Honour SPLA now
By Sabrino Majok Majok*
Nov 8, 2005 — From the time a first bullet was fired in 1983 until today, SPLA have exercised borderless policy throughout the New Sudan. That was and is why you find sons and daughters of Equatoria in Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile, Angessana Hills, and Nuba Mountains. The same is also true of sons and daughters of other regions of the New Sudan.
Furthermore, SPLA operations were neither restricted by ethnicity nor religion of combatants, to liberate the oppressed majority of the Sudan.
Irrespective of region of origin or location of assignment, members of SPLA always discharge their duties without reservation or reluctance, treating one another within the organization as brothers and sisters.
As such, they were and are now able cover the whole New Sudan, without exception.
Even at the time of misunderstanding among political leaders in the Movement, SPLA forces stood together, and sometimes fought cautiously–in self-defense–if they were made to collide among themselves, for example during factional wars.
For more than two decades SPLA have never lost a bigger picture of liberation struggle and its objectives. Their commitment to the cause, love for their country and people, and nationalistic endeavours for freedom and equality have been key guiding principles in their daily activities.
These binding characteristics have enabled them to stay together as a unit, and so they have always been ready for the job, irrespective of their ethnicity, religion, or geographical location.
Indeed, despite of diversified ethnical backgrounds in the organization, SPLA subordinates indiscriminately took orders from their superiors for the last twenty-two years, and together they collectively stood their ground in their determination for liberation of the motherland and her people.
Their unity and love for one another are evidenced in whatever they do. For example, in case of fatalities in action or deaths due to natural causes, everybody in the group would feel the loss and perform moral and professional requirements, including decent burials.
From Bhar El Ghazal to Upper Nile, Equatoria, Blue Nile, and Nuba Mountains, SPLA homogeneously and constantly go south or north; east or west, cress-crossing at the centre 365 days/22years to liberate the oppressed and marginalized masses.
After a long and costy struggle, they finally brought peace to every one, including their former foes and political adversaries, on January 9, 2005. Even so, they have accepted arrangement reached without reservation.
Now that the war is either over or put on hold, these forces need to be taken care of. Therefore, it’s imperative upon us to prioritize their needs and services as an expression of thanks and appreciations for what they have selflessly done for our nation.
We, too, should provide much needed services to orphans, widows, widowers, and the disabled. Again, to show our eternal, heartfelt appreciations and thanks for sacrifices rendered by their fallen, loved ones.
To pay back to and remember our fallen heroes and heroines, on the other hand, the souls of these comrades deserve a national day of prayers throughout the New Sudan, in their names. In addtion to other pressing issues, SPLM should play a bigger role in this regard to make it happens.
The fallen patriots, some of whom didn’t even enjoyed decent burials due to unique circumstances, deserve thanks and praise for voluntarily accepting the challenges with ultimate price, so that the rest of us may enjoy peace and freedom.
Currently, the needs of SPLA, widows, orphans, widowers, and disabled can be easily and successfully done since we have recently gotten our first payment from our oil.
This amount is equivalent to farmer�s first produce of a season, which in many cultures in South Sudan, isn’t consumed prior to giving offerings.
It’s, therefore, befitting to give offering-like payments to SPLA because we owe them more than mighty dollar. After all, they were the ones who forced NIF to negotiating table.
Yes, we are truly indebted to them.
But, if we don’t honour them now, then we are likely to miss this golden opportunity. Secondly, our brothers and sisters in uniform may construe our inaction as indifference, particularly during present harvest ($$$$) time.
Thirdly, should we ignore gallant SPLA forces–some of whom are aging or may be battling illnesses– no one among us can or will qualify for forgiveness what so ever.
Fourthly, it will be political and moral failure on part of SPLM if no reimbursement is done within reasonable amount of time, because it’s a duty, responsibility and obligation to give tribute to our forces who fought bravely and selflessly for the last twenty-two years.
Finally, let�s be reminded that we have six or more years to go, and so we will definitely need services of SPLA; big time….”One must not insult crocodile before he/she crosses the river.”
* Sabrino Majok Majok is a Sudanese and a resident of Canada, E-mail: [email protected]