Give peace a chance

By Amos Ahon Challak

July 9, 2008 — On passing my eyes from left to write over articles coded “The1991 historic move is a blessing to Southern Sudan” by Gatkwath and “Each tribe counts for South Sudan” by James Okuk over the Sudan Tribune, there was nothing much essential other than freeing one selves from the deep-rooted propensity of tribalism and too early political campaign. This will enable Southern Sudanese to realize fully a moment of peace, a moment of moral and a moment of transformation to make the gross peace a tangible entity on common ground based on the CPA.

I totally disagree to many parts of these articles which have gone deep into extracting and exaggerating a mission for which the agents had already forgotten and are now looking forward to compensate the South through service for the forgiven moves of being used as decoys by the Khartoum government. One article went off the context and dwelled on criticizing SPLM/ SPLA to extend of celebrating its military draw with NCP during the war than it had won

Leaders are ours who we should groom and equip with moral values for complete liberty of the South. In the due course of their supportive ideas on Machar Teny, they unknowingly eclipsed in to criticizing him citing that the killing of civilians of Bor in1991 was by angry commanders but Riek Machar had no orders. This is a senior surprise to lead with inability of bringing situations under control as Machar did. The evil of lie has revealed itself. But, it is good to forget of it since Dr. Machar is the vice president of the Government of Southern Sudan and nothing more is expected to happen without his knowledge and comment.

It is a matter of coining words to pose that Garang would be called a traitor though in his grave simply because he went to shake hands in Khartoum with Omar Hassan al-Bashir- a reason alleged to Machar Teny. John Garang de Mabior visited Khartoum for his first time since 1983 after negotiating the peace deal. Significantly, he went for its implementation that all Sudanese liked and still cry out for it including these authors. I do not see any standard comparison with Machar’s move when no one knew about his journey after killing his civilians. Better to believe that it was only by a rare chance that the patriots (the faction leaders) who gave up their careers and family lives for mother country have resorted to wrecking havoc on their fellow citizens and must be forgiven.
I will illuminate the historic move briefly to denounce it as a blessing to Southern Sudan.

Naser coup was a residual product of a scheme to liquidate the liberation struggle. It was not a Nuer bid for the control of the South. It was not motivated by Southern nationalism either. The ‘split’ of 1991 was the result of a sophisticated plot. Khartoum successfully misled the intelligence community into believing that they were ready to relinquish control of the South if the SPLM-SPLA laid down their arms. The SPLM leadership recognized the bait for what it was and steered clear of it. Khartoum then agreed with SPLM-SPLA commanders Lam Akol and Riek Machar to revolt, take over the Movement and dissolve it.
Also, the faction had a ruined image during and after its plan. The leaders of the faction made contact with the Khartoum government for relief supplies beginning in July 1991. By May 1991, the government had accepted to supply possible equipments. At its failure, it became increasingly directed by the Khartoum government which made it a wing of the government. Its announcement was hurried with in a ploy to hinder Garang’s intensified military operation on Juba in fear that it will earn him credence in rebel leadership. This articulates the ambition of the faction to government’s interest, leave alone Southern Sudan not far being a blessing.

The faction became much a commercial project than an intended blessing to Southern Sudan as Gatkwath believes. In September 1991, the faction established contact with government representative Ali al-Hajj Muhammad, who funneled money through SPLA-Nasir’s Nairobi office. To effect the government’s aim of the project, SPLA-Nasir representative was sent to Khartoum to set up a liaison office, where he met Omar al-Bashir, Hassan al-Turabi and army commanders. No concept of the blessing of the South appeared here.

To satisfy us of the absence of proclaimed right to self determination for the people of Southern Sudan in the interest of the faction, I inform the readers that; when the faction signed an agreement with the Khartoum government in January 1992 at Frunkfurt, there was no single statement about the independence of the Southern Sudan. This made some members of the negotiating committee to leave the faction in disgust. It became hard for those who did not intend government’s plot to locate the destiny of the faction and this was why many people went back to Garang leading to dissolution of the faction.

It was at SPLM/A-United’s national convention held in Akobo from 26 September to 16 October 1994 that an announcement for self determination for areas outside the South was made, Dr. Lam Akol then left the faction in protest against the proposal. Machar changed the name to SSLM/A (Southern Sudan Liberation Movement/ Army) while Lam remained leading SPLM-United. We therefore, have to retreat from saying that the split cleared the path for right to self-determination for Southern Sudanese.

Looking in to the alleged killing of Gaajak clan, without wasting my valuable time to take it to the right path, let us first see from practical observation whether having killed Bor as revenge has brought back the lives of the dead Gajaak people. We also need to see if the dead Dinkas are of any benefit to the living Gajaak community as well as the then faction. Instead, the movement was deprived of warriors due unrevised action.. From here, arguments of killing Dinka as a tribal origin of Dr. John Garang are light, futile, and only fit for no vision.

Out of all these cracking of minds, Dr. Riek Machar Teny is humbly serving as the vice president of the GoSS and people welcome his service as a patriot and a so-called fighter. Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin is having a break in his home state as a member of the SPLM/A. Few people are still planting seeds of disunity, setting tribes against themselves and comparing Machar to Garang as if Machar is dead. Garang did his part with out any complaint and died. The vice president is committed to CPA while others denounce it. It is true that “Enemies of CPA poise to create confusion” and if this same message delivered by Gatkwath and James Okuk were what Riek Machar has, it would be better to “Discontinue Machar’s Parallelism in Sudan’s politics”.

The writer is a Sociology student at Kenyatta University in Kenya. He can be reached at [email protected]