislators in the State. A member of Southern Sudan Anti-corruption Commission, Mr. Awad Muswa, said that the policy has been well received. Meanwhile, the Director General for the Administration of the Commission, Tereka Sadraka, said the visit to Jonglei State has highlighted a strategy for police, security agencies, and the media to help fight illicit practices of making profit by corrupt means


Al-Jaz Meets Romanian Investors’ Delegation
(SV)
Minister of Industry, Dr. Awad Ahmed Al-Jaz said Sudan has the elements that make it a pioneer in the textile industry.
During a meeting with the Romanian investors delegation, who arrived here to consider the possibility of engaging in the development of the textile industry in the country, Al-Jaz stressed the importance of this sector which contributes to employment and to achieve value for the Sudanese cotton indicating to the exerted efforts to run gins and spinning calling the company to enter into a partnership to move energy and the development of industries operating in the textile field.
On his part, the head of the Romanian delegation expressed the company's wish to engage in rehabilitation, installation and operation of the spinning and weaving plants. He also revealed the willingness of his team to enter into partnership to enable the development of the said sector, pointing out that the company has a number of textile factories in Europe indicating that Sudan has the basics for success in the textile industry.

Vice - President of the World Bank for Africa Region begin Visit to Sudan
(SUNA)
Vice - President of the World Bank for Africa Region, Mrs. Obiageli Katryn Ezekwesili, Tuesday evening arrived in Khartoum on a four-day visit to Sudan during which she would visit Khartoum and Juba to be informed on the activities of the World Bank and the Donors Fund in Sudan
Mrs. Ezekwesili is accompanied by the Director of Africa Region Strategy and Operations, Mr. Colin Bruce
The World Bank officials will hold meetings with a number with Sudanese officials to review the role of the World Bank on the technical support and the economic and development policies
The World Bank Delegation would also meet with the UN peace-keeping mission and the UN, African Union Mission for Darfur (UNAMID) and a number of the civil society leaderships
Mrs. Ezekwesili would hold a joint press conference with the Minister of Finance, Ali Mahmoud, at 04:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the premises of the Ministry of Finance
Invitation to attend this press conference is directed to all the mass and press

A Witness from Its Own Folk Testifies
(Opinion)
According to news articles published in yesterday’s dailies the Minister of Petroleum Dr. Lual Deng has criticized the southern independence by saying that an independent South shall be a malevolent factor for itself and the North and the neighbouring countries.
We believe that the most reasonable words that came from Dr. Lual is his affirmation that even US President Barack Obama was against the division of Sudan deep down in his heart despite the fact they did not meet.
Lual criticized statements of SPLM Secretary-General, Pagan Amum against the unity of Sudan affirming that First Vice President, Salva Kiir believes in the unity of the Sudan and had issued order to achieve it.
However, it became very difficult these days to find a reasonable and wise SPLM figure within the political chaos caused by the tautened SPLM group such as Pagan Amum and his likes.
One of the positive aspects in Lual Deng’s statements is that his stressing that he is a unionist in the footsteps of a unitary leader late Dr. Garang, and more positive is Lual's criticism to Pagan separatist calls describing the latter statements as expressing his own views and not that of the SPLM.
Lual urged the Southerners who live in America, in this advanced democratic country should make use from the U.S. experience in unity [after the civil war], pluralism, ethnic and religious tolerance, adding that they should not sit in America, and issue verdicts from over there, to avoid opening doors to a new war.
But despite the existence of such wise voices within the SPLM leadership, still the destructive moves are continuous as the movement declared that 1.5 million Southerners living in the north will be transported to southern Sudan before the referendum date, a matter which violates the referendum bill endorsed by the National Assembly.
There is no law or regulations in the referendum bill that points to transport of southerners living in the north to vote in the referendum, hence any attempt from the SPLM to transport southerners is considered as hindering the rights of the southerners from practicing their rights according to the referendum bill which allows them to vote wherever they live all over the country.
But it is the evil mentality of some SPLM figures who are used to adapting the devil's ideas and transforming it into destructive action.

Nobody wants the referendum to delay and nobody will object over the results as long as it will be conducted under the observation of international bodies.
What is needed now from the SPLM is to commit to conducting a fair and free referendum availing complete chance without any pressures for the south Sudan citizen to vote.
We urge SPLM wise figure to continue talking wisdom in the few remaining months so the simple citizen will know which is better for him.