Open letter to the people of Gogrial East and West counties

– CC: H.E Lt. General Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of GOSS, Chairperson of the SPLM, Commander-in-Chief of the SPLA and 1st Vice President of the Republic of Sudan
– CC: Governor of Warrap State Tor Deng Mawien
– CC: Deputy Governor Henry Kuany Aguar Duor
– CC: Commissioner of Gogrial East County: Deng Mariak Deng
– CC: Commissioner of Gogrial West County: Ms. Achol Cier Ryan and
– CC: Administrators
– CC: All Cdes (sons, daughters, fathers, mothers and indeed boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen), whether in Warrap, or in those counties at government and authorities levels, central government or in military positions

We the undersigned sons of Warrap State from Gogrial East and West residing in New Zealand (Auckland & Wellington) are deeply concerned and disturbed by what been happening at home, we understand that the sisterly clans are butchering and displacing themselves. We also understand that these communities/clans’ fought before in 2006, but afterward the fight was brought to an end, which then escalated again this year.

We therefore call upon our President who is son of Warrap State and in particular from Gogrial; as well as all other mentioned above and every concerned son, daughter and citizen likewise to also call upon for bringing resolution to this baseless fight to swift end now.
We condemned such violent with our strongest term ever since the fight has no cost to the people of the counties, Southern Sudan and indeed to the people of New Sudan.

This would have been a time when our people should start to enjoy the dividend and fruits of CPA and fight for the better development in the two sisterly counties, instead of turning against one another. It is unbelievable that these undistinguishable brethrens and sisterly communities/clans turned against each other in such appalling manner.
We therefore, urge them all to refrain from violent and look for permanent solution and peace among themselves. As it is commonly said in Dinka that brothers can always fight and still come together, right now is the time they should come together and say ‘enough is enough’ and asks themselves questions such as ‘why are we hurting one another for no reason?’.

We also call upon all the authorities within Warrap State, sons and daughters, young and old whether within Sudan or in Diasporas to do the same in voicing their concerned as well as call upon for such violent to stop, because the violent are not doing them any good rather than holding the counties back from developing.

We understand it is rainy season right now and our people should have been in their homes sowing their crops rather then running up and down from their brothers and sisters, for the have no any idea what they are causing themselves. This is because most of their incomes normally come from farming and if they deprive and uproot themselves in such a manner from doing their own farming right now, it will be a catastrophe later, possibly another 1998 disaster just waiting.

It is such unbearable shame, as our people turned against one another while Abyei is burning just next door (refugees from Abyei are in Greater Gogrial now); a crime which are being perpetuated by our real enemies of peace in Abyei area. Historically Abyei is part of our region and if our people really want to defend our land and interest from enemies, they should do so by helping the people of Abyei, since what is happening in Abyei can also affect the Greater Gogrial and Warrap. Much better than weighing a war against one another, this will liberate nothing than bringing shame and disaster to themselves.
We therefore welcome the reasoned signing of Abyei roadmap agreement to end the suffering and displacement of the Abyei people and we call upon NCP and our Party SPLM to honour the roadmap and translate it into action plans, as it is crucial to establish the administration in Abyei.

In sum, again we are deeply appalled, deplored, disappointed, ashamed, frustrated, depressed, disturbed, the list is endless as much as the word of the mouth cannot explain on how our feeling are being hurt over here by such violent happening at home (in our counties of Gogrial East and West).

Our last word to sum this letter up all is that “WE WANT THIS FIGHTING BROUGHT TO AN END RIGHT NOW”, we understand that the violent has been condemned by many concerned citizen but we want that slogans of condemnation from our leaders translated into action and permanent peace between these communities.

May the Almighty God bring peace into their hearts, for they do not really know exactly the consequences and damages they are causing themselves and equivocally to their own counties’ development at large.

Thank you for reading this letter,

SPLM Oyee! New Sudan Oyee! Peace Oyee!

Signed by:

Santino Atem Deng (Chairperson of the SPLM Chapter in Auckland and Chairman of the Auckland Sudanese Community Inc. -New Zealand),
Solomon Mathuc Deng (Youth Chairman in Auckland-New Zealand),
Dominic Deng Madut ,
Gabriel Dhor Deng,
Luis Luol Madut (Elder),
Marko Deng Akol (Elder),
John Akot Akot.

You can contact us at:
[email protected]