Machar congratulates South Sudan’s current generation on independence
July 10, 2011 (JUBA) – The Vice President of the newly born Republic of South Sudan (RSS), Riek Machar Teny, has congratulated the South Sudanese on attaining independence and freedom, after a very long period of struggle involving a number of generations, at a prayer meeting attended by over 1,700 members of the Nuer congregation of the Presbyterian Church of the Sudan in Juba on Sunday, a day after the declaration of independence,
Machar said “Many generations had longed to see the day, for example, the generation of Both Diu, among others” he said, referring to the federalist and founder of the first South Sudanese political party in 1950s, before Sudan gained independence from the British.
During the independence celebrations on Saturday Machar praised the President of the Republic of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, for living up to his promise of implementing the self-determination’s exercise and honouring its outcome.
In 1997 the two leaders signed a peace deal based on self-determination to be conducted in four years, but the agreement was violated by Bashir’s regime, who that time reportedly succumbed to internal pressures by northern opposition against the agreement as well as ongoing war against the government by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement /Army (SPLM/A).
The Vice President also praised his President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, saying he was privileged to have successfully walked with Kiir to the historic day.
The Moderator General of the Presbyterian Church of the Sudan, Rev. Peter Makuach Nyak, warned the leadership of the newly born Republic of South Sudan (RSS) not to starve the newly born nation, at the meeting on Sunday.
He said South Sudan is like a newly born baby that needs to be nurtured. “If you just eat and forget about the welfare of this baby, the baby will malnourished and gradually die. But if you take good care of it, the baby will grow up strong and healthy and become mature and productive,” advised Nyak.
Nyak expressed his disapproval of the limited care given to the people of South Sudan during the past six years, calling upon people to unite, irrespective of their differences and collectively take care of the new Republic.
After the church service, Sudan Tribune sought reactions from the members of the congregation about the comments made by the government and church leaders.
“Our leaders should be very serious this time. I for one will not accept any unnecessary excuses now that we are on our own as an independent nation,” Bol Puk, an official of the government said.
“They used to tell us that because of this or that, the people should remain calm and patient. Now that we have completed all those processes they have to show us their true competence to deal with issues of development and [good] governance, or we will just take them as deceivers or jokers,” he added.
He said he was “disappointed” that the microphone cut out while Ma char introduced Bashir, who he said “deserved thanksgiving” for accepting South Sudan’s independence.
Machar said that it was “wise to praise him [Bashir] so that he may feel his good deeds are recognised by us and our leaders and can further resolve the Abyei issue and the rest.”
“I hope that the newly born Republic of South Sudan will not be mistreated just in the same way the previous Government of Southern Sudan was mishandled for the last six years,” said David Gatwech, a member of the public.
“Our leaders are always very soft on serious issues that are important for this nation and for our lives and I therefore don’t expect any serious positive change from them because corruption and tribalism may continue to starve this land as said by our pastor,” he added.
(ST)