CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS URGES GOVT TO CREATE SPACE FOR ALL (Supported by Centre for Democracy and Development)

By: Advocacy and Communication Officer.

Civil Society groups in Yei River County have urged the National, state and the local Governments in the country to create a space for the civil society actors to collectively participate in country’s development.

Speaking at the international day of democracy in a radio debate Tuesday, Yei civil society organisation secretary General Dara Felix said the space for the civil society activists is narrowing down due to lack of cooperation between the Government and the civil society activists.

“Today we are commemorating this day under the theme “space for civil society” we need to bring to the attention of the Government the space in which we are operating is narrowing down, the Government is looking at the civil society as an opposition more over we are not. The Civil society compliments the efforts of the Government in service delivery” he outlined.

Dara pointed out that the efforts of the civil societies in service delivery are not recognised where by some elements in the security sector still threatens activists in their various areas of operations across the Country.

“We have experienced situations even locally here in Yei whereby if we go to the field we have been harassed, our IDs were confiscated and even told to stop work more over we were informing the citizens on the importance of respecting the constitution and the dangers of HIV and AIDs in the community” Dara noted.

The Secretary recommended to the Government to collectively create a favourable relationship with one another in ensuring that they collectively respond to meet the needs of the people they serve.

Meanwhile on his part, the vice chairman for Yei civil society organisation forum Mawa George called on the executive, judiciary and the executive to be accountable to the people. He said it’s high time for the people to know their budgets and what their leaders have promised to them.

“If we need to promote a democratic, transparent and accountable society, then we must begin by being open to one another, accountable to what we do and speak so that we bring up a transparent society that the next generation can imitate and take the nation forward” he added.

Mawa called on the Legislative council to involve the civil society in planning and designing budgets so that all sectors and the needs of the population are included in the decision making processes.

On the other hand, Yei River County legislative council chairman, Cosmas Lasuba said the legislative council is much ready to work hand in hand with the civil society in ensuring that services are collectively reached to the people.

“My humble call from the civil society is that, let us work together, we have been facing challenges when passing information to the public so join us and let’s work together the people we are working for so that at the end we all move together” he concluded.

However, Yei municipal Deputy Mayor Silvano Ali on his part appreciated the roles played by the civil society in Yei “you are doing alot and let’s continue to serve our people”. He said th municipal authority will talk to the security personal and other relevant institutions at the grass roots to allow access to all humanitarian Organisations carry out their operations in the communities around Yei.

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