Clarifying on Our Tribe's Name, Ethur or Jo-Abwor?

By Oscar Okech Kanyangareng

IN summary, we are Ethur. How did we end up with that name and how did the other names crop up?

First, we came direct from the remnants of the Luo in South Sudan, from among the Shilluk tribe in a place called TwenKidi. We got the Acholi were already in Uganda.

After reaching Acholi, one group passed via Puranga, came and settled in present day Kanu and spread to the rest of the hills. We didn’t have one leader but a dozen clan heads who met as a council and agreed on issues of the land.

One of the clans was led by Obwor. Obwor while in Acholi, met the Acholi dominant Chief of Payira clan and picked the practice of using regal instruments like drums, whisks, leadership stuff, dress code, royal seat etc. and -they came with it.

As a result of Obwor’s cultural practice, other clan leaders and the people started giving him more and more respect. Thus, all the people now came to be known as Jo KaObwor. As time passed on, the name got shortened to Jabwor.

Obwor's clan today is known as Epaebwor. We later came to be administered under Acholi during the colonial rule. It’s the Acholi who gave us the name Jo-Labwor as it is in their vocabulary.

The name Labwor therefore went on official record books of Uganda. Meanwhile, the use of the name Acholi-Labwor was just a survival instinct during the regime of Obote/Tito Okello in the 1980s, as a way of trying to identify with them (Langi/Acholi).

Uganda was so tribalistic then. The Langi/Acholi called us that way and we also accepted to identify with that name for survival reasons. But when the above regimes passed on, we withdrew from the name, though it’s still used by other Ugandans as the easiest way to identify us.

We need now to promote the proper identity of Ethur. Meantime, let’s also trace the answer to the question of how the name “Ethur” come about.

As I said earlier, we came in two groups. The the first group of Jo-Abwor came via Puranga and Kanu to Abim. While the second group of Jo-Akwa passed via Orom, Jie and settled around Mt. Toror. They later migrated to present day Nyakwae. It was after a big famine that they migrated to Bokora (present day Napak District) and settled along Nangololapolon, around Lopei Sub County.

After some decades, one time they went for a cattle raid. They were the main fighters yet when it came to sharing the loot, the Bokora cheated them. They protested and decided to come back.

By these decades, their accent and culture had somewhat changed -some of it picked cultural practice of the Bokora. They reversed anyway and settled to be known as Jo-Akwa with thier own ‘Abila’ (cultural assembly) from Bokora.

While the rest of Abim were Jo-Abwor with their own ‘Abila’ under Othem Abiiro, the grand, grand parent of both Jo-Akwa and Jo-Abwor leaders back in Sudan was called Thuri. The name ETHUR and JOABWOR was often earlier used interchangeably by our people.

Labwor and Labwor County was a creation of Colonial/Acholi and government administrators. Therfore, in a bid to unite both Jo-Akwa and Jo-Abwor, we now agreed, spearheaded by the late Hon. Omwony Ojwok, that we should be called Ethur and it was the late Hon. Obonyo Jabwor who was C.A. delegate who proposed it to be put in the the 1995 constitution of Uganda.

Now what we need to do is -sought ways to adjust to the new identity because the official records still refer to us as people of Labwor. The adulterated English version calls us Labworians and even our MP is for Labwor County.

Well, I can’t explain the above exhaustively but these are just highlights and we may need to talk about them in more details in other fora in future so that we can decide for the rightful name for our land.

Oscar Okech Kanyangareng is a veteran journalist, founder and  Execative Director of Pastoralist Poverty Frontiers (PPF) 

ABIM: It's A Leadership ‘Threat’ Question, Not Incompentence at All!

Abim woman MP Juliana Auma and First Lady Janet Museveni
 during a visit to   Arid-land Development Program beneficiaries

THIS is a letter. A notelet from home away from home. Boy, this is a one man’s outlook on the political and development questions back home. Thanks to Marshall McLuhan and his vision of the Global village several years ago.
    

In his book, The Gutenberg Galaxy: The Making of Typographic Man (1962) , McLuhan predicted media that would turn into “an extension of consciousness”.  The fact that today we easily can link up and share information, good or bad with communities whom we are connected to through the World Wide Web and the internet is a live spectacle of McLuhan’s dream decades back.

