SPLM pullout: a sentimental but the right step

The late American President Reagan once said that the “Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem.” Perhaps SPLM can make this problem the solution. Let’s echo what others have been lauding about SPLM’s dissatisfaction with NCP perception of the "southern mind." 1947, 1972, 1997 and here goes 2005. The North has always thought it going the same way: “They haven’t yet developed the guts.”

We have seen the unfolding drama in the Sudanese politics, with interest. Most would see it remarkably momentous for the masses in the south of the country, but to some, it’s a complete political bickering stirred up by naivety and the ‘foreign influenced.’ However one sees it, it’s a change few thought possible.

But a little is there to rationalize beyond the being of the happenings. As SSDF puts it in their reaction (Tribune—date ignored) on our behave, “the Sudanese people were flabbergasted by the SPLM’s pullout from the Government of National Unity (GoNU) on October the 11th.” We will ignore the ‘flabbergasted Sudanese’, who they are, and where they are. We can term that as a welcome diversity that the south dearly needs to mature. We are growing. You can say! We just offer an opinion to spice up the being of things: diversified political opinion. But let’s face it, history will not repeat itself, never! We ducked well when that stone was thrown at us. Luckily or unfortunately, the stone was weakly thrown. The Movement has done its work and it's time we appreciate it knowing the stakes.

SPLM, from its inception, was a hub of political mischief, indecisiveness and intimidations, but things changed. Like it or not. There is a step in the wrong direction and there is always a step in the right direction. For the later, SPLM deserves praises. When one says SPLM, it’s actually SPLM. That should be the picturesque being of our things. It’s the cohesiveness displayed that the south needs; the south should value and the south should uphold forever. It’s to be conceded that SPLM has made US influence in their decision apparent before the action was taken. But it’s the outcome that we will appreciate. It gives our people credibility and hope.

We have been taken for granted. Our indecision has been overplayed to the detriment of the Southern masses. But let’s look at the complaints launched by the SPLM. They are clear, simple and to the point. Any interested party, the ones who claim to be the best of the parties, the one that needs to implement the elements of the CPA will find the simplicity flattering.

1) The redeployment of northern troops from the south 2) Issues of oil management and marketing. 3) The border demarcation. 4) Beshir’s refusal to reshuffle ministries. 5) Beshir go-it-alone-attitude

We will have to appreciate the Movement in its steadfastness in what SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum called a “strong protest.” The north gives the south reason to succeed but at the same time contradicts it by their utterances. The south is assumed to be valued but it warms one’s heart to see that the south only deputizes in everything: from the president, ministries, committees and subcommittees.

All we are afforded is to come second. We ignore this fact for the sake of the country. This, no one in the north appreciates. No single soul in the (NCP) north seems to be sensible enough to see these facts. Does the north sees the treatment and sing the old song: 'they don’t matter?' Perhaps it’s not an old song. As one of the discoverers/inventors echoed on his tour to promote his book, "things don’t look so old." He said that he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa." He adds that “all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours – whereas all the testing says not really.” This seems to be what our brothers in the north seem to support. Sadly, things have changed. It’s a new south with new blood and tenacity.

What one needs to figure out is not rocket science. We need the Sudanese army in the north. We need the VP to be informed when important decisions are made. We also want to see hypocritical beings of things up in smoke.

SPLM is accused of taking things to the media before discussing these issues with the main partner first. It’s hard to accept that Beshir reshuffled the ministries without consulting his VP and taking the name to the media without consulting the SPLM leadership. It will be hard for the NCP to accept that things have changed and what Mustafa called ‘dreaming’ will be a stark reality, the modus operandi.

Yeah, SPLM, it’s the first step in the perilous maze.