The Comprehensive Peace Agreement provides an opportunity for new beginning

BY: James Chol De'Guin, UK

MAR 18/2010, SSN; I am writing in response to recent protests by some South Sudanese whether it was appropriate for Dr. Riek Machar Teny to campaign alongside Salva Kiir Mayardit in Bor without apologizing first to Bor citizens.

Dear Southerners, the path of our liberation was littered with all kinds of human rights violations. Whether those violations were done against individual civilians, SPLA soldiers, or communities, they were all lamentable.

Have you ever wondered that almost two-third of the 2.5 million who perished in the war or war-related famine, disease and thirst from the time of Anya Nya I till the signing of the CPA were caused by the actions of Southerners against themselves? Almost every individual and community in South Sudan has a reason to point his finger against his brother. We have all been affected in one way or the other by regrettable events in the course of our fight for freedom. And the 1991 split in the SPLM/A was indeed one such event.

I was in Kor Machi, Kapoeta, serving as an SPLA soldier, when the news of the Nasir Declaration of 28/08/1991 broke over the BBC. It was a great shock to all of us.  “Where is the future of South Sudan now?” We wondered in shame. Later on, our fears were confirmed when towns for which Southerners had died capturing were retaken by the enemy.

The return of those towns, such as Kapoeta, Torit, Baliet, Bor, Akobo etcetera, into the hands of the SPLA would later require a second liberation with its colossal lost of human lives (South Sudanese) and stretch the war for many more years- the future of the South hung in the balance.

This lost of SPLA gains to the enemy (Khartoum) coupled with civilian casualties, a direct result of a war within war, is why many South Sudanese condemn the Nasir leadership and not their rebellion against the SPLM/A leadership per se.   

Yet, in retrospect, the SPLM/A system was highly dictatorial. There was little space for dissent and flimsy accusation could lend you in jail or worst, claim your life. Even personal disagreement with a senior figure in the PMHC (Political Military High Command) was treated like treason against the Movement.

That is how late Martin Majier Gai, late Karbino Kuanyin Bol, Garang Deng Aguer (currently a businessman in Juba), Paul Malong Awan (current Governor of Northerner Bhar El Ghazel State), late Arok Thon Arok, late Wilson Kur Chol, among others, found themselves in SPLA dungeons- those inhumane dug-out-prison bunkers where seeing the sun was a luxury and where it “rained” everyday between May and November.

Perhaps, the 1991 split was accelerated by fear of arrest than by desire for shift in the Movement’s vision and leadership style because those very changes could have been demanded within without ever going to war in the first place.

By late 1990 there were rumours that the would-be leaders of the Nasir faction had disagreed with late Dr. John Garang (RIP) on “some principles” and were planning a revolt and mobilizing supporters within the Movement.

This was a common knowledge to ordinary South Sudanese especially those in Itang- the “wireless radio” centre of SPLM/A news.

It was a matter of time therefore before those disagreements could either end in arrests, as always happened to SPLM/A political dissidents, or a declaration of war, akin to the 1983 SPLA/M versus Anya Nya II of Akuot Atem Mayen, Samuel Gai Tut and Abdalla Chuol Deng, was in the offing. 

Looking at the time it took between the discovery of the revolt and its declaration, one wonders why it was not possible for SPLM/A PMHC to convene an urgent meeting to iron out those issues even before the military overthrow of Mengistu Haile Mariam’s Government in 1991.

Was the September 1991 Torit Conference going to address those issues? Were Dr. Reik and Dr. Lam justified in refusing to attend Torit meeting fearing arrest? Was the arrests imminent? I have no answers for you.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that the 1991 split was completely avoidable. If free debate platforms like the 1994 SPLM Chukudum Convention had existed many myths would have been solved and a lot of lives would have been saved. Unfortunately, mistakes were made and damage had been done.

Our current dilemma is whether we should allow those past grievances to divide us further or we take the opportunity provided by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to unite and move forward as an aspiring young nation.

It is my belief that the only option for our collective survival is to unite and transition from the CPA if the dream of an independent viable South Sudan is to be realized.  South Sudan needs us all.

I remember the big celebrations in Itang in 1988 when Anya Nya II led by Gordon Kong Chuol finally signed a unity pact with the SPLA after about a year of negotiation and confidence building. Everybody appreciated and thanked the SPLA and Anya Nya II leaders for the deal.

Not only were the skirmishes between the SPLA and Anya Nya II hindering the flow of recruits to SPLA camps in Ethiopia, they were also giving time and space for Khartoum to plan and move their war resources to frontlines in the South with ease.

Later on the Pact became a morale and resource boost to SPLA as was evidenced in the SPLA takeover of Nasir Town by January 1989. In fact the bulk of the SPLA troops who captured Nasir were former soldiers of Anya Nya II.  Later on in the year (1989) Torit, Bor, Akobo, Baliet all fell into the SPLA hands. That is what can be achieved when brothers are united and work together.

Likewise the return of William Nyuon Bany (1995), Kerubino Kuanyin Bol (1998), Dr. Riek Machar Teny (2002) and Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin (2004) to the SPLM/A were welcomed news to South Sudanese.

Today Dr. Riek Machar is devoting much of his post-war time to the rebuilding of Southern Sudan. He worked tirelessly under President Salva Mayardit to ensure the unity of Southerners and realize the implementation of the CPA.

I think Dr. Machar has departed from his past and should be understood in the context of his current efforts of South Sudan unity. Our President Salva Kiir Mayardit was therefore squarely right in choosing Dr. Machar as his running mate. And I strongly believe the two leaders are building a democratic Southern Sudan.

 “To err is human, to forgive divine”. Alexander Pope (1688-1744).  

Let us all forgive one another and walk in the humility of our leader Salva Kiir Mayardit.

James Chol De’Guin, UK. email: Jamesdeguin@yahoo.com

COMMENTS, PLEASE CLICK HERE

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author(s) and do not represent those of the website.