Taban Deng should resign for the sake of peace
By Gordon Buay
April 17, 2011 – Commonsense has it that the brewing Tsunami in Unity State cannot be avoided by taking military measures as Gov. Taban Deng Gai is attempting to do. However, I realized one thing in the time I spent in South Sudan. That is, South Sudan politicians only react to events and don’t plan ahead of time. The lack of planning affects peace throughout the South because you need people who think ahead of time to build a nation. Lack of a think tank is one indication that the South has a problem.
The rebellion of Peter Gatdet requires statesmanship on the part of Gov. Taban Deng Gai. A statesman is defined as a political leader regarded as a disinterested promoter of the public good. I worked with Taban Deng Gai in 1991 in Nasir and learned pragmatism from him. But it is now 20 years since 1991 that one may hope that his views might have matured. But it looks to me that he will mismanage the case of Peter Gatdet if he fails to think like a statesman.
The only way for Taban Deng to avoid war in Unity State is to resign and tell the people of Unity State to find a new governor who will unite them. In that way, the looming Tsunami will be avoided. But if Gov. Taban chooses military confrontation, his former public student like me would advise him that he is likely to end up like Laurent Gbagbo or military confrontation may lead the South to breakdown before July the 9th.
But there is something in human nature that even if you advise a person, he may not accept the advice for various reasons. Laurent Gbagbo, who was a professor of history before becoming a politician, failed to learn from history to accept giving up power until he was captured last week like a thief. It is true that people intoxicated with power cannot see. If God had shown Saddam Hussein a video of his future, he would have accepted George W. Bush’s offer to leave Iraq within 72 hours with his entire family. But pride led him to die with his boys.
If Taban Deng Gai will not become a visionary leader and accept to resign to avoid the looming Tsunami, South Sudan will experience a civil war worse than 1991. But the problem is that anybody in power is most of the times partially blind to see the danger. My friend Taban Deng Gai thinks that the SPLA will contain Peter Gatdet. But rational people who cannot fish for the moon in the Nile water know that Gen. Peter Gatdet is not George Athor. If Japan cannot contain Tsunami or earthquake, then, it follows logically that SPLA cannot contain Peter Gatdet like George Athor. Maj. Gen. Gatdet is a popular officer. Besides, he is from a Nuer tribe and he is a good mobilizer who is efficient in battlefield. Those who think that they will contain him militarily will find it difficult to do so.
The problem in South Sudan is that politicians are guided by emotions rather than rational thinking. If politicians in Unity State are driven by public interest, Taban Deng Gai should step down for public good. Pride of power will have serious consequences that historians would wonder in the future why other options were not pursued in 2011 to avoid the Tsunami.
In human history, there are things that power cannot stop and one of them is human will. When the Arab street started uprising in Tunisia, there is now uprising everywhere in the Arab world. Power has a limit that is why it is honorable to exit from power when people do not want you.
Gov. Taban needs to rise above emotions and think deeply about the future of Unity State. Maj. Gen. Peter Gatdet is a Tsunami that cannot be contained. Those who think that the SPLA army will contain him will soon discover that they are mentally blind. The first step to avoid war in 2011 is for Gov. Taban to resign. His resignation will pave the way for meaningful dialogue. Public opinion will persuade Peter Gatdet to accept peaceful dialogue if Taban resigns. But the use of military force to deal with Peter Gatdet as those intoxicated with power pursue will lead to unforeseen consequences. It is one thing to call Peter Gatdet “Nyagat”, it is another thing to practically contain him.
The SPLA/M called Gordon Koang “Nyagat” in 1980s until John Garang swallowed his pride and pursued peaceful dialogue which led to Kuanylow Agreement.