Thank God this technology has moved fast and getting even faster. Apparently, my own people in Abim district are aboard this contemporary international flight! Through Abim Development Forum (ADF), we are now able to share and seek views from all concerned fellow human beings from all over the globe. Sometimes, -yes we bite each other a lot but most times, we do it for the better. Boy, let’s keep this up, -Nothing to fear, nothing to fury us.

The hottest topic in any land of human beings can be related to nothing more than politics. Abim is therefore not excluded. Electorates always have their own deeply held believes on various leaders. You will not discover enough if you go analog today. We enjoy more through ADF and boy; several observations ought to be validated. The question of how to validate people’s issues can only hang on the sky. However, we can give our views and hope that most people will buy and sell to those who are yet to come home. Home – to the global village. We anticipate and pray hard. We pray that those with no www connections will one day equally join us as china keeps inventing more pocket friendly equipments for everyone.   

Back to the point! My people in Abim have blamed the dawdling development of the district on corruption. They are wrong. Some have decried the poor leadership of individuals. They are liars. Others argue that the central government is the problem. They are day dreaming. Could it be limited local resources? It can’t be. Not. No!

In my view, the real problem lies in the coordination, cooperation and trust for one another. I have always used the wheelbarrow theory to explain the development jumbles in Abim district. My consistent feeling is that all our leaders especially the elected ones have failed to uphold a string that should put them together in front of their electorates.

I thought our leaders should work in such a way that, when Hon. Michael hits a jackpot of development ideas and he is rolling it on a wheelbarrow to Thur soil, his colleague Hon Juliana smilingly supports him by pushing the wheelbarrow from the sides and vice-versa. Back home, Chairman Norman supported by his councilors and the district technical team would be pulling the wheelbarrow home by a rope. Sadly however, our leaders have not crossed this threshold. We are still far.

In Gulu, during the time of Norbert Mao as MP and Walter Ochora as LCV, you could see the true spirit of working together despite holding different political views. Ochora was NRM and Mao a DP die-hard and an ardent critic of president Museveni. However, when it comes to matters concerning their electorates, matters of the Acholi, issues of development, issues that pertains the national dividend for their own people, Walter and Mao would put their hands together and speak one language.

Similar disagreements on political ideas and complete agreement on community development strategies are also evident in most other parts of the Country. The problem with our leaders in Abim is -that burning personal egos. That high level of individualism. That spirit of ‘no one will manage me’. Unfortunately, it only puts our communities in tatters. It injures our share of the national cake since our representatives don’t work together to bring raided animals home. Well, the leaders get away with these mistakes; but, boy the grass suffers. The electorates suffer the consequences and it goes on retarding development of the district.

Look at these scenarios; at Morulinga where we would have expected a solid team to woo and challenge M7 on our issues like health; with the hospital falling asunder. The question of poor road connections. The facts about education bursary for our children etc. We seem to have not presented these critical agenda to the president as a team. We seem to have gone there to disagree with each other. The president can only afford to say; go back home and sort your internal glitches. When you are done, you may come back and compete with others for the national share. Even our in-house threats like issues of land; where neighbors have continued inching into our soil every day. Our leaders do not seem to cooperate to save us. One day we may wake up and realize we are living in someone’s land. Should we really keep this temperament?

The big question: How do we collect our leaders together to discuss and agree together on ways of working together to develop our district and Country together like the Americans do! Where is the answer dear brethrens?  Home@ www.owiny.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

 

CHAMELEON BORED MOROTO FANS, POULTRY DEALERS GO TO HEAVEN

THE outbreak of animal sickness - foot and mouth disease in Moroto has opened space for chicken dealers to hit a jackpot selling every bird at double the old price.

As animal slaughterers go underdogs with medical department discouraging any eating of goat or cattle meat due to fear ‘the disease could spread to humans’,   Poultry keepers are enjoying the bonanza.

Currently, the price of the largest cock goes to 25,000UGX. An average bird is fixed at 20,000UGX and the minimum you can pay if your family cannot do without blood is only 15,000UGX.

Boy, despite this Christmas rates, birds are selling like hot cake prepared in heaven and sold down along the most expensive street on planet earth.  Even sick birds are fetching money. Even baby birds are fetching money!

