Jonglei governor asked to provide alternative telephone network

Jonglei State Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk shown in this file picture on his arrival to Bor in December 2007

April 9, 2008 (Diaspora NSV ) - A group of Jonglei State citizens, mostly from the Diaspora, have asked the state governor Lt. Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk to provide an alternative telephone network as Gemtel network doesn't work well.
The group have suggested to the governor to consider bringing either Kenyan Safaricom or Sudan Mobil as alternative since Gemtel network is not delivering communication services as expected.
For details, the petition is produced below:

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To: The Honorable Governor of Jonglei State
Lt. Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk
Jonglei State, Bor.

Subject: Jonglei State needs a good telecommunication network

Dear Mr. Kuol Manyang,

First of all, we want to thank you for working hard to bring a total state of tranquility to Jonglei by implementing the disarmament with earnest resolution. Although there are some insecurity incidents which are still occurring, we believed that complete peace will soon prevail in Jonglei State .

Meanwhile, today we are petitioning your government for a
different but very important matter for Jonglei State . Some months ago when the Gemtel Phone Company put down its telephone towers in Bor and other towns in the South, many of us were very delighted for being finally connected to their relatives. As a result of this new telephone connection, a lot of people sent money to their relatives to buy cell phones so that they could be in touch all the times. For sometimes, we have been talking straight to people in Bor and other parts of South Sudan .

However, this changed drastically in late February of 2008 because the calls stop going through the networks. You can hear the telephone ringing after you dial a number but it doesn’t actually reach or ring on the other side. Nevertheless, people in Bor or South Sudan with the Gemtel network can call us without any difficulty and this has made some of us suspicious about the network. So, we did a little research about the problem.

We asked phone cards operators here in USA , Canada and Australia to find out why our calls don’t go through the networks since we call to Sudan using their calling cards. As you might know Mr. Governor that Gemtel is operated by Ugandans in Uganda because it uses the country code 256+#. They (American operators) were told by Ugandans that the telephone number was wrong. This is not true because not all of us can get the phone numbers wrong. In addition to that, people from Nairobi are finding it almost impossible to get their calls through the network. Because of all of these difficulties in using the Gemtel network, we came to two conclusions about its inability to deliver services to our people.

First, Gemtel has a very poor commitment to Sudan contract and therefore, the company is using few resources to maintain the network serving Sudan while making profit from people buying phone cards. Second, since the company uses Uganda code (256+), the operators might be blocking international calls to Sudan because it is quiet bizarre to hear a phone ringing but not reaching the destination.

The first scenario is very unlikely because if our calls don't go through because of poor network, then people in Sudan would have not been able to call us. We believe the second scenario is the reason behind this problem. Gemtel management or operators in Uganda are somehow deliberately blocking calls to Sudan in order to either force people in Sudan to buy their phone cards or lower network jam in Uganda since international calls have to go through Uganda first and then to Sudan. Whatever the reason is, we
Jonglei students in Diaspora have decided to ask you Mr. Governor to address the need for good network for Jonglei State .

We have suggested two options which are available for Jonglei State to consider. The first option is the Kenyan Safaricom which operates in both Kenya and Uganda . This phone company, unlike Gemtel, has a good network and we believe that it may deliver much needed telecommunication services to the people of Jonglei State . Second option should be Sudan network. Sudan mobile is operating in Juba and it has a very good network since all calls go through whenever we call to Sudan .

Mr. Governor, we believe that good telecommunication is a key to
development of Jonglei State as it will enhance productivity of Businesses.Many small business owners in Jonglei do not have good communications or satellite phones. This diminished their ability to operate their businesses effectively because they can not communicate on time when they are either in Kenya or Uganda buying supplies for their shops in Jonglei. Also, some of us who are living overseas have business or family interests and it would be better served if we have good network.

The more successful businesses a State have, the more taxes its government will generate to bring services to the people. So Mr. Governor, good network will help businesspersons in Jonglei State maximize their potentials and it will also allow Diaspora to contribute to the reconstruction of the Jonglei State and South Sudan in general. Finally, we ask you Mr. Governor to do everything in your power to get a good network for the people of Jonglei State .