The author is a former Secretary General of South Sudan Democratic Front (SSDF) and a signatory of Washington Declaration between SPLM and SSDF. He could be reachd at [email protected]
Makuei
Taban Deng should resign for the sake of peace
Arumkuei JR says:
(Borglobe)
April 17th, 2011 at 6:46 am
Mr. Buay, I’m afraid you don’t understand what Gen Gardet claims are his reasons of rebelling against the GOSS. According to the Gen recent article, he is against the GOSS, not Gov Taban. So I don’t see how could Gov Taban resignation solve Gatdet’s rebellion.
Second, it is very questionable for a person like you who was a general secretary in one of the nation political parties to still engage in such a provocative behavior. What did you mean to say, SPLA can’t contain Gen Gatdet like Gen Athor because he is from Nuer tribe? Is this not an instigation of ……………”.
Makuei
Taban Deng should resign for the sake of peace
Continuation of the above ……”Mr. Buay, I’m afraid you don’t understand what Gen Gardet claims are his reasons of rebelling against the GOSS. According to the Gen recent article, he is against the GOSS, not Gov Taban. So I don’t see how could Gov Taban resignation solve Gatdet’s rebellion.
Second, it is very questionable for a person like you who was a general secretary in one of the nation political parties to still engage in such a provocative behavior. What did you mean to say, SPLA can’t contain Gen Gatdet like Gen Athor because he is from Nuer tribe? Is this not an instigation of trabilism? Your behavior is clearly sowing a conflict-mongering and trabilistic seeds among citizens. It is very clear that you support Gen Gatdet rebellion and you are calling all the Nuer brothers to rally up in support of him. You think Nuer should join the Gen, not because of the good cause, but because of the Gen is from their tribe (Nuer). Your writing is provocative and it is unwelcome. I suggest you delete your article before you ignite more anger to the citizens of emerging nation”.
Liberator
Taban Deng should resign for the sake of peace
Makuei
who the hell you to tell Mr. Buay to delete his article. Sudan Tribune is the sole authority to post and delete articles they posted on their website. And I don’t see any reason for them to start doing so now, when they have been many articles in the past that are provocative as you put it.
Mr. Buay is telling like it is. Gen. Peter Gadet Yaka can not be compared with Gen. Athor. since the latter got only few soldiers under his command. Gen. Gatdet is from is very popular officers among his peers. and his defection has left irreplaceable holes within the SPLA defense and offense posture. don’t ask me why. besides, any one who have fought that brutal war on foreign soils and managed to survived has no rival on the battlefield.
Taban recruitment of innocent young men of Nuer in unity State has made the situation worse. And that is why Taban need to resign. The recruitment of men and women into armed forces of sovereign country should be left to a legitimately elected body of the National Government and its executive by the people. It is not the state issue.
Governors Taban Deng Gai of Unity State and Paul Malong Awan Anei of Unity and N.Bahr el Ghazal states respectively are acting outside of the National laws and outside of Jurisdictions. These violations need to cease immediately or south will be soon be engulf into full scale cycle of uncontrollable war.
Madina Kebir
Taban Deng should resign for the sake of peace
Gordon Buay.
You need to ask Peter Gatdet Yaka, how many times did he had been defected since the SPLA Movement bagan.? I think you must keep quite if you are out of Ideas. Riek Machar Teny was been giving VP the second most powerful position in the GOSS and ROSS but still Nures people are not willing to do the best thing in Southern Sudan what kind of human being is that.?
I wish if there was any way to change people to different enviornment in the other world, I would have first change Nuer tribe in Sudan and put them far away from Africa nations, because it is not only that, people are tired about repeating violent in Southern Sudan and destruction but because we are losing human beings for years just for nonesense like this Gatdet Yaka and Galtuth Gai who have been disfunction in Southern Sudan. We have been a shameful to the world just, because of this unrest violent in particular, Jonglei State, Upper Nile State and Unity State.