Anyone thinking of an exotic chicken breed business in Moroto? Go for it, there is market. What we are buying today are local breeds whose maturity takes years. Anyone thinking of hiring a whole Lorry to bring cheap exotic chicken breed to Moroto? Just do it! And do it now!

For the next two-three months, I see more hope in the business of murdering chicken and no good return for those who butcher goats and cattle. Why? Even after the veterinary people will clear the ground and give back the knives to animal slaughterers, people can only limp back to a full responsibility of eating meat.

The mindset for now is corrupted and for the Judas in the world of chicken, they will continue living in heaven until the goat-cattle customers get back home late.

What is Foot and Mouth disease?

Foot and mouth, or hoof and mouth disease is a viral infection that affects cattle, sheep and swine. It is spread from animal to animal through direct contact with an infected animal or from food that has been contaminated. Human beings can also spread this disease through direct contact with infected and uninfected animals.

There is also foot and mouth disease found in humans. What is true is that the two diseases are quite different as they are caused by different viruses. However, a doctor’s reason is crucial here explaining why they stopped us from eating cloven-hoofed animals in Moroto. Can any veterinary expert explain this to us better.

 

From the entertainment world. This weekend in Moroto, East Africa’s most celebrated dance hall king Jose Chameleon was in town. According to eavesdroppers, this fellow sneaked in to take advantage of Karamoja’s sexy scenery at Rupa mineral bank in Moroto district. Snoops suspect that Mr. Chameleon might be cooking another popular Music video with a Karimojong ingredient in it.

He bored the crowed at Hotel Leslona when his fanatics forced him into a performance program. I believe the star wasn’t in the mood of doing it. An inescapable plea from local music zealots forced the tired Chameleon to the stage. He did about six songs in about six minutes and you can tell how the fans must have cried for more. They equally cried for their hard earned 10,000k they surrendered for entry.

In my honest observation, something so special was expected out of Mr. Chameleon by Moroto fans.  His wife Daniela Atim grew up in Moroto town. Daniela’s childhood friends and those admirers of her impeccable look were enthusiastic and wanted to see their girl alongside the music giant during this surprise pop into Karamoja’s most known town. She was not there.

At the show in Leslona, fans openly and loudly referred to Chameleon as MUKO. Chameleon also visited Moroto’s top Club 24 –formerly KICKS. He couldn’t stand the pressure of people following him like Jesus Christ on a second coming. He hardly killed five minutes at Club24. He left the place and headed straight to his hotel. I believe the next time he comes back, it will be in a bigger way. Let’s prepare the ground for the second coming.

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LET’S BROADEN THE “LET GIRLS BE GIRLS CAMPAIGN”

The editorial article “Join Campaign to end teenage pregnancies”, Daily Monitor, Wednesday July 16^th caught my attention.

The “Let girls be girls” campaign launched recently by the Ministry of Health in Butaleja district is indeed an important national crusade that should be upheld in all districts in order to attain positive results by end of the 12 month timeline. My view is, we could do this alongside other disparaging issues like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the Karamoja region.

The campaign unveiled by Sarah Opendi, State Minister for Primary Health Care aims at fighting teenage pregnancies so as to cut down the current high maternal mortality rate in Uganda.  We can equally integrate other demoralizing practices; FGM, Child Labour, Child Sacrifices and Child Neglect concerns into the fight.

In particular, the practice of FGM has remained at large among the Tepeth and the Pokot people of Moroto and Amudat districts of Karamoja despite the Anti FGM Act of 2010.

The Act, yes prohibits the practice of FGM, recommends prosecution of offenders and the protection of victims –girls and women. However, the FGM culture seems stronger than this law.

Last week in Moroto district, I witnessed a painful scenario where four young Tepeth girls of ages between 12 to 14 were found injured after suffering a harsh cultural maiming of their female genitals. Thank God Police were quick to respond, and the abusers were easily apprehended.

Perpetrators of such human rights violations take advantage of the destitute conditions that children face in the Karamoja setting.  For the Tepeth and Pokot, the season for harvest is also the time for FGM. They believe the girls would easily be kept in confined places and food provided. Because it is culture, children are just forced to dare with it as long as there is no one looking. These days the practice is done in the hidden and mainly at night hours because the ‘engineers’ are aware of the law, but obdurately insist to do it probably for a living.

