Lakes state SPLM state secretary dies in Australia
By Manyang Mayom
May 15, 2011 (RUMBEK) – The Lakes state Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) state secretary, Comrade Samuel Mathiang Keer who was suffering from leukaemia died in hospital in Australia at midnight on Saturday.
The Lakes state governor, Chol Tong Mayay, announced the death of the SPLM state secretary on Sunday at the Lakes state SPLM secretariat office in front of lawmakers, ministers, party secretariat assistants and secretaries.
Chol gave his condolences to the family of the late Mathiang. He also announced that Lakes state will postponed the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) anniversary celebrations scheduled for 16 May to an unknown date.
Governor Chol and the Lakes state community, with support from Government of Southern Sudan will ensure that the body of late Mathiang will be brought to Rumbek for burial soon.
“I would like to make this statement to the public of Lakes state in particular and people of Southern Sudan; with regret and sorrow, we have lost our comrade Samuel Mathiang Keer at 12.20 in an Australia hospital – the reason of his death was complications from a disease.”
“On behalf of the government of Lakes state, I have sincerely condoned the family of late Mathiang. Comrade Mathiang has been struggling with us for so long – I would like to make it clear that the 16 May celebrations are postponed till his body is brought to Lakes state and a new date for the SPLA celebration day will be fixed,” said Chol.
The people of Lakes state in Victoria, the government of Lakes state, and the secretary general of the SPLM, Pagan Amum, helped with his medical costs.
GoSS Rumbek released the following statement on 15 May on the matter:
SPLM GHQ has learned with deep sorrow the death of Comrade Samuel Mathiang Ker, SPLM State Secretary in Lakes State, who passed away on Saturday 14th in a hospital in Australia after a long struggle with illness.
Well wishers and comrades gathered Saturday at the SPLM State Secretariat in Rumbek, the state capital, to pay their condolences. Among them was the State Governor and members of the SPLM State Secretariat.
In a statement sent out to the public, the State Secretariat expressed their shock and profound sadness of the untimely death.
“We expected him to see the fruits of his long armed and political struggle manifested by the declaration of an independent South Sudan,” the statement read.
The late, Cde. Samuel Mathiang was born in 1950 in the village of Cuei-Adukan, Eastern Rumbek, Central County. He joined the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in 1983 and fought as a revolutionary fighter until the signing of the CPA in 2005.
He later became the SPLM County Secretary and in 2008 he was re-elected to the position of SPLM State Secretary in Lakes State where he managed to construct eight (8) SPLM county offices.
The family and friends of the late, in consultations with the State Secretariat and the SPLM GHQ in Juba, are making plans to have the body brought back from Australia to Rumbek, South Sudan, for burial.
The General Secretariat wishes to extend their sincere condolences to his family, relatives and friends and pray that the Lord may grant them courage, hope and patience throughout this difficult times.
May the Almighty God rest his soul in eternal peace.
(ST)
Cibaipiath Junub Sudan
Lakes state SPLM state secretary dies in Australia
My sincere condolences to the people of Lakes State for having lost the iimportant SPLM figure at this very crucial hour when South Sudan is going to harvest the fruits of its labor. His death is not bad to his family but to the entire Lakes State Community. Thank God that Samuel Mathiang had made a break through in history. The challenge remain with Lakes State Community whether there is somebody like Mathiang Keer whose feet can fit into his shoes. The suspension of the 16th May celebration should not be hypocratic proposals but shuold be something thought affirmatively with purifications of hearts. My worried is some individuals may start struggling for his vacant position,some may celebrate his death and some may muorn his death. In this, Colonel Samuel Mathiang Keer is a true fighter and deserve respect from his people. May almighty God rest his soul (RIP).
Nhomlawda
Lakes state SPLM state secretary dies in Australia
May God give Samuel Mathiang Keer’s people strength and comfort and may He bless and receive his soul in eternal life.
Deng E. Manyuon
Lakes state SPLM state secretary dies in Australia
My codolences to his family. May Almighty give a comfort to his family and rest his soul in eternal life.
Deng
monykuc, Southerner
Lakes state SPLM state secretary dies in Australia
It is really painful to loose such prominent member at almost a happier time. May God rest his soul in peace. It is a lost for all the people of Southern Sudan.
Chol Buoi
Lakes state SPLM state secretary dies in Australia
I appreciate all your comments guys however we should be liberal in dealing with state issues and I belief the spirit of tolerance to different point of view will make our government improves the delivery of the service. The fact that most …of us are from the ruling party should not stop us from exposing the weakness of the leaders we elected and indeed we are the engines of change either within the party or entirely the political system of our state. I would love to advise my cousin in the government to work for improvements in the governance other than senselessly defending him/her in the net. May God bless our late SPLM sate stcratary and rest him for his soul. Amen.
kaci-banno
Lakes state SPLM state secretary dies in Australia
This prove that our government is doing nothing to build the best hospitals with qualified doctors so that our heroes, men/women will not dead in foreign lands. I pay my condolence to Crd Samuel Matheing Keer, May God rest him in peace.
By:Kaci-Ma-banno
Jada Lotole
Lakes state SPLM state secretary dies in Australia
Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we feel ! God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you and whispered “come to me my Son Samuel Mathiang.”
With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hardworking hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.
Rest in peace Samuel ! And for the family we say , our prayer, thoughts and hearts are with You ! take heart !
mr m gakmar
Lakes state SPLM state secretary dies in Australia
my condolences to the family of our state secretary, i met him breifly at the burial of my father last year and he was a great man.
may god rest your soul kind sir
majier gakmar