Dr. Elwathig on the unity of Sudan: Are we convinced?
By Zechariah Manyok Biar
July 20, 2010 — One of the things that I have been advocating for has now started. I had been advocating for the rational deliberation of national issues without intimidation. This is a positive step that should be encouraged by both the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in the next five months. Unionists or Separatists should make their cases to try to convince the referendum voters. Dr. Elwathig Kameir of SPLM has now started this process and we should all join in until we know the benefits and the vices of unity or separation of Sudan.
In his interview with the New Sudan Vision, Dr. Elwathig made it clear that he is in favor of the unity of Sudan. He said that “The SPLM as a freedom fighting body, as a freedom fighting Movement, they also have a role to play to make unity attractive. They cannot just fold their hands and say, ‘no, this is the NCP which is responsible.”‘
This is a very interesting question to ask: Is the SPLM folding its hands about the attractiveness of unity? Dr. Elwathig argues that the answer to this question is affirmative. When he was pushed by the interviewer to say what the SPLM should do or should have done to make unity attractive, he said that the First Vice President of Sudan and the President of South Sudan Salva Kiir should have stayed in Khartoum over the last five years and visited Northern states from time to time to sell the new Sudan vision
Dr. Elwathig might have made a reasonable argument in saying that SPLM would have convinced Southerners about the importance of the New Sudan. However, I would argue that the reason why Southerners fear the unity of Sudan is because they still find themselves being looked down upon in the North even when they are leaders. Southerners who are in power here in the North are mainly symbols; I should be honest about this. Yesterday, I heard a complaint from one of the people who are in higher positions here in Khartoum (he is the vice to the leader of the important government institution that I will not mention here) that he is sidelined in decision-making even by those who are junior to him. For example, if his boss is not around and he calls a meeting, the staff members who are junior to him attend the meeting and they just keep quiet when he talks about the work of the day or of the week. When he asks them whether they have comments or questions, they keep quiet or they say that they do not have anything to say. When they leave the meeting hall, they forget about the things that their Southern boss wanted them to do for the day. They want him to fail. This is not acceptable.
Do not think that Southerners who are in higher government positions than the above mentioned guy do not face patronizing attitudes from the Northerners who are their juniors. They are not respected too. It did not take me a month to realize this. I would repeat again that this kind of behavior is unacceptable in a country where its leaders are yearning for unity.
The new Sudan that we want must be based on the respect for all the citizens, regardless of where they belong.
When we see patronizing attitudes around us in a system that we want to look new, then what courage would we have for unity? We would argue that we have not yet seen the freedom we are looking for.
Dr. Elwathig may disagree with my views of freedom and marginalization. He said in his interview that he does not believe in the claim for second citizenship that separatists talk about in the South. That could be true. The claims for second citizenship might be used by some Southern politicians to score political points. But how would Dr. Elwathig feel about the example that I gave above about a Southerner who is sidelined in decision-making and those who rule as nothing more than symbols in Khartoum?
Dr. Elwathig would agree that respect for Southerners in the North has not yet improved, but there is hope that it will. The examples that Dr. Elwathig gave during his interview for the support of his hope for the future change of people’s negative attitudes about one another in Sudan included the situation in South Africa and the conditions of African Americans in the United States. He believes that Sudan would be changed in the same way the above mentioned countries where changed.
That could be possible. The problem is that the political wills in the above mentioned countries and that of the current Sudan are very far apart. Let us look into how change on new bases was achieved in the above mentioned places.
In South Africa, the Whites marginalized and oppressed black South Africans during the Apartheid Era. But when the Whites were pressured by the international community in the 1990s, they handed power over to black South Africans. Since Nelson Mandela knew that the problem that South Africans had was the lack of power, he thought that black South Africans could now show the world how a country can live as one with people of many backgrounds. He promoted that thought.
President Mandela did not stop at that theoretical thinking about the unity of the Rainbow Nation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was empowered to heal wounds between black and white South Africans. The Whites who oppressed the black cooperated with the commission fully and apologized for their wrongdoings. That was how real unity was achieved in South Africa. Is anything like the above possible now in the Sudan where leaders from South Sudan still rule as symbols in the North?
