How much blood is too much to bear?

By: Luk Kuth Dak

September 23, 2009 — Anyone with common sense knows that the National Islamic front (NIF) and the National Congress Party (NCP) are behind the events that are unfolding in Jonglie state and Duke county in particular.

By now, there shouldn’t be anything called “ Militias” operating on South Sudan’s soil, based on the comprehensive Peace agreement CPA), which stipulates and spells out clearly that: the so-called militias have one of two options to choose from: either to merge with the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA) or the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF).

In an article a few months ago (entitled: Who is behind Torkech massacre), I argued that: the Lou- Nuer cold-blooded murderers were not acting alone. I forewarned the SPLM leadership that some foreign elements to the Nuer culture had to be deeply and heavily involved in the massacre. The reasons are pure and simple: Firstly, the gruesome nature in which the massacre was carried out is un-Nuer. Secondly, in the Nuer culture – which I adore – children, women, young boys (unmarked) and elderly men are all off the table, regardless the viciousness of a war. It’s also in the Nuer culture that, back-stabbing is prohibited. Any war is almost always proceeded with some vigorous negotiations among elders from both side, to reach a resolution, which extend in some cases to a few days. If those the negotiations come to a dead, a message is then send to the other party ( usually through an elderly lady) to foretell them that, the war is now unavoidable, and that they must get ready for it at such time of a day (morning, evening or noon).

But the barbaric acts of violence that we have all witnessed in Torkech and most recently in Duke, solidifies our argument, that in fact, the methods in which both massacres were carried out, is known only to be the trade mark of the NIF/NCP terrorists. Additionally, the weapons that Lou terrorists have used in both attacks are indeed the same type of weapons the so-called SAF has.

Unfortunately, for the most part, the SPLM leadership is to blame for dragging its feet in distinguishing the fire. Certainly, it’s done a poor job addressing the root causes of these debilitating security situations all around the region. In time of war, nothing should be taken off the table. Today, however, most South Sudanese people still believe that if given a clear and detailed mandate, the SPLA is in deed capable of securing the South. Instead, there have been too many investigations with little or no outcome.

That soft approach to the dire security threats must be changed. The time for political correctness had run out. Now is the time to make even tougher decisions that not everybody will like, but they are decisions that must be made for better or worse, in order to save the lives of the remainder of the people of South Sudan. There is no longer any room for errors of the past.

Consequently, there is no other person in South Sudan who has the authority to stop these deliberate tragic losses of innocent citizens’ lives but the honorable Salva Kiir Mayardit, the commander – in- Chief of the SPLA. We think that he should immediately impose a state of emergency (SOE) in all ten Southern states for three months, during which the SPLA should be given the mandate to capture or expunge all those “ Jallaba Southern golden boys” who are running their militias with a remote control out of the terrorist capital Khartoum. Wherever these viruses are found in South Sudan, they should be apprehended, prosecuted, locked up, and the key is tossed into the river.

Furthermore, the MPs from theses troubled areas should know that they, too, shoulder the responsibility for the security situation in their constituents. Our suggestion is that, during those three months of SOE, those MPs should be asked to go to their respective bases to help spread the message of tolerance, harmony and co-existence among the people of South Sudan. Otherwise having them sit around in Juba while the fire is on, would be nothing more than just unnecessary budgetary burden on public funds.

Final thought:

It’s worth noting that the Nuer nation is, by all accounts, well represented in this government, and therefore it should’ve been the last one to complain. And yes, it’s about that time we (Nuer) return to the basic principles that our forefathers have set forth: bravery, faithfulness and fairness (BF&F).

If we do that, our rightful place in South Sudan will be with in reach.

Luk Kuth Dak is a former anchorman at Juba Radio. He can be reach at: [email protected]. Or [email protected]