The Camouflage Month
By Watts Roba Gibia Nyirigwa*
July 12, 2006 — This time last year, July had been a camouflage month in the modern history of Sudan and peace loving people around the world, with diverse and malicious phases. The first phase of the month had been characterized with joy and happiness, and the glorious welcome of Dr. John Garang de Mabior to Khartoum and the consequent sworn in of the Sudanese President and First and second Vice Presidents on July 9, 2005 as well as the signing of the interim national constitution of Sudan. And despite the burning heat of Khartoum, yet one can not forget the scene of overwhelmingly jubilee and joy which filled the hearts of the people as well as the distinguished guests, and the prevailing sense of humor and the fabulous dancing of Kofi, Mbeki and Garang with the small children, demonstrates undoubtedly the birth of “New Sudan”. But unfortunately that marvelous day never long lived, and came the other dreadful phase of the month which proclaimed demise of Garang. That scary day turned Sudanese people around its axis and against each other, with extreme anger, suspicion and desire for reprisal which was one of the chilling and enticement days in the lives of Sudanese people.
As we remember and pay tribute to our undying martyr, Garang on July 30, 2006, we need not to forget our comrades who perished with him at plane crash, as well as our fallen heroes for the course of justice and equality and their loved ones. July 30, 2006 marks the first anniversary of Garang’s death, but without discovering the mystery behind his plane crash, and even without making the panel’s findings public! Thus, one wonders as whether Garang has been buried with the secrets of his death, and that the panel’s investigation file has been closed forever without tracing further into the roots of Garang’s death! This is the typical behavior and act of our governments, as they are not interested to pursue the truth for the sake of the truth, as the truth is always painful and confronting with their interests. There was number of ex-rebels and presidents killed in the Great Lakes Region and Central Africa, and all the victims were victimized in same mysterious manner as Garang, and there was no effort spared to excavate the truth for their demise, simply because we do not value human life! Garang died, but the truth has to be revealed, and it is imperative to stop such future mysterious deaths and the distortion of facts. Garang’s course was unique, delivery of marginalized Sudanese people from the bondage of slavery and servitude, and above all, he was regarded as the most visionary and revolutionary African thinker in its time, and was loved and appreciated worldwide for his charismatic leadership and for putting an end to the south-north conflict which has been flaming for more than half century.
According to our ethics and traditions, if a member of a family dies, all the relatives and elders have to sit down to trace the root of the death regardless of medical report. And I believe that is the mores in every society and nation. John Garang’s death doesn’t occur only in the small family of Mabior, but the entire marginalized, oppressed and peace loving family. Thus, what this large family does to find out the root and cause of Garang’s death, are they satisfied with the inconsistent and distorted probe’s investigation? If yes, then it is obvious that this large family has betrayed Garang and those perished with him. As there are lot of threads which has to be properly followed and scrutinized, such as the objective or agenda of the meeting between Museveni and Garang, attendants, transcription of the meeting, the mood of the two life friends during the meeting and the outcome of the meeting or unless it was a secret and close meeting to clear the old accounts between the two intimate friends. And I wonder as whether all this has been thoroughly scrutinized by the probe team during the investigation! Bearing in mind that, Garang never made a press conference after meeting Museveni at his hometown, which poses yet another query! But regardless of all this, one thing is certain, the strong is respected and honored and the weak is dishonored!
* Watts Roba Gibia Nyirigwa is a Sudan Tribune columnist, he can be reached at [email protected]