The situation in the United States was somewhat different. The white leaders like Abraham Lincoln were the ones who saw the injustice of slavery and fought against it before African Americans like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. founded Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. The laws preventing discriminatory behaviors where passed in the United States. Now Whites who do not like black people cannot practice their hatred without landing themselves in prison, sentenced by White judges. As Dr. Luther put it, people are now judged by what they do rather than by their skin color to larger extent in the United States.
Are we even closer to such a system in the current Sudan where Southerners still rule as symbols in the North? I do not think so.
I am one of the people who believe that we can still find ways to reunite with the North in the future, but not now when the views of both Northerners and Southerners are that of mistrust because of the activities that they still see around.
Peaceful co-existence between the two sides is the only thing that we can really debate now if the debate for confederation is not helpful. Sudan may reunite in the future, but not now.
I disagree with those who think that simply because Southerners are ministers in the North, then Northerners’ negative views about Southerners have now improved. The power-sharing positions that Southerners have here in the North function because they are part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, as I have observed. Southerners are not leaders because all the views of Northerners have changed about Southerners.
If a leader cannot be respected because he is a Southerner, then what is the function of unity in Sudan? The unity that we may compare with that of South Africa and the one of the U.S. is the unity that is based on laws criminalizing racism all over Sudan. Such laws can only be passed if there is a political will. But such a will is non-existence now in Sudan. That is why Southerners are gearing up for secession, Dr. Elwathig.
Zechariah Manyok Biar, BA. Edu., MACM, MSSW. He can be reached at [email protected]
Lokorai
Dr. Elwathig on the unity of Sudan: Are we convinced?
Manya,
What do you mean by ‘no unity for now’ in relation to your unity possibility in the future?
I don’t think your hypothesis about any unity prospect in the future has anyhing to do with the NOW.
‘NOW’ means referendum and once referendum outcome goes out, its out!
Just continue to advocate your unity project, and we shall meet at the booths in January 9.
god kill these traitors!
Lokorai
AAMA
Dr. Elwathig on the unity of Sudan: Are we convinced?
Dear bro. Manyok,
I think Dr. El wathig and many northern SPLM members feel that they are no longer a part of the SPLM decision making mechanism, and they are seeing the SPLM drift away from its main vision of new Sudan (the reason why in the first place they joined the SPLM) and focusing more on separation and subtly working hard for that goal.
You also pointed out that the southern leaders in the GONU are being side lined in decision making process which is true off course and is really something that should be expected from the NCP because, they just wanted to stop the war, not to share power (at least in the north), and everybody knows that so, what to do about it ?. Remember, changing the NCP should not be the goal of the SPLM and they won’t rule for ever. SPLM should be targeting the people (North and South) in order to make a change in the country because power doesn’t come only from being in a leadership position. I think that is what Dr. El Wathig want to say or see in the southern leaders, he wants them to reach out for the northern public in order for the northern public to start or continue supporting the new Sudan vision lead by the SPLM. This way, the SPLM will gain the power it needs to combat the bad old habits of old Sudan. Instead, the SPLM leaders got frustrated and started to think “why it’s always us on the good side, we are the victims, why we shall do all of this, first, let the north change its attitude and then we can see if we need to do something about it” which is logical from a political point of view but really doesn’t serve the national interests.
I agree with you that comparing the situation today with what the ANC lead by Mandela did in South Africa is not possible now really because we don’t have in the NCP or the SPLM decision making elite’s even (half a Mandela) leader needed to make that change and they all don’t have any clear vision of what they won’t for the future beside separation on primitive ethinic bases. And comparing it with USA is also odd because the circumstances are completely different.
Peace.
thieleling
Dr. Elwathig on the unity of Sudan: Are we convinced?
Manya,
This article is loaded with irony, given how you and your uncles are acting now in Khartoum. Now even the die-heart unionist like you undesrstands there is no political will for unity of sudan(both north & south). This is why the paramount political objective of south sudanese in the referendum is full independence from the north, and not your so-called New’ Sudan’ confused political objective.
