THE HARE'S VISION - 16th May and the SPLM 2nd National Convention
May 16, 2008 (Victoria, Canada) - “We hold these truths to be self evident”
25 years ago today, Major Kerubino Kwanyin Bol shot the first gun in Bor, igniting the Southern Sudan people’s revolutionary struggle. This clarion call was well received by trade unionists, students, professionals, herdsmen, farmers and in deed by South Sudanese of all walks of life. Battalions Jamus (Buffalo), 104, 105, Koryom (Locust), Muor Muor (Red ants), Zalzal (Earthquake), etc were trained and released in that order. Most of the Jamus, 104 and 105 ended up being officers so the real first foot soldiers on the ground were the Koryom. They came out like their name suggests - the locusts.
My family had about 50 goats. Within two weeks of Koryom’s arrival, our goats had evaporated into thin air! Other goats in the neighbourhoods suffered the same fate. We were mesmerized by this level of destruction – I badly wanted to ask Dr. Garang if he trained his soldiers on how to make the goat’s kingdom extinct. They then moved to unlawfully killing and feasting on other people’s cattle. That was where some of them got fire-squatted. When they moved to other areas and carried out the same destruction, people from those areas said, “Oh it’s because they are not our sons”. Little did those people know that it didn’t matter whether or not you were their dad, they would eat your goats and sheep or whatever else they came across. That was 1984.
When in 1988 and 1989, Torit, Kapoeta and Bor fell, the citizenry were relieved and forgave the SPLA. Shortly after that the SPLA went into difficulties that are not the focus of this article. Those difficulties peaked by 1994 when Nimule was the only big town under SPLA control. As the adage goes, “difficult times call for difficult solutions”, the difficult solution came to the SPLM/A in the form of the 1st SPLM Convention at Chukudum on 2nd April 1994. After the convention, the SPLM was never the same again. By 1997, the rejuvenated SPLA gallant forces captured Magwi, Parajok, Yei, Mundri, Maridi, Yambio, Nzara and Rumbek, effectively putting most of Equatoria under SPLM control. If the 1st SPLM Convention introduced the Civil Authority of New Sudan, which brought some sanity to the system, how much more can the 2nd Convention bring?
As I write, the little Hare’s telescopic eyes can see trouble brewing in Juba as the Convention proceeds. Some gentlemen in the personalities of Nhial Deng Nhial and Dr. Riek Machar Teny are allegedly said to have declared interest in vying for the post of SPLM chairman. I almost can guarantee that the process leading to their pronouncement must have been a torturous one. At a time when South Sudan ought to be in deep soul searching, these gentlemen want to compete for leadership. Who are they?
For those of us who can put a claim to knowing the SPLM/A inside out, tell me, what do we know about Nhial Deng Nhial? He seems like a good man. Yes, but what else do we really know? He is a very educated son of late Southern nationalist, Deng Nhial. We also know that Dr.Garang liked him for reasons best known to him. Why did Nhial have difficulties leading his constituents when he was Governor of Bhar El Gazal? Although I sympathize with circumstances surrounding his 2005 exit from Government of Southern Sudan’s ministry of Regional Co-operation, why did he go into exile? If he loved Southern Sudan, why wouldn’t he sacrifice his life if at all anybody really wanted to kill him?
The other gentleman is Dr. Riek Machar Teny. Of all the people, Dr. Riek wants to be president of South Sudan? Who is responsible for most of the evils that have held the Movement back until this far? Riek’s ambitions split the movement in 1991 at a time when the SPLA was riding on massive victories against the enemy in Khartoum. If Dr. Garang was the problem, so was Omar Beshir better? How many innocent South Sudanese died because of Riek’s collaboration with Khartoum? How many of Riek’s former officers are still with Khartoum right now and causing us headaches in the South? How do you lead the South when you can not contain a small contingent of your officers? But he is so determined to be president that when he rejoined the SPLM shortly before the CPA was signed, he refused third position in the hierarchy. Poor Wani Igga had to give his position away to accommodate the ambitious Riek Machar Teny. Does he think that South Sudanese forget that easily? No! we are generous and accommodating but one thing we are really good at is that we NEVER forget. It’s unfortunate that the mad dogs of yesterday should like us to think that they never were mad at some point.
I want to trust that the Convention delegates have their eyes wide open. And that they should mandate Kiir Mayardit for SPLM chairmanship. We have seen these wolves masquerading as democrats before only to turn out to be the worst autocrats. We are NOT interested in a show of democracy. Tell us your book of theories of democracy but we will show you our practical theories of democracy. It was democracy that rendered Dr. Garang unable to oust Salva Kiir in early 2004; that senior military officers from Garang’s backyard stood by Kiir. It’s democracy that Garang and Kiir were elected in the Chukudum Convention to lead the SPLM. But then Kiir didn’t declare interest in the chairmanship. It would be by the same token of democracy that the delegates at this convention would have confirmed Kiir and Riek to lead the SPLM. But now Riek is too ambitious. What is wrong with the son of Machar Teny? Does he know how to wait? If there is anything that is more important in a leader right now, it’s TRUST and LOYALTY; Loyalty to the cause of our masses which has kept Sudan bleeding for 50+ years. How do we throw this away in a day just because one man thinks he must be president?
Dear compatriots, I have nothing personal against Nhial Deng Nhial and Dr. Riek Machar. I wish to state here too that I am from Bor so that those illogical tribalists do not think I am Kiir’s cousin. If those gentlemen have a heart, they would wait till after 2011. Until then, I am not ready to interfere with the current hierarchy of the Movement. Kiir may have so many faults but he can NEVER betray the people of Southern Sudan. If you are not a tribalist, you will agree with me here. We believe so strongly in this that if Riek Machar were my dad, I would walk home and spit in his face. It’s our destiny at stake. You may incite people to whatever levels but believe me, you will go nowhere. The people’s struggle LIVES ON!
Jok Gai Anai is a columnist for The New Sudan Vision