I think the Equatorians and the Bahr al Ghazal people should and must now reunited and go ahead with rebuilding New Young nation Southern Sudan or New Sudan nation. People like this Gordon Buay from Nuer are encouraging rebellion of Gatdet Yaka to fight his own government and his own people instead of telling him to surrender in oreder to start rebuliding Southern Sudan. There is no future the Southern Sudanese people will hope from Nuer tribe, but destruction and desperation of needing leadership with bad history they always make, some do not even have education like Gatdet Yaka but they demanding to get highest position for something they haven’t done in the SPLA Movement.
Nyieth-Aguthon
Taban Deng should resign for the sake of peace
“If Taban Deng Gai will not become a visionary leader and accept to resign to avoid the looming Tsunami, South Sudan will experience a civil war worse than 1991” Here, it does bother me whether Taban would step down as the state governor or not,it’s up to government of South Sudan to decide. My concern is Gordon’s childish perception of sensitive issues.
Gordon, it does not matter how much you thump your chest in the face of allies and foes but remember enstablishing war is an expensive thing. 1991, 1993 and 1994 sure left behind an infectious legacy, you do not know what came after 1991 given that you lived in Bentiu a place far away from Jonglei state by the time. The survivors of 1991 took counter-killings worse than that of 1991.
No one in Jonglei state commemorates the event of 1991 because it led to 1993 and 1994 incidents, in which even one-hour-old babies were killed. So do not be so proud about it. What hope is there for a country when cold-blooded killers are hailed as heroes?
South Sudan communities should learn the lessons of payback of 1993 and 1994,— change their security concepts and enhance cooperation. However, the catastrophes has enhanced people’s sense of unity and integration in the south, and indeed the whole Sudan, and may have a profound impact on international relations. At least, it has boosted the spirit of unity among different people to create a more secure South Sudan that was why they united their votes in January this year.
Abugurunchol
Taban Deng should resign for the sake of peace
LIBERATOR:
you are always talking like toxicated man about your father GADAT and you don’t know southerness are allready knowing mantelproblem of peter gadat so we are not worry about him.
Taban deng gai should not resign even if you go to hell, my friend bear in your mine that if your nucle aterm to attack SPLA forces in unity state,definitely it will remain as bettle field one day one time and end up with the shed.
Bol Deng
Taban Deng should resign for the sake of peace
Dear Gordon,
You will not accept leaders in the South Sudan.
Perhaps, Omar Bashier or Ngundeng. Thanks
Madior
Taban Deng should resign for the sake of peace
Folks,
It is a matter of time, but these militias will be soon be demonished by the SPLA. Let waits for the independence day. Keep threatening civilians, but you will win that act of terrorism against Southern Sudan government. it wouldn’t be too late return back before we raise that freedom flag in Mading-Bor three weeks from now. Please stop the ideology of violences and come to the table and talks. Pulling out the weapons wouldn’t take you nowhere. Lives would be lost , and you are not going to win the battle against the SPLA/M.
Cibaipiath Junub Sudan
Taban Deng should resign for the sake of peace
Dear Readers;
There are many important things Nuer are forgetting to consider:
1. They are very poor in politics- They centered themselves in national issues and hence, their politics do not considered other tribes or enthinic gruops of South Sudan;
2. They have very tiny and limited vision- Like what Gordon said. Gadet rebelled against GOSS and not Taban however Buay looked at Unity State as a Separate Country in South Sudan and took Mayom County where Gadet comes from as 10 states of Unity Country?
3. They have low thinking capacity- There is no single day they evaluated themselves on their many rebellions and returns to the SPLM/A. They are like pastoralist-Nomads which is not acceptable in any politics. In politics you need to stand firm.
4. They are not good in power sharing- I did not see any part of it from the Mayom Declaration. Mayom Declaration is a tribal Declaration signed by three senior officers particularly from Mayom County.
5.Plus many others.
Therefore, the article is useless and no anyone can reach you by your contact.
