Arman’s supporters unhappy with Sudan’s election
By Manyang David Mayar
April 11, 2010 — I took long to speak out about Arman’s withdrawal from the
presidential race because I have been mourning the final death of Dr.
John Garang’s vision. The death of the great vision came as a surprise
to many last week when the very leadership of the Sudan People’s
Liberation Movement announced the extraction of Yasir Saeed Arman
from presidential race. This was not because of the rigged elections
as they put it but for the sake of the forthcoming 2011 referendum in
the South.
It was not the best decision at all as some commentators put it. It is
however a great short-sightedness that has affected the SPLM
leadership which appears too young to look far into the future. Why
allow the former foe — Bashir — to pull them to a pool of fool? Oh!
Yes. A couple of days ago, Bashir has been roaring intimidation at
SPLM on the referendum issue, that is why the SPLM, like a coward dog
coiled it tails inward and untimely reached a fake decision to
withdraw Yasir from the presidential race amidst huge support. Hey!
Who knows what Bashir will think after securing re-election? Or was it
a Quran/Bible to withdraw Yasir in favour of the Southern referendum
that it will not be violated. My dear let me tell you, this is not
only a betrayal to the opposition parties as they put it but also to
the citizens who were drunken by Yasir Campaign for Change. It is
indeed a betrayal to those who had preferred their ballots for Yasir
to change the country. Because of Arman’s withdrawal, SPLM has left
citizens with no choice to change the face of this country under the
rule of an illicit president who is wanted.
However, it is only a foolish man that seeks happiness far in the
distance but the wise grows it under his feet. SPLM is trying to seek
that far happiness of the referendum while leaving this under its feet
election victory which was supposed to break the record in Sudan’s
history because of that far referendum. But there is no limit from the
CPA, IGAD or prophecy from God that if the Southern ex-rebel party –
SPLM contest election against Bashir’s NCP, there will be no
referendum. Both elections and referendum are all rights of the SPLM
and trials to the accomplishment of the SPLM extensive vision to
change the face of this country from oppression to liberation, from
inequality to equality and from injustice to justice for all people in
Sudan. That was why it was named ‘Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement’.
(Note the plurality of People not people’s but peoples’ this is how it
used to be). According to the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior, the
struggle for liberation was not only for the Southerners but entirely
to people in Sudan marginalized by autocratic leadership. At the time
Garang inked the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Naivasha, Kenya, he
was sure that the SPLM would contest the elections and if it wins,
the vision for creating freedoms for all marginalized and oppressed
people like in Darfur and in the Eastern Sudan is accomplished. And
also if its fails to win elections, it will not fail to win South
Sudan independence. The two were double-edged sword and traps to end
NCP’s long autocratic governance in favor of making SPLM shine in
Africa and in the world. But with the current SPLM eye defect to see
in short range, all things appear different. SPLM has not only
betrayed the opposition parties or the northern supporters but also
betrayed its reputation of being Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement –
the huge name that encompasses Sudan from Halfa to Nimule and from
East to West.
If you are a shortsighted Southerner who supports Arman’s withdrawal
by the SPLM, like Isaiah Abraham, get me right. Don’t be affected by
semantic, psychological and cultural noises in communication. I am
not against the Southern self-determination after 2011 referendum but
I am profoundly and absolutely against the withdrawal of Arman because
of Bashir’s intimidation to rough handle referendum because of Arman
contest. I am one of those who like to see Mr. Yasir Saeed Arman
twisting muscles with the notorious NCP’s Bashir in the ballot-box
though there are cases of rigging being sung in the lips of the
onlookers. Because an ounce of practice is worth a pound of theory.
It would have been a best trial to politically traumatized citizens in
the North, West or East Sudan to cast their votes for Yasir even
though it would have turned out not to be successful. But now, their
hearts are condemning the SPLM leadership for withdrawing their best
candidate not knowing what is behind the ballot box. Besides, the
light of the SPLM party would still have been shining in the north
even if the South Sudan separates from north.
As the saying states, ‘beware of the bull from the front, the horse
from behind, and the man from all sides,’ so too SPLM must be very
wary of this man called Bashir in all directions. There is a
possibility of him grabbing presidency and mishandling the referendum
in 2011. SPLM, instead of having cut the tree and picked the fruits
thereon, they preferred to wait for the tree to shake its fruit for
them which is rare and absurd. SPLM should not fear Bashir for he is
just a person like Kiir and a commander in chief of Sudan Armed Forces
as Kiir is the Commander in Chief of the SPLA. This is not a time for
the SPLM to adhere to NCP decision to get what they want or get
worried at Bashir’s intimidation. This time is so different from the
initial time of the struggle. Therefore, Yasir’s withdrawal by the
SPLM is a failure to its stand as Sudan Peoples’ Liberator. If we talk
of separating the South from north, SPLM as a political party should
not appear in broad daylight as the spearheader but only a
facilitator. Remember, “SPLM stands for unity based on the free choice
of the people”.
I repeat, an ounce of practice is worth a pound of theory. The huge
theoretical deal the SPLM wishes to make with the NCP over the
referendum is not better than an ounce of the election practice that
Yasir would have done with NCP. SPLM which was once huge is resizing
itself to a smaller size, understandably, because of the death of Dr.
John Garang – what a lost ama-ooooooo! SPLM should remember the saying
that, ‘appetite comes during meals’. Bashir’s appetite at this
elections period is for re-election and when the time comes for
referendum his appetite will turn to Unity. That will be the time for
him to salivate for the resources in the south. Until then, the SPLM
will regret its move to withdraw Yasir from the presidential race and
therefore the whole thing is the death of Garang as well as SPLM
vision.
The author can be reached at [email protected]