South Sudan and Merry Making: A New Nation Style

SOUTH SUDAN AND MERRY MAKING: it is no-doubts a new Nation!

By KON Joseph Leek, Juba

January 4, 2015 (SSB) — It was in Custom roundabout at City petroleum around 3:00pm of 25^th Dec 2014 when I witnessed a drama. One of many gentlemen who were waiting for their friends might have waited for long when he spotted a gentleman whom he very well knows to be a boyfriend to his sister.

Knowing that majority were waiting for their girlfriends and boyfriends for Christmas celebration at Nyakuron cultural center, Galaxy and Jebel Hotel including himself. He knew that this gentleman must be waiting for his sister. To be sure of his presumption, he went into the cafeteria to hide himself snooping his sister’s boyfriend to find out whom he might be waiting really.

In the short while, his sister arrived, as she was preparing to leave with the friