What’s behind Sudan’s Al-Bashir and company’s sleepless nights?
By Sabrino Majok Majok*
December 11, 2007 — In general terms, a political party is an organization of people with similar political beliefs and objectives. Naturally, this group of people often tends to further its vision within an established system of governance, both at grassroots and executive levels. To garner a spirit of a team work and efficiency in service delivery and dissemination of group’s platform, each member is expected to contribute towards achievement of overall objectives set out in the group’s literatures such as bylaws, constitution and internal regulations, all of which oftentimes spell out—among others—members’ rights, duties, obligations, and penalties. At the time of divergence in opinions within the party, for example, the members are the sole arbitrators, not judges, or members of different political parties. This is done, first and foremost, to protect party’s secrets, keep the party united, and to maintain party’s political strength. As such it’s unimaginable, even absurd; if a non-member interferes in the affairs of a different political party under the pretext of “finding solutions” to the problems as evident in current political games presided over in Sudan by Field Marshal Omer Hassan Al-Bashir and his South Sudan Political surrogates/puppets. Sadly, the latter always pretend to be sightless, deaf, and uneducated lots when their masters in the North are in deep political crises that cause havoc in the country. Each time there is crises in the North, the puppets would prefer to politically hibernate under their masters’ wings while preparing themselves for Southward attacks and destructions, the war they fight or facilitate best. For example, despite massive displacements, destructions and slaughters of the marginalized citizens in the South, East, West, Nuba Mountains, and Southern Blue Nile, majority of the puppets have silently been in bed with oppressors. This cowardice and opportunistic dormancy is one factor why NIF has been running the country single-handedly while imposing its exotic policies of oppression, enslavement, and genocide. Had it not been for sheer determination, consistency, and nationalistic endeavours by SPLM and its other Sudanese allies (liberators), the famous CPA wouldn’t have been negotiated and signed.
What’s more, in the face of flagrant violations of CPA by NIF of Al-Bashir since January 9, 2005, no any single puppet has raised a concern or uttered a condemnation whatsoever. What we constantly hear from them is SPLM has done this SPLM has done that; Undoubtedly, these pro-NIF Southern Politicians reacted angrily, even hysterically, at SPLM dismissal of comrades Aleu Aleu Ayieny Aleu and Telar Ring Deng through a decree signed by Chairman Salva Kiir Mayardit on December 3rd .
To gauge Al-Bashir’s followers’ underlying motives vis-à-vis SPLM and marginalized peoples of the Sudan, just ask these questions: What’s behind this dust-kicking frenzy by National Islamic Front (NIF), Democratic Alliance of South Sudan (DASS), National Labor Party (NLP), Democratic Forum (DF), and Democratic Salvation Front (DSF), when the issue at hand is an internal affairs? On whose behalf are they fighting? South Sudan? SPLM? President Salva? Or comrades Aleu and Telar? Frankly speaking, none of the above! Members of NIF, NLP, DASS, DF, DSF, or their derivatives, are fighting their own wars, simple as that; they are hell bent to cause split within the SPLM and people of South Sudan as was the case before CPA. But they will not succeed, for we are not in 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s or 90’s. They should be reminded that their sinister intentions would not be misinterpreted in their favour at this time around. Because nobody in his right mind would believe that Al-Bashir, Al-Turabi, Sadiq Al-Mahdi, Professor David Dechan, and Bona are going through hectic sleepless nights to unite SPLM; or to protect interests of Aleu and Telar. In a recent past, for instance, two political parties—Umma and NIF—split into camps respectively of Saliq’s and Mubarak’s; and Al-Bashir’s and Dr. Al-Turabi’s. From the beginning of NIF and Umma crises until today, no one, literally no one from these so-called politicians dare challenge the leaderships of Umma and NIF. “These are internal problems,” they would unabashedly vow. Thus, numerous reconciliations bid that were advanced to bring splinter groups together, were solely coming from respective core membership of Umma and NIF, not from these self-proclaimed judges such as Professor David Dechan (DASS) and James Andaria (NLP).
If Al-Bashir and his Southern allies want to be trustworthy citizens, they should first change their divisive tendencies, or alternatively they should acquire SPLM membership before making any further comments on SPLM internal Affairs; pointless lectures in premises of higher learning or senseless publications in pro-NIF media are nothing but “last kicks of dying horse.”
Who does not know Al-Bashir and his proxy South Sudanese politicians’ tainted records? Who needs to be reminded of brutality of Al-Bashir’s regime since he illegally seized power in 1989? Do Al-Bashir and company really have a moral authority to lecture anybody on good governance, rule of law, or conflict resolution when Dar fur still bleeds, and Mubarak Al-Fadil is nursing serious psychological wounds inflicted by Al-Bashir security services, not to mention thousands innocent Sudanese who are languishing in solitary confinement in Khartoum as I write this article?
I repeat, if Al-Bashir, Dr. David Dechan, or any other distracters in Sudan, have guts to challenge the Movement, then they had better review their own performances before jumping to unfounded allegations against and backbiting SPLM.
As for dismissal of Comrades Aleu and Telar, it’s logical and political wise on the part of these opportunists to leave the issue at the level of SPLM membership, which at this time excludes Al-Bashir, Bona, Turabi. Otherwise, any further meddling in the affairs of SPLM would be tantamount to political insanity and moral corruption. Why? Because members of SPLM are able and capable to resolve their internal issues, and comrades Aleu and Telar’s case is not exception. Therefore, it’s high time that Al-Bashir and his proxy political forces mind their own business.
*Sabrino Majok Majok is a Sudan Tribune regular contributor; reach him via [email protected]