Welcome back to south sudan(Please, south wants you back from Khartoum, NOW)!! Why do you still think the unionists or separatists should still make their cases to try to convince the referendum voters? Please, there is no case to be made to referendum voters who are all southerners. The only case left is for both south & north to guarantee their respective citizens peace and security in both countries, and also turn their attention to reconstruction and development of their people.
Now that you are in Khartoum, you definitely see the inferiority complex your uncle, Abel Aliel or Lual Deng live in everyday. They do not freely speak thier minds and tell the truth. Tell Abel Aliel he has freedom from his self-imposed slavery or servitude in Khartoum.
ONLY people like Abel & his likes do not know slavery and slave trade in every form are prohibited, even self-imposed one in Khartoum. Lincoln & Mandela(both lawyers) clearly understand the meaning of ‘inalienable’ rights, life and human dignity. ‘Every person has the inherent right to life, dignity and the integrity of his or her person which shall be protected by law; no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her life’.
I wish your uncle, Abel(a lawyer) understands the right to liberty is indeed ‘inalienable’ right besides the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the specific constitutions. He should have accorded himself full and equal dignity of himself since the dishonored 1972 Accord, which he helped abrogated by Jallaba against south sudanese wishes.
Most south sudanese leaders(especially the elders like Abel) used to appeasing their juniors in the north. They are in theory enslaved with their free and full consent; they should have known all are equal before the law. Please, consent is needed to govern others, much less to enslave them. Abel Aliel did in fact governed cruelly and unconstitutionally and without the consent of those south sudanese he so abused when he helped Jallaba to abrogate the 1972 Accord.
However, Dr. Elwathig Kameir of SPLM, a northerner has a right to his opinion. His opinion does not take away south sudanese right to secede from united Sudan. He is not going to vote in Jonglei comes the referendum. You are the one who should be in rural Jonglei now talking to referendum voters, instead of writing craps in Khartoum or busy socializing with your enslaved old uncles in Khartoum.
This is why more than 90% of south sudanese are saying south must be independence with “ballots or bullets” in that order. Please, note: “No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent”.
David Glenn
Dr. Elwathig on the unity of Sudan: Are we convinced?
Dear Zechariah Manyok Biar
I have read you article carefully and agree with you that we need a genuine,sincere and open debate,
I take note of the case of sidelining that your refer to,however,this is exactly the type of problem that we need to debate.
I strongly believe that the whole of Sudan is our country and would not want us to simply withdraw into the South,simply because the CPA gives the right to self-determination.It seems some in the South,are seeking the easier solution ,what ever option we select,entails nation building and we might as well seek to build our nation as a whole,that is what the SPLM/A was founded and fought for.
You would recall that the South could have seceded long time ago,and saved itself the war,notably the war against the then separatists,instead,being a visionary,the late Dr,Garang saw his message as that of a national leader and not a regional one.,and he managed to mobilize the people of the whole Sudan.
As for some being sidelined,I would venture to say that some of the Ministers from the South sidelined themselves,isolated themselves and worked for the South only,blame can go either ways,however this is not my issue here,my issue here,is that,though time seems short,I still believe,that genuine and sincere talks among all trends in the country could be of use to our future.
Indeed the purpose of being open and frank is to redress the mistakes of the past,and it is by talking to each other ,that we can get to whatever mechanisms necessary to vorrect them,be it Truth and Reconciliation Commission,or the courts,or whatever.
I firmly believe in the unity of the Sudan,and I also believe that the SPLM/A still represents the hopes of all thew Sudanese people,and it will be sad,if the SPLM/A is to withdraw into a regional sub-species.
James Okuk Solomon
Dr. Elwathig on the unity of Sudan: Are we convinced?
Brother Manyok,
Obviously if you are incompetent in what you do and don’t know your duties and powers, you are not supposed to be respected or listened to even in Southern Sudan or else where. This is what is happening with your 1st Vice President and ministers in the North (Khartoum). Also they find it hard to work without Whisky, Beer and Concubines because Sharia is very tough on these in the North.
I think you got zero in the exam given you by Dr. Elwathig. Your mind seems to be too simplistic on this. Try to attempt another answer, may be you would get “D” next time. Stay well and learn to be wise!