As a result, several girl children of school going age and beyond have found their ways out of their homesteads due to fear of the practice. Some end up being trafficked by opportunists into other locations where they are turned into sex slaves, casual labourers and street dwellers.

Actually, the fear of such injurious treatment coupled with other economic difficulties back home defines the constant migration of Karimojong young women and girls into urban streets and across the borders to Kenya. Helpless Karimojong women are commonly seen in the streets of Mbale, Iganga, Kampala, Masindi and in Nasal of North Pokot –Kenya.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), about 1,000 girls run away from their homes between 2012 and 2013 to safety centers in designated schools that government recommended in six districts where the practice of FGM were sighted. Such condition makes children lose confidence in life and fail to plan for their future.

The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and partners like UNFPA, Mifumi among others ensured some dissemination of information and creation of safe havens for FGM victims in Karamoja and neighboring locations since 2010.

The initiative also ensured that close to 70,000 people were touched with information on the FGM law and redress mechanism through drama, outreaches, commemoration of cultural days, exchange visits, trainings and use of role models. Such efforts ought to be strengthened and pinned at the grass root levels to ensure sustainability.

According to the UN World Health Organization, about 150 million women from across the world suffer the harsh consequences of FGM. We are part of this problem; however with a law already in place, we need to double efforts to kick this wickedness out of our Country. We can only do this through a holistic approach where deep-rooted village members from the at risk communities are aboard. Let’s join hands for this Course.  

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MOROTO, WE NEED TO TRY HSGs, OR CONTINUE STATIC FOREVER!

Moroto Municipality.  A thing or two persistently keeps dragging the growth of this principal Karimojong capital backward despite her pedigree.  

For starters; Moroto, Mbale, Arua, Jinja, Soroti, Lira and Gulu were created at about the same period and should ideally be at the same development path. Now as it stands, we can’t believe it because even smaller towns; Mbarara, Fortportal, Masindi, Mubende, Hoima, Luwero, Busia including other ‘microscopic’ trading centers around the Country have come and proceeded far away from our Moroto.

Grotesquely (boy, run for your dictionary), the factors causing this social economic immobility in development are quite easy to fix. In my view, there is need for a Kagame type leadership to ensure a breakthrough. Well, am not saying this should be Rwanda. It remains Uganda. However, a fashionable person wouldn’t hesitate to ask; what the hell is the problem with Moroto? Who is not doing his/her role? It’s Just quite crazy guys.

Today, this heroes’ day, I clutched on such a haunting walk traversing some central streets in Moroto’s liveliest center –Camp Swahili. Plainly speaking, the town still suffers terrible filth despite budget allocations by government and development NGOs in the health and hygiene sector.

Should we say that the funds are wrongly used? I couldn’t agree with a colleague whose observation last year showed that even an international NGO had intervened in a non-realistic fashion. Someone had taken a photo of a dumping pit created by an NGO in an attempt to rid the Municipality of garbage.

It looked really bad because the rubbish was full to beyond capacity and garbage was all over a radius of 10 meters and more from the ‘development innovation’ point. Today, I agree fully with my friend. The dumping pits are now officially swallowed off. You won’t see them again, but instead today, even a blind man can fully visualize that all the ‘innovation points’ have become potential disease breeding areas in the Municipality.

Guess what? If I were in charge of making things change in this town, I would ask all hygiene/sanitation project implementers to direct funds on vehicles and fuel for fetching garbage out of the town. Honestly, we can’t have a dumping ground within the town and near people’s residents! Anyhow, am no engineer but technocrats should advice and give our town a good image.

More useless thing is the presence of ‘human dung’ in several points of this very important town. Terrible and unbearable spots include Labour-line area after hotel D’Andrias. I would give the owners of that new structure opposite the Market an ultimatum. They either complete the structures immediately and allow business or pay security guards to stop members from dumping ‘dung’ all over the place.

Other terrible places are Nakapelimen, Katamukono and Campshaili Chini near Kakoliye Primary school. During Taria sita, I sympathized with Museveni’s soldiers. The UPDF tried their best to fish out smelly garbage out of this town but boy, feaces is not a good thing. I would equally use the military to deal with the unfortunate members the military way. Can’t the army succeed in this disarmament deal too?

