Salva Kiir declares July 30th national Martyrs day in South Sudan
By Isaac Vuni
July 30, 2007 (JUBA) — The Sudan’s First Vice President and President of the government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), Salva Kiir Mayardit, has, today, declared July 30th to be observed annually as a national martyr’s day in Southern Sudan.
Addressing hundreds of thousand people at late Garang mausoleum square during the Second Anniversary Commemoration day of Dr. John Garang de Mabior’s death in Juba, capital of southern Sudan, President Salva Kiir Mayardit announced that the July 30th day will be a national holiday in entire southern Sudan to be observed annually.
“As we write our history with our own blood, let us also remember those who founded our heroic movement including all those who played vital role in our struggle of 1983 and are not longer with us. Besides Dr. John Garang de Mabior, there were others who died on the wrong sides but still they are the people who started SPLM/A and some of the commanders are; Kerobino Kwanyin Bol, William Nyun Bany, Arok Thon Arok Lt. Col. Francis Nyor Ngor, Yusif Kuwa, Martin Majeir, Nyacigak Nyasuluk, Galerio Modi Wurnyan and Tohon Kulang Kout among many others who died at the wrong time but the role they played in the beginning of the SPLM/A movement will never be forgotten;” said Salva Kiir.
He also called upon all members of GoSS governments and every house hold in southern Sudan to take the coming population census seriously by ensuring that people of southern Sudan are all counted in order to disapprove those who used to estimate southern Sudan population at only eight million.
Southern Sudan President also reminded the many southern Sudanese separatists to follow and respect the CPA protocols that say unity of Sudan should be given first priority but if it fails then the only option is to exercise the right of self determination for total separation of southern Sudan through voting in a referendum.
Mayardit told the congregations by saying that “We are not renegotiating the CPA but we want to put in place as it was signed on January 9th 2005.”
He congratulated SPLM general secretariat for having organized the ever first meeting of Diasporas in the capital of southern Sudan.
“During my recent visit to the government of China, I was able to let them known that most of the oil is in southern Sudan,” disclosed Mayardit.
In his opening prayer for the occasion, the Catholic Bishop Paride Taban said: “Late Dr. John Garang de Mabior has obtained freedom through the CPA, hence his lordship calls upon all southern Sudanese to transform Sudan into economically strong state through hard working, and self sacrifice.” He further urged southern Sudanese to stop tribal laziness by putting away laziness and drunkenness.
Meanwhile the Anglican Bishop Michael Lugor called for unity of all southern Sudanese to champion the vision of late Garang. Then the prelate gave a walking stick crafted out of hard hood to President Salva Kiir Mayardit as a symbol to protecting his leadership in governing government of southern Sudan.
Luka Monoja, minister of GoSS cabinet affairs and the chairman of organizing committee of the second commemoration of Dr. John Garang de Mabior’s death said that late John Garang de Mabior was a learning animal that never satisfied of learning in order to develop and hence Minister Monoja called upon southern Sudanese to take learning seriously and also to emulate and embrace the vision left by John Garang for effective development.
Monoja further indicated that this year second commemoration anniversary was organized by both the SPLM and Government of Southern Sudan.
Elija Malong, President of Southern Sudan Bank, said “it is very vital to remember our heroes who have paid for our freedom through ultimate scarified they made.”
“Maximum objective of CPA is implementation meanwhile the minimum objective is self determination for southern Sudan.” He underscored.
Malong went on saying that the exercise of self determination is given to the people of southern Sudan through the CPA as a right and it’s up to southern Sudanese to prove themselves on what they wants through voting in the coming referendum in year 2011. Elija Malong; added that Southern Sudanese have got golden chance to propagate for what type of government they want but first southerners must be united.
Representative of other political parties, Loro Luwala of United Democratic Front said the vision of Garang is still working therefore they are fully behind the CPA and GoSS leadership. Garang still speaks in every house in southern Sudan; hence he called on GoSS to improve security in southern Sudan.
“We must forgive and seeks reconciliation if we want unity of southern Sudanese;” said Kurnelio Byibai National Congress Party representative.
While, Elikaya Aligo, on behalf of governor of Central Eqatoria state-said Garang was a wise leader, hero and freedom fighter, therefore the people of Central Equatoria state will not allow enemy of peace to destabilize Juba the capital of southern Sudan.
Kenyan government representative said “Southern Sudan peace is also Kenyan peace including East African region that would pave ways for prosperity and development in IGAD regions.” Ethiopian representative also said that his government has been in southern Sudan since the start of the first Anyan movement.
Mugade Abib, team leader of Ugandan delegation said that the late Garang was a patriotic, great nationalist who will never be forgotten by people of Uganda. Only way to honour him is to follow and ensure that his vision succeeds and reiterated that Ugandan government is ready to work and cooperate with the government of southern Sudan in field of development.
Egyptian representative said his government together with her people renders developmental services to the ten states of southern Sudan in fulfilling vision of late Garang of taking cities to rural areas.
American consulate in Juba said as a military man, late John Garang has a clear vision on how to liberate his people
Earlier Manase Lomole, SPLM state Secretary of Central Equatoria state said the organizing committee donated ten bulls distributed to Juba prison, Juba teaching hospital, Al Saba children Hospital, Buluk police hospital and military hospital,
Some of the appealing slogans read; “Dr. John Garang Mabior left us an everlasting direction for peace, justice, freedom and prosperity, say SPLM information and communication of Central Equatoria State.
(ST)