SPLM between New Sudan and South Sudan
SPLM object for unity versus southern Sudan overwhelming quest for sovereignty: A seemingly contradictory political end games. Can we reconcile them?
By Paul Bor Gatwech *
March 19, 2007 — SPLM object for unity of the Sudan seems to be threatened after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) has allowed for the formation of autonomous Government of south Sudan. This was entrenched, after the demise of its former charismatic leader Dr. Garang, when new personalities emerged from the rank of SPLM to lead the movement who were known to have favoured separation of the south from the north in their political foot steps.
Nonetheless, in the eve of the implementation of CPA, Garang jubilantly entered Khartoum and attracted welcome by over 4 million supporters which substantially sent a signal of emergency of new and united Sudan with a non Arab and Muslim leader within years than decades.
Eventually, though, these have come to pass and the biggest challenge to the historic movement has become its seemingly contradictory responsibilities: object to unify and lead the Sudan amidst an overwhelming quest by the people of southern Sudan for sovereignty.
The purpose of this piece of article, therefore, is to try to reconcile these seemingly contradictory two sides of the coin SPLM is projecting in the Sudanese political arenas.
Firstly, the questions being posted across public opinion remains whether SPLM should drop one side of the coin and continue with the other But it has obviously confirmed at its recent YEI Political Bureau’s meeting that it will carry on with both faces of the coin.
So, shall the SPLM maximize its campaign for Sudan’s presidency on next election in 2008 then taking much time to prepare the south for referendum in 2011 and who will be the flag bearer in its ranks? Or, can it do both or do they interfere with each others?
Due to such developments, two things are getting onto the stage. Some few months ago, there were rumours leaking out of Khartoum that few influential opposition figures and retired politicians have been engaged in serious consultations on what should be done by the north to reverse the irreversible tendency of southern succession enshrined by the CPA.
As the news goes, political figures like Turabi are explicitly convinced that southern Sudan succession is inevitable and irreversible no matter what Khartoum will do. And the only formula they come-up with is to convince the power-hungry Bashir group to concede Sudan’s Presidency to SPLM during the election in 2008 before referendum so that SPLM work-hard to reverse overwhelming history-long southern tendency for succession. Brilliant idea! Isn’t it!
On the other hand, the reaction to this formula brewing out in the north has lead elites from the south in and out SPLM think twice though the movement has already resolved to pursue unity of the Sudan until the last minute of the interim period.
Nonetheless, there is yet a strong resistance within the southern Sudan public opinion on both moves; firstly that of the northern elites to concede Sudan’s presidency for the remaining three years of interim period to lure southerners vote for unity and then all start again after that game and secondly by the SPLM to insist on transforming the Sudan from old to new even if it means three years to the referendum. It seems most of the southerners are portraying that Sudan will never be new and telling SPLM not to waste time dreaming of leading and transforming the Sudan.
However, the argument that the author of this article is intending to drag to southern Sudan public debate is that what is better in year 2011: Bashir as Sudan’s president overseeing the referendum in 2011 or somebody from the south in Bashir’s place doing that job? If we can get Sudan’s presidency at all in 2008, will a southern president be more dangerous on issue of southern succession than that from northern president of the Sudan?
What is wrong for southerners to be the one presiding over the Sudan in 2011 while also are the same people deciding at the polls for the self determination? Is it more relevant to argue that we should confine ourselves to Juba and wait for referendum there than get to the enemy den in Khartoum, and be the masters of our own destiny?
What does our hero means when he said that we have to show that we shall be masters of our own in this CPA before his demise? I know the answer to my entire above questions from a southern nationalist perspective is: “we are afraid to be bribed if we become close to them.”
I would like to refer you back to words of our late charismatic and wise leader, a man who have understood the enemy to the maximum, Dr. Garang who once said that: “one cannot consider being bribed at all if the money that he/she receives belongs to him/her in the first place and the only thing you do is take that money, but never accomplish any mission you are given for.”
South Sudan is already in our hand. Period!
Nonetheless, we shouldn’t start breathing relief or get confine to the south at the moment, something like soldiers tending to engage themselves in looting and inspecting houses of a town they capture while the enemy is still around them close. They eventually got terribly chased out in the town they just captured.
Thus, SPLM vigour or enthusiasm to lead the Sudan before interim period expires shouldn’t be taken negatively by southern nationalists who want to shortsightfully limit SPLM to juba. SPLM objectivity for Sudan’s presidency in the up coming national elections is an offensive and proactive strategy. We have to use SPLM as an offensive force and GOSS plus SPLA as defensive forces. This is to say that SPLM object for unity shall not in any case affect southern quest for self-determination.
As it is used to say by the late hero to the southern nationalist during the war time that when we (SPLA/M) forces reach to Renk, fighter aiming for ‘jinub’ can retire and those determined for Khartoum can continue. So please vote in SPLM to lead the Sudan in 2008 for it will not turn down your decision in 2011.
* Paul Bor Gatwech is a Sudanese living in Australia and can be reached through [email protected]