South Sudan’s disarmament policy – a necessary evil
By Mamer Philip
June 4, 2008 – To distinguish civilians from rebels and protecting our historical peace deal – the Compressive Peace Agreement (CPA), it is an ideal step to start disarmament now then later.
Congratulations to Jonglei governor Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk that the second phase of liberating the marginalized people of the Sudan is to begin again in Bor Town. This is totally self-marginalization. Our trusted government of Jonglei state will do the best to apprehend those who choose military confrontation – it is a necessary evil.
The Sudan’s People Liberation Army (SPLA) is a nature disciplined army and does not completely loot its own people. It is an absolutely baseless argument that SPLA uses maximum force to suppress civilians. SPLA, like angels, respect loyal citizens and like chameleon, changes with situation. The army is a peace loving one. I hope the army will use the necessary force to take guns and committing necessary evils to serve million lives – far better than allowing silent genocide in South Sudan. Losing thirty lives in Duk-Nuer clashes in Jonglei in one attack is a big tragedy. How many people will be lost by the end of the year as we campaign for disarmament without action?
With an experience on the field, Jonglei is very volatile to herself than pre-CPA. The period between 1983 and 2005 had been devotedly used by our brethrens to protect themselves knowing that every one was an enemy. But after 2005, the population – now tired of wars and reports of deaths, resorted to realizing peace by rerouting to business, rearing minimum number of cattle and marrying wives in names of the deceased as Dinka culture argued in Bor. In Murle, things started in the same dynamics just before 2005. But after CPA, something happened. In Nuer of Jonglei as well, movement of people fro and to Dinka Bor and vice versa was going on smoothly till 2006. And something also happened. These tribes do not have ‘special problem’ that attract the world interest rather their cattle greediness.
Given all these ups-and-downs change of behaviors, Government of South Sudan (GoSS) should do something too. Because something is happening!
To truck down the main points in few lines, one need to clearly answer the following questions before challenging the GoSS directives to head of ten Southern Sudan states to disarm their people;
– Where do the local communities get ammunitions to feed their ugly guns?
– Why are the members of legislative Assemblies in the GoSS and state government reluctant to convince their constituencies to give-up arms?
– Why is raiding intertribal? Why not a gang against the none? – Something is happening!
– Who will compensate the lost lives?
– Why do writers take side in commending articles? Something is happening!
Given the above questions and more you know as a full evolved human being, then disarmament has no substitute.
Some perpetrators opposed to the idyllic decision taken by GoSS and effectively being implemented by the respected military oriented state of Jonglei have gone as far as calling the process “Forcible.” Why can’t one understand when Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk says “all units of government including the civil society will be involved to…..to answer the question of conspiracy.”
Governor Kuol is very clear that disarmament will respect those who respect their lives. After all, everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die. Why not giving bonus to those intellectuals who want peace but fear their masses’ addiction to the use of guns – mainly for theft and other ill operations. I tell you; those encouraging intertribal conflicts will not see the Promised Land – the New Sudan. But never worry, just repent like many Southern Sudanese had done after committing suicidal moves to either abroad, Khartoum or back to villages and spread hatred amongst the marginalized people of Sudan in general.
Either way, it worked to lose two million lives in the two decades civil war of mainly “natural” Sudanese and the “Sudanese by choice.” Believe me or not many of people in Khartoum fall under the “choice” category – the Arabs. The black Sudanese nationals face a lot of challenges before, now and will be. The question of who arm communities thus has a liable answer – the Khartoum government. So, to oppose disarmament is to be answerable to the atrocities going on in Darfur and Abyei. The International Criminals Court in The Hague is about to issue charges against those involved in Darfur. The next time ICC meets on Sudan will be to decide on who is violating CPA. Who is ready to answer this question behind bars in The Hague?
In Jonglei, many communities do not really want arms but the higher officials’ reluctance to act caused suspicions of supporting intertribal clashes.
As such, disarmament, peaceful as designed by Jonglei government or to turn forcible in a due course to achieve the mission, is a necessary evil.
The writer is a Student at Dr. John Garang de Mabior Institute of Science and Technology and a member of Institute Press, GARANG DAILY – Bor Town, Jonglei state. Contact; [email protected]