Sincerely,

Jonglei State Citizens against Insecurity
1.Abacha Maluk Deng
2.Abiel Abil
3.Abraham Chol
4.Abraham Kuany
5.Abraham Mach
6.Achiek Manyok
7.Adol Makuei
8.Aduei A. Riak
9.Agot Deng
10.Aguet Kuany
11.Ajah Dau
12.Ajak Mabior
13.Ajang Aguer
14.Ajok Deng
15.Akech Kuol Mawan
14.Akuei Garang
15.AKuien Awour
16.Alakiir Diing
17.Anderia Lual
18.Anyar Ngang Alith
19.Anyuat Kur
20.Atem Deng
21. Athieng Riak
22. Athou Lam
23.Ayen Nhial
24. Ayok Monydit
25. Ayual Mayom
26. Ayuen Buol
27. Ayuen Deng Ador
28. Banak Moses Mading - SPLM Chapter member, U.S.A
29. Bior Keech
30. Bior Kuer Bior
31. Bol Akuoc
32. Bul Nyuop
33. Cham A. Agatda
34. Chol Agot
35. Chol Kelei
36. Chol Majok
37. Chol Mayen
38. Chol Mayom
39. Chuar Juet Jock
40. Chuol Wal Chak
41. Dak Hoth Wuol
42. Daniel Mayen
43. David Maluak
44. David Mathiang
45. David Nhial
46. David Pulkuoth Biey - SPLM Youth Member,Canada
47. Debora Makuei
48. Deng Ajak
49. Deng Ayach Adit
50. Deng Moses Gatwech
51. Deng Tong
52. Dor Akech
53. Dut Marhu
54. Elijah Mayian Lul, Nyirol Payam representative, South Sudan
55. Elizabeth Kuch
56. Eng Philip Kiir Gatwech
57. Fortytwo Yuol -SPLM Youth members, Canada
58. Francis Chagai Bol
59. Gabriel Ayom
60. Gabriel Chol
61. Gabriel Ruot Dol
62. Gabriel Yien Daniel
63. Gai Ajuoi
64. Garang Ajak
65. Gatbel Both Paldeang
66. Gatdin Diew Donge
67. Gatwech Both Paldeang
68. Gatwech Jal Lam
69. Gordon Gatbany Chuol
70. Jacob Bul
71. Jacob Dau
72. Jacob Gai
73. Jacob Lual
74. James Ayuen
75. James Biel Gatluak - Lou Nuer community Secretary in Alberta
76. James Deng Wan - Church elder/leader in Canada.
77. James Machar
78. Jany Yai Hoth- SPLM Youth Member, Canada
79. John A. Manyang
80. John Addis Palet
81. John Ayuen Deng
82. John Chol
83. John Chuang
84. John Chuol Bol
85. John Deng
86. John Garang
87. John Jok Nhial
88. John Nyuon
89. John Riak
90. John Yien Lam
91. Johnson Alier
92. Johnson Okello
93. Jok Dau
94. Ker Biel Gach - SPLM Youth member
95. Khorhok Gal Gar -SPLM Sec in Nyirol County
96. Kongor Akoi Garang
97. Kou Ayuen
98. Kuir Jibol
99. Kuol Garang
100. Lual Guet
101. Mabior Buol
102. Mabior Thuch
103. Mading Ngor Akec Kwai
104. Majeep Kou
105. Majok Kunjok
106. Majur Makor
107. Makeer Agoot
108. Malueeth Mapior
109. Mamer Garang
110. Mangok Mach
111. Manyok Gak
112. Margaret Awek
113. Martha Nyadieng Tut - Lou Nuer Women Association com, secretary of finance
114. Mary Kuai
115. Mary Nyakuiy Yiam - Church women representative in Edmonton, Canada
116. Mawut Deng
117. Mawut Guarak
118. Mawut Mayen
119. Mayak Machar
120. Michael Kuir
121. Moses Chuol Wal - Sudanese Nuer community Chariman in Edmonton, Canada
122. Moses Deng
123. Ngor Deng
124. Nhial Bol
125. Nhial Dak Duop
126. Nhial Tiitmamer, Canada
127. Nyanjok Lam
128. Paul Deng
129. Peter Chuol Kuany
130. Peter Kuol
131. Peter Makuach
132. Peter Manyok
133. Peter Reat Gatkuoth
134. Peter Thot Nyang - Nyirol county official and members of Nyirol assemble.
135.Philip Dut
136. Reuben Panchol
137. Riak Aquila
138. Samuel Leek
139. Samuel Lim Gatkuoth, SPLM youth member, Kakuma, Kenya
140. Simon Umot Ukuak
141. Solomon Machar
142. Stephen T. Gatluak
143. Tap Lokchak Dong
144. Thijin Gatwech Kuany -Sudanese Nuer community Secretary, Edmonton
145. Thon Aquek
146. Thon Ayii
147. Thon Garang
148. Wai John
149. Wany Juet Jock - Univeristy Student
150. Wel Jok
151. Wiyual Chuang Kuenywar - Church Leader, Canada
152. Yien Rial Nyot - U.S.A
153. Yoal Chuol Dhoal- SPLM Youth Member, Canada