What does Nuer Community in Jonglei want?

By Zechariah Manyok Biar

August 10, 2009 — Both New Sudan Vision and Sudan Tribune have again broken the news of tribal clashes in Jonglei State. The attack happened on Friday night on August 7, 2009 at Khir cattle camp in Lith community of Twich East County. The attackers according to the Commissioner of Twich East County, Diing Akol, are from Uror County. New Sudan Vision attributed the attack to Nuer Community of Jonglei State but not specific to Uror County. But the New Sudan Vision’s report is detailed because it has a figure of four people killed on the side of the attackers in addition to seven people killed on the side of Lith Community. New Sudan Vision also has reported that two people from the attackers have been captured and they are from Nuer Community of Jonglei State.

The question that came to my mind when I heard the news was: What does Nuer Community in Jonglei State want? On July 29, 2009 the same community attacked Nyuak Community of Twich East County, killing six people and wounding eight. On May 8, 2009, a group of Lou Nuer attacked a Jikany Nuer village called Tor Kech, killing 49 people, mostly innocent women and children. What is common in these attacks is that Nuer Community of Jonglei State attacked its neighbors without any prior quarrel with them.

Many people always sympathize with Lou Nuer against Murle Community of Jonglei State in what has now become a cycle of retaliation because Murle were the ones who first attacked Lou Nuer before Lou Nuer retaliated against Murle, provoking more retaliation on Lou by Murle.

However, people are likely going to lose sympathy for Lou Nuer for their behaviors toward their neighbors. What is disgusting is that some Nuer intellectuals even praise their community’s behavior in what they term as “mighty naath” or “warrior Nuer” action. The question is: Why should one be a warrior against his brothers and sisters? Do many people appreciate such claim?

People only appreciate warriors who fight for a just cause. In 1994 when we attack Kapoeta, we had a very brave Second Lieutenant in our Jamus Brigade of Commander Pieng Deng, now Lieutenant General Pieng Deng. That lieutenant was very friendly to people around him, but he was a real warrior toward the enemy. He could not even lie down during the attack. He used to challenge government forces inside Kapoeta when we were on one side of Singata River and Sudan government forces were on the other side of Singata. That lieutenant was a very good Arabic speaker because he was from Nuba. He was killed during our second attack on Kapoeta.

On the opposite side, there was a man who was a great warrior on the government side when Agarab Brigade of Commander Kuol Dim, now Major General Kuol Dim, attacked Jebel Dhurub el Nahar. That man would shout at our forces in Dinka language, saying that he was bought up to his nails. He was 12.7 machine’s gunner and he killed many soldiers on our side before our forces killed him.

Both of those men were extraordinary warriors. But the man on the government side was a warrior against his people because he believed that he was bought to kill his people. The lieutenant in Jamus Brigade was a warrior against what he believed to be his real enemies. Whom should you respect between those two men? Should you respect a bought warrior or should you respect a warrior who believed that he was fighting his real enemy?

It is always important for people to fight a just war. Respected warriors are the ones who defend themselves against external aggressors, or they are the ones who fight for a just cause.

Uneducated civilians might not know what a just war means. That is the reason why they should be guided by their intellectuals. But if intellectuals are no better than illiterates, then there is a problem with a community.

The Deputy Governor of Jonglei, Mar Nyuot, even voiced his suspicion for some politicians in the incitement of violence in Jonglei tribal clashes. I believe that Mr. Mar knew what he was talking about.

Our MPs do not seem to understand that it is part of their job to control their constituencies. What do MPs think when their constituencies repeatedly attack their neighbors and they do nothing to control the situation? Do these MPs want to let us believe that they are collaborators in these criminal activities or are they powerless to control their people?

We hear some MPs always blaming the government of South Sudan for not controlling tribal clashes in South Sudan. But do these MPs regard themselves as outsiders from the government? Do Uror MPs put their constituencies in the category of cattle rustlers when we know that a cattle rustling is not Nuer culture?

Our MPs must join local chiefs and control their communities or we will regard them as collaborators in the killings of innocent people in South Sudan. It would not be difficult for us to sue these MPs in the future if they appear to collaborate with criminals.

Nuer MPs in Jonglei State must also tell us what their community wants from its neighbors. Do they enjoy a massive death of their innocent people because of retaliation or do they believe that some communities cannot retaliate? Political selfishness must come as second to innocent civilians’ safety. The incitement of civilians to attack or retaliate against other civilians is a criminal act. It must stop.

Zechariah Manyok Biar is a graduate student at Abilene Christian University, Texas, USA. He is pursuing a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry and a Master of Science in Social Work, specializing in Administration and Planning. He is a regular contributor to www.newsudanvision.com. For comments, contact him at email: [email protected]