What kind of message is S. Sudan’s army program sending to the country?

By Bol Jek Nhial

October 22, 2011 — It is good to have a South Sudan armed forces program that raises the morale of our people, but what is the purpose of the program hosted by Malaak Ayuen on national television? What kind of message does he want to convey to public? Does Malaak personally own the program in order to downgrade other ethnic groups in South Sudan? In his SSTV program, Malaak attempts to promote tribalism and favouritism; leading on from this view the question should be asked if his a political or a military program?

It is very shameful in my opinion to continue to steer public emotion on national television. Why on earth a man would work to tirelessly divide this nation with hateful information I don’t know. I think Malaak has his own hidden agenda contrary to the government and the people of this nation. I honestly appreciate that The Citizen’s editor Nhial Bol is gentle and wise enough to reflect the truth. I have read a lot of his patriotic messages delivered by him through his straight talking columns. To me they were constructive and corrective.

Last week, Malaak was talking on the struggle of people of greater Bar El Ghazal region and their role in South Sudan’s independence on 9 July. I am proud of this day but I don’t see any reason why Malaak lost his topic and went astray, beginning to talk of the Dinka of Bahr El Ghazal fighting Nuer cattle raiders, the Bagara and Paulino Matip’s militias. What was the benefit talking about Nuer cattle raiders and Paulino Matip Militias at that moment? Do they still struggle against Nuer? The lessons I learned from the armed forces program of Malaak on SSTV are:

1. The people of Dinka were the strong in bringing about their own independence.
2. Other citizens of South Sudan were not part of struggle.
3. John Garang was the best leader and was in fact not born and shall not be born on earth.
4. There are no patriots except SPLM members.

Malak said the Toposa people were bought with biscuits and Tania. To me this is not necessary, there are many examples of Malaak jumping into politics or at tribalism which has nothing to do with the military, such as the way he talk of Vice President on what so-called apology. What is the relationship between the armed forces program and Malaak’s intolerant treatment of Machar’s apology to the Dinka Bor and to many SPLM/SPLA members.

Many selfish communities think that 1991 was wrong but to some people of South Sudan it was corrective and a ‘road map’ for our independence. The massacre of Gajak and the Lou Nuer are considered as expenses or costs of revolution by many SPLM members although they have a different attitude to what happened to the Bor communities in 1991.

Now people describe it as a massacre but it only is called that because in happened in Bor in 1991 at the time of the split in the SPLA. Why is it not also painful when it comes to matter of the Gajaak, Lou Nuer and Gawaar communities in 1985 when some of their leaders were killed at the behest the SPLA chairman John Garang?

The Government of the Republic of South Sudan must stop Malaak from airing divisive messages and stop him working on this program.

The SPLA army has put in jail David Biel Jal the general secretary of UDSF who has more reason to talk politics than Malaak Ayuen. But just because he told Al Jazeera news that the new cabinet were old faces the army detained and jailed him for the reason that he is an army officer in the SPLA. Why not then arrest Malaak Ayuen who talks politics and criticizes part of his government, like the vice president. Malaak has nothing to talk of, except what was wrong of Nasir Faction.

The man is wicked enough to poison the country with his illusion. Its like he is repeating Garang’s propaganda campaigns against separatists in the 1980s. That campaign will never unite this people of South Sudan because we need to focus on the future and nation building.

Bol Jek Nhial lives in Juba, South Sudan and is not affiliated to a political party. He can be reached at [email protected].