The Municipality should alternatively write a Project proposal for the recruitment, training and deployment of hygiene security guards (HSG). Trust me; donors like UNICEF can release funds for such. HSGs would be tasked with identifying and arresting all those who litter or defecate within the town. A strict by-law in place would also see to it that such culprits are arrested, tried and taken to prison. Boy, wouldn’t this be the only way, we might easily redeem our town from the current grime impression?

What should pain civilized men is the fact that free public toilets exist in town! An extreme case is one I witnessed in 2010. It was in Namijimij village, four kilometers outside Moroto Municipality. Friend, the LC1 of that village had turned a public toilet into his office and store; meanwhile members fenced the “office and store” with feaces of all structures. I strongly believe that there is something we can do in order to change this. Can we seek regional advice from Paul Kagame of East Africa’s smartest country -Rwanda? Over to you people who are in the things!

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Moroto Dioeces and the New Bishop

Heaps of Christians from the Catholic assemblage in all corners of Karamoja, and from all angles of

The New Bishop of Moroto Rev. Damiano Giulio Guzzetti at Moroto grounds

Uganda and beyond Saturday gathered in Moroto town to witness and lead the promotion of a priest to a Bishop.  

 

Rev. Damiano Giulio Guzzetti was dunked into the seat of bishop of Moroto Diocese in front of an overwhelming congregation from across most religious and political divide.

 

Key people who matter included Ministers, Members of parliament and other political heads in the Internal Security Sectors and the local council. From the religious sector itself, the Apostolic Nuncio in Uganda Monsignor Michael August Blume was among the several big shots who adorned the occasion.

 

The 55 year old Damiano, is an Italian who spent most moments of his priesthood career in Karamoja. He replaces Rt. Rev. Henry Ssentongo who served Moroto Diocese for two good decades.

A powerful statement from bishop of Tororo Arch Diocese who was principal consecrator. Rt. Rev Dr. Emmanuel Obbo could easily raise eyebrows of committed Christians who are well versed with the politics of the Church.

“You should be a good bishop, pray with people, listen to them, bring out the best in the believers and also, ask them to bring out the best in the church," Obbo appealed to the new Shepard in front of an enchanting crowd at Moroto Boma grounds.

Security was tight; police and the UPDF were fully on gear. The president as usual took advantage of this good number of voters through state minister for Karamoja, Barbra Nekesa Oundo.

A brand new Landcruser was thrown to the new commander of this ‘valued electorates’ and in a statement, the minister observed, “The Karimojong are now the champions in the fight against sectarianism.”

Nekesa equally did not let go the fact that government has achieved hugely in the Karamoja peace, recovery and reconstruction program. She thanked the new bishop for consenting to the backbreaking assignment in Uganda’s most demanding region

A resettlement fund of seven million UGX was also dropped from the wallet of Janet Museveni, the minister for Karamoja to the new Bishop.

Bishop Damiano is the fourth bishop to serve in Moroto diocese. Others where; the late Rt. Rev. Sisto Mazzoldi. Mozzadi was the first bishop of Moroto. He was succeeded by Rt. Rev. Paul Lokiru Kalanda.  Rt. Rev. Henry Ssentongo was therefore the third servant of the diocese.

Next year, Moroto Catholic Diocese will commemorate 50 years of existence. During this distinct occasion, people again from different places will as usual come to celebrate together. It will also be that time when the Christian community would (in the ideal world) do appraisal for the new bishop.

The bad thing about Christianity is the inability to sight the negative facts and easily speak out to avoid poor perceptions by chronic pagans who will always stay out of church because they think the preacher-man is bad.  For the meantime, welcome dear Bishop Damiano!

PROFILE OF THE NEW BISHOP:

Date of Birth: -15th July 1959.

Place of birth: Tulate, Lombardy-Italy.

First Ordination:-23rd September 1989.

Languages:-Italian, Ng'akarimojong and English

Studies.

