Issues Southern Sudanese must not over-look

By Koang Tut Jing

May 5, 2007 — The SPLA/M under the late Garang had accepted to stand up for the challenges
it faced within its ranks and files. Many voiced their oppositions against
the movement objectives in words and at the battlefield confrontation. But
the resilient of the late today brought us to the point we are. In the media
currently, it is uncommon to encounter many voices that sanction and
decorate separation of Southern Sudan from the rest of the Sudan. But these
elements are themselves failing to think of how difficult their dream may
just come. It is demoralising when one reads written materials that do not
in fact conform to the reality on the ground. If the Southern Sudan
Nationalists cannot see the truth as being revealed by difficulties facing
the implementation of CPA, when will they come to know the referendum signed
for under CPA is in it last breath? The author recognise the important of
CPA and has a great respect for a man and leader who shouldered it signing
but at the same time view the separation of Southern Sudan as partial act
that can plunge the next generation into another turmoil and the author will
elaborate his argument with NIF stance against CPA implementation.

First, the NIF appeared to have made their minds up to do away with CPA at
any costs. Today the apparent present of SAF in all areas of Southern Sudan
and with a massive deployment of more troops around oil producing areas
could result to difficulties in the path for cessation. If those who
advocate for separation are realistic in their call, they must think on how
best they will counter-attack the NIF intention at the eventuality of war.
The author believes the cessation advocates are actually strengthening the
NIF grip on Sudan by creating sentiments among the potential SPLM supporters
in the North against the Southern Sudanese in general. The best way of
tackling the NIF is to speak up as Sudanese so that the marginalised unity
can be realised. That unity remains the only means we can defeat the NIF
forces. Mind you, this is all about struggle between evils and good and it
has nothing to do with Southern Sudanese alone but many in Sudan are
suffering.

Since the so-called expert recommendations on Abyei was sent to NIF
leadership in 2005, Beshir failed to act on it. “The ruling National
Congress has rejected the experts’ report. Up to now, they have not acted on
the Abyei Protocol.” Said, Pagan in his recent interview. With this insight,
what plans do the southern nationalists have for Abyei and its people who
themselves are part of us? This is the most complicated issue we all must
think about before advocating for separation. Plainly, we must avoid partial
solution if the next generation has to inherit a lasting peace. Whether we
like it or not Abyei remains the Sudanese Kashmir or a time bomb. If the
rest of southern Sudanese chose to turn their back against people of Abyei,
the chaos which will rock Abyei will definitely stain the people of Warap
and Western Upper Nile and eventually the whole of southern Sudan will be up
again in anarchy. So, the author think the best solution is the New Sudan
Vision because it can create a country where every Sudanese can feel a sense
of belonging based on citizenship and rule of law. As Yasser Arman put it,
“the only solution in Sudan is to implement the SPLM vision of the New Sudan
in which everybody is respected and accorded equal opportunity by state.”
Running away from radical Islamists is not a solution but a preservation of
war.

As mentioned it earlier, the NIF continues fortifying its dirty defences in
areas that hold it vital interest. This move signifies the NIF preparation
for war and in it support are the militia who themselves are southerners,
what are the plans southern nationalists have to neutralise such measures?
The NIF is arming and financing the militia which aims at weakening the
SPLM, how can this be curbed? Mind you, the late Garang farsighted vision
curbed this since 1983, why can’t it work today? The Sudan’s successive
regimes resorted in countering insurgent by arming and financing the
southern Sudanese to fight against SPLA/M but because the SPLA was in good
hand the SPLA broke the resolve of Anya nya II elements and the SPLA stood
the tribulation of 1991-2002 when all the defectors alliance with Khartoum
regimes. This shows our late was not sleeping too; he managed to have in our
side northerners who themselves suffering like us. If we want to survive the
next phase of war we must use the SPLM ability as an instrument of change in
the Sudan to counter the NIF plans against the south.

Another potential cause of war is a demarcation of border between south and
north. The NIF is reluctant to do that, any plan why? No one among the
so-called southern nationalists ever volunteered on how they will solve the
issue. This one is a potential flash point which you shouldn’t ignore. Mind
you NIF leadership will never make a move to demarcate the border so the
best solution lies on the SPLM vision of New Sudan.

When has cessation stance ever contributed positively to our quest for
freedom? History has it that most of the past and present separatists
had/have been playing a negative role on southern Sudan issue. In reality
they pretended to champion the southern cause but having doing the opposite.
Just in most recent years, Bona Malual who advocates for separation termed
the SPLA forces which were in Eastern Sudan as “occupier.” One can wonder,
what can become of SAF in the south? The elements of Anya nya II in 1980s
claimed to themselves as legitimate southern nationalists and yet they were
helping the SAF in fighting the SPLA/M. In 1991 we all know what happened
when Riek thrown his support behind Beshir in order to clean out the SPLA in
which they succeeded by recapturing all the major towns volunteered
southerners captured through blood and sweat. Currently, there are those
calling themselves SSDF still in NIF payroll, what are they doing?

With this historical evidence the author can conclude that there are no true
southern nationalists but pretenders and tribalists in actual fact. No one
of them ever accomplished anything that can satisfy the southerners’
aspiration. Joseph Lago and Abel Alier had opportunity but didn’t put the
needs of his people first. Late Joseph Akun was right when he refused to
come to term with Addis Ababa Agreement. He and late Paul Ruot whom he
succeeded after dying in action would have been the best southern
nationalists our region ever seen in more than half a century. But in
contrary people who perceive Sudan as one nation did a better job than
people thought of them. Deng Nhial made his mark under one nation and late
Garang took it to extra mile by nationalising the Sudan’s problems. Cease
alienation policy or we shall all perish at
once.

* The author is a Sudanese living in Pacific Rim or Oceania and can be reached
at [email protected]