Nothing against Lou Nuer

By Zechariah Manyok Biar

August 16, 2009 — In his article, “Nuer Lou Community requests apology,” Isaiah Abraham demands that I apologize to Lou Nuer community because of the two articles I recently wrote about suspected Uror youth attack on Twich East County in both Nyuak and Lith communities. Prof. Abraham, however, is not denying the badness of the attack on Twich East County. His concern is that my articles would be taken out of context because I make few criminals represent the whole Nuer community.

I think Prof. Abraham has a point. Some people might dig into his past articles to disregard his concern here or what some citizens might regard as attack on me. But I never see it that way. I believe that a nation where people engage in honest dialogue is the nation that solves its problems. Human beings do make mistake. That is why we should be accountable to other human beings. I like honest criticisms. I learn from them. I thank Prof. Abraham for this calculated criticism.

The choice of words in Isaiah’s article is very interesting to me. By calling me “an American based Sudanese,” Prof. Abraham is implying that I am disconnected from the reality of the situation in South Sudan because of the distant. He supports his calling me “American based Sudanese” by saying this: “Sir, your justification for the attack on the people of Twic East by an alleged Lou Nuer is shrouded with moral suspicion, because to square your attack on a huge community on the basis of a phone call from Bor sends a bad message to that community or others.”

I agree with Prof. Abraham that my evidences for writing are sometimes based on phone calls from Sudan. I did call some people in Twich East County before I wrote the articles that Isaiah is concerned about. I also read reports published by media; some reporters are based in Bor area and might not be disconnected from the reality of the situation. The reporter of Sudan Tribune Philip Thon Aleu did a good job in calling Twich East Commissioner Diing Akol before sending his reports about two Twich East communities’ attacks by suspected Uror County Youth for publish. Mr. Thon quoted Commissioner Akol as saying in his accusation of Lou Nuer for the attack on his County, “we (Lou Nuer and Dinka Bor) are one and information is shared.” Commissioner Akol said that “one chief known as Majok; operating in a small territory between Duk and Uror played a significant role in the clashes” (Sudan Tribune, August 11, 2009). Is this simple evidence?

Prof. Abraham does not overlook the seriousness of insecurity in Jonglei State. However, he says that “my onslaught should have gone to the very fibre of the government in Juba not innocent Honourable Members of Parliament there in the State (Jonglei)” because they can’t do any better “than what the entire system failed to do.”

This is a genuine argument. In my article, “Can the SPLA do the role of policing in South Sudan” (New Sudan Vision, May 29, 2009), I expressed my disagreement with the idea that SPLA should play the role of spectator during civilians attack by other civilians.

However, I cannot overlook the role that civilians, MPs, and intellectuals play in attacking of civilians by civilians in South Sudan. The role of the government in fighting the attackers is a treatment of the symptoms, not the cause of the symptoms. If we know where the symptoms start and never address it, then we are interested in the reduction of our population because SPLA would be killing large numbers of these criminals who might be victims of political selfishness. This is the reason why I am disappointed with MPs and intellectuals from communities that attack other communities.

The first article that I wrote “against” Lou Nuer was my disappointment with the Vice President of South Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar, for his selective justice. Dr. Machar would have been moved like any other person by the large number of people lost in Akobo, but that would not justify his silence about the attack on Twich East because he is the Vice President of the whole South Sudan who should assure every community that he is concerned about them. My conclusion to that article was this: “The Vice President Dr. Machar should not be like those who condemn the killings of civilians only if they belong to their communities. That would be a weird leadership. It would not make any sense to get on the necks of Murle and leave the killers of Twich East civilians free. Justice must be provided to all if GoSS is sincere in its impartial governance.” That means this article had nothing to do with Lou Nuer.

In my second article, I did criticize Nuer intellectuals who praise criminals by calling them “mighty warriors.” I stand by this criticism. It does not make sense for informed intellectuals to support unjust wars. Intellectuals are obliged to guide those who are not informed about what is against human rights.

The following statement was directed at any intellectual in any community who sees his or her side as the only right one and the rest as wrong: “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.”

Lastly, I criticized Lou Nuer MPs for failing to control their constituencies. This is what I said: “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?”

This is the area that I can accept apology, especially to innocent MPs that have nothing to do with the incitement of violence in Jonglei State. I am always sorry when I hurt an innocent person. I sincerely apologize to Nuer MPs who are working hard for peace among our citizens.

However, my criticism remains against MPs who might be inciting violence among civilians, regardless of where they belong.

Lou Nuer needs to understand that I agree with Prof. Abraham that few criminals should not represent the whole Lou Nuer community. We must join hands in stopping these criminals, whether they belong to Bor community or Lou Nuer community. You all understand how people feel when they lose their loved ones to their brothers and sisters. I am not against innocent Lou Nuer people.

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 and www.sudantribune.com. For comments, contact him at email: [email protected]