1983-1985:-Novitiate in Venegono, Italy

1985-1986: English language studies in Dublin, Ireland

1986-1988: Theological studies at St. Mary's National Major seminary Ggaba-Kampala-Uganda

1988-1989: Theological studies in Tangaza college, Nairobi,

Assignments:

1989-1994: In charge of Missionary animation and vocation promotion of the Comboni missionaries in Italy.

1994-2009: Curate at Namalu parish, Naoi parish and later on parish and later on parish priest of Matany parish in Moroto diocese

1999-2002: Member of the provincial council of the Comboni missionaries in Uganda

2009-2013: Formator of postulants in Jinja

2013-2014: Treasurer of Comboni Missionaries community in Venegono, Italy

9/2/2014: Appointed as the new bishop of the diocese of Moroto

24/5/2014: Ordained and installed as Bishop of the diocese of Moroto

 

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GOD, THIS IS NOT TRUE AND YOU KNOW IT!

LORD. This is not true. It is not fair. I cannot hold it. It is too harsh. It’s too painful and; it is too much. I cannot hold it, if am wrong then tell me and teach me. Teach me. Teach me lord. Teach me how to live like a husband. Lord, teach me the good ways of a father. A father whose daughter must look up to. A man, whose faith will never be washed away by whatever forces of this world, I want to be a father whose plans are family plans. Lord, this dream was not true.

Reader, there is a time in our lives when we must admit the truth and seek the almighty his word of advice. I think today, this morning, this 4:30 am moment, is my time. Without hesitating, I admit that my faith, my commitment to the Lord has of recent developed legs. Who will rescue me now?  My faith yes has flown off to the dogs. Who will join me in this urgent Marathon destined to catch up with the hungry, wild dogs? The mongrels have taken away my allotments. My share of the warranted service to my creator. Who will run by me? How shall I get this back?

“It’s good to always pray”, one of my Facebook friends observed just yesterday in a comment to one of my humble posts. I think Bosco’s point is crystal clear. It is pretty right. Humanity ought to observe it and witness it sincerely!

Friend, I have woken up from one of the most aching dreams of my life. Here it is: I placed my Family (wife and daughter) inside an apartment up one of the flats walling a re-known street in that town. It’s a town in the dream whose name didn’t come through anyway.

When I got out for a casual tour of the environment around the Estate, a casual interaction on phone resulted to a small disagreement with my beloved wife. The disagreement was that casual and truly not worth anything that can separate ribs. She did not cry that she will not see me again. In fact, she wanted me back in the room for a quick solution and a clear future plan for the day.

When I turned back to go and meet her, the structures of the building where my angles remained changed. I saw a different building at the spot where my family remained. My eyes could not locate the wall-street where I placed my sweeties. My sister’s (I call my wife sister) mobile was not going through. Surprisingly, I could locate the apartments of my immediate neighbors within the flat. Indeed in this dream, more than five neighbors led me to the location of my own apartment within the flat without success. The dream took me out of this flat. Out to the streets.

Have you ever run all over town looking for the most important thing in your life? I was running looking for my beautiful two. I was looking for the street where the flat and the apartment I left them in was located. Reader, I did’nt locate my friends. My sister and my daughter were out of my reach in this stupid dream. When I woke up, it was 4:30am here in Moroto, and the wall clock was making a seemingly deliberate loud clicking.

At this moment, a common practice of committed faithless creatures dawned on me like an abrupt raindrops in the desert. I rushed down on my knees saying too many words of prayer to the man I seem to be relaxed to always give prays. After begging him in some quick melodic words, I remembered an old Bible my sister used to read when she had a stomach. She had left it behind (for me in our house) when she joined Campus.

Here I read: “When the Lord brought us back from Jerusalem, it was like a dream. How we laughed, how we sang for joy! Then the other nations said about us, “the Lord did great things for them” indeed he did great things for us, how happy we were! Lord make us prosperous again, just as the rain brings water back to the dry riverbeds. Let those who wept as they planted their crops gather their harvest with joy!” Psalms 126.

The quote is from my sister’s old Bible.  I will buy a new Bible for our home today.  Already, we’ve agreed on this via a phone discussion where this threatening dream was topic. My wife is happy for me on the spiritual plan. She is regretting and cursing the dream, and we are looking for a spiritual advisor and family mentor. Where should we find one at no fee within this world?

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