Chakin Riek Rah
Taban Deng should resign for the sake of peace
You are right, Mr Taban was not a reason why the Gen Gatdet was defected from Spla Party and Mr Bouy doesn’t have a point of saying that Taban should resign. You know what, I am worrying about the consequences of Gatdet’s rebellion against the government of South Sudan, because it will first brings devastating to our’s own people of great Unity State, where his base is in Mayom now. If the Gatdet wants to overthrow the Apla Party and fights the corruptions, why doesn’t he do it in central government in Juba, Salva Kirr and his fellowers are not in Bentiu or Mayom. No one is satisfied with in structures of government right now but this is not a right time resolution.
Jongkuch
Taban Deng should resign for the sake of peace
Mr. Buay,
The general purpose of your article is to portray Gatdet as a monster that the whole nation of South Sudan should be afraid of. We know the history of Peter Gatdet. There is nothing the people of South Sudan need to learn about him. However, I think you are the one who needs to learn from history. You need to differentiate between national interests and the war of personal interests that might exist between Mr. Taban Deng and those who envy the position of governor in Western Upper Nile.
The rebellion that Mr. Gatdet and his thugs are leading has nothing to do with Mr. Taban Deng. Peter Gatdet has declared war not against Western Upper Nile but against the State of South Sudan. He is executing the policies of those who want to strangle South Sudan Nation before it comes to being. Therefore, Mr. Taban Deng, like any other South Sudanese, has to take action against those disguise janjaweeds.Consequently, a call for Mr. Taban Deng to resign because Peter Gatdet has rebelled makes no sense.
I do not know if nationalism has a different meaning in South Sudan. In other parts of the world, those who love their countries do everything to preserve peace, freedom, and independence of their people. They work hard to achieve progress and development, so that people can enjoy the fruit of their land. However, this is not the case in South Sudan, it seems. What we are witnessing in South Sudan is a war of personal interest. This is what Gatdet and those who support him are doing. Anyone with some common sense would agree that the people of South Sudan have seen more deaths than they can afford again.
It follows that one of the most astonishing things I have seen so far is for a South Sudanese to return to Khartoum in search of help from our enemies, who wish all of us dead, to overthrow the nation of South Sudan. If you have any little love in your heart for South Sudan, it would be wise for you to advise your friend Peter Gatdet, not Taban Deng, to reconsider his malicious move.
Furthermore, it is quite absurd to see people who have seen the benefit of peace in other societies encouraging their own people to fight themselves. The people of South Sudan were able to endure half a century of warfare because they were defending their land and resources against vicious enemies, who were willing to kill all of them and take the land. However, who is going to fight with Gatdet? Is he not going to fight against his brother, sister, cousin, etc. Does this make any sense?
Again, it is also difficult for other South Sudanese to comprehend what you mean by “war in Unity State.” This is ridiculous. People like you need to be sensitive to protection of life and properties of innocent South Sudanese. Our people accepted suffering during those long years of war of liberation for they knew that they were suffering for a just cause. Why do they have to suffer now?
In fact, I am quite appalled by your pronouncement, “If Taban will not become a visionary leader and …South Sudan will experience a civil war worse than 1991.” It is quite evil indeed, for a genuine South Sudanese to express happiness for there is war between his brothers and sisters. You also have to remember that there is a cost associated with war, and those who want to fight the people of south Sudan to make Peter Gatdet a superman, need to know that South Sudan is not up for grasp. South Sudanese stood up against the Islamists and their terror until they won their freedom. Now, the same enemy is coming through some elements like Gatdet, Athor, Lam, and others, but they will be disappointed once more.
It is now clear that the views you have expressed in this article are the part of the SSDF policy. Hence, the people of South Sudan have justly shunned a party that knows nothing but violence. As a result, the SSDF will never have any future in South Sudan until it renounces its connection with Khartoum. You have rightly stated that there is nothing, which can stop the power of human will. Consequently, SSDF and their Islamist friends in Khartoum will never stop the will of South Sudanese to enjoy peace, prosperity, democracy, and freedom.
Jongkuch