Why return the remains of traitor Athor to his family
By Isaiah Abraham
December 29, 2011 — This question is directed to decision makers in Juba, people who said the body of renegade Athor must be returned to his family in Khorfulus or wherever for burial. This matter must look simple but grand in interpretation. The idea was bad! Why return his body there? What precedent are we setting for others in our land on this same path (treachery)? I thought his body should have been left to the birds of the air and wild animal, like others he had brutally killed for no reason at all. What did this man do good to deserve a decent burial? The advisors of the Vice President must be careful ( I have a piece of advice down here to the big man anyway). The idea of ‘honoring’ Athor in death is a mistake.
Are the authorities planning to bury Athor decently because he’s is a Lt. General or is it that he is a rebel leader. Why didn’t the state then burry Colonel Gatluak Gai? Everyone knows that Col. Gai was ‘buried’ by the army and that was it, why should traitor Athor be given state special treatment, a blunder that could raise unnecessary emotions to victims of his rebellion. How will widows and children of Athor ruthless killing feel when the murderer body is taken to his home town? The one who came up with the idea of Athor body return to his family don’t care about what this man did to the people of South Sudan.
Why do we have to do just that (return his body) when we had wished Athor to die? Personally I had wanted him to die earlier, and us to follow later. Traitor Athor stands condemned alive or dead. Any other traitor deserves similar treatment, and this must be a lesson to those who are still among us doing dirty things underground against the people of South Sudan. No right minded man therefore would reward a wrong.
We have been complacent in correcting things, and this must be made to end. By posthumously honoring Athor, we are not doing justice to ourselves and to his mindless war victims!
It points to an earlier hypnoses that, perhaps there are some members within the Government in Juba who are indeed members of the rebellion in Upper Nile. Those who wanted Kiir-Machar government to go through unconstitutional means. There is no illusion about their intent and plans. They are among us, majority of them are in the un-finished business (rebellion) of the 1990s. They are guided by our sons and daughters in the Diaspora. They want power, and Athor being an obstinate and knows little about the world around him was used to advance this agenda. These people are to be stopped.
There is nothing that can go on forever and look forward for an end to rebellion among our society in general and in Upper Nile in particular. A sick region that continuous to pose a danger to our long cherished peace. I don’t mince anything against any traitor. Going to fight your brother or sister because of greed or under tribal influence is unforgivable. Corruption and others can’t take us to war, men. Corruption song is a farce and nothing more.
But the rotten idea of burying Athor in his home village, using public resources isn’t a laughing matter. Why waste resources on that mad man remains? The United Nations chopper should have been used to help ferry troops to the borders of Lou-Dinka-Murle or else send to transport medicine and food to our returnees along the Sudan border. Traitors and sympathizers must give us a break, and not to fool us in believing that they are championing of human rights, sanctity or dignity of hum being. We have been there and we know the true color of these ‘advocates’. One of them came from Khartoum few months ago and has been busy doing his normal job of treachery, the true sponsor of Athor’s activities
Juba must wake up and spare us another shock. Traitors have supporters within us, I must repeat myself, a hundred times here. I’m a bitter man! Unless something concrete is done, the peace we yearn for will elude us behind our backs! Juba needs to understand that scars of rebellion are still fresh and no one need another split. Enough with persuasion for Upper Nile people, they won’t listen. Someone must take charge now, otherwise the situation (rebellion) will turn tribal.
Someone has charged (unsubstantiated of course) that the rebellion in Upper Nile is being done for one or two leaders there in Juba. This has partly been supported when Mayom Group/Rebellion in Western Upper Nile State (so-called Unity State) call for Juba regime change or toppling Kiir government minus the Vice President. I don’t know how could the Vice President survive if Kiir goes.
But the true concern here is that the group has majority backing of people who are from the Vice President very constituents, and since they come from there, there is a furor that the big man (Dr. Machar) isn’t doing enough to quell the rebellion there. My little advice to the man of the people is that he must demonstrate to Thomas’ that he has nothing to do with the rebellion. The charge is sticking, and unless he distances himself from these busy bodies by firmly and practically do something about that rebellion. His soft stand toward the rebellion in Upper Nile in general has cast serious doubts about his future leadership of handling rebellion against the state. Persuasion must be supported by realities on the ground. Athor body row has confounded matters. Sir, don’t be one sided thinker. At times a leader will have to risk, after all, that is his/her constitutional mandate to protect the system and others.
May peace be there among us in the Year 2012! Down with Athors, the Akols and the company.
Isaiah Abraham lives in Juba; he’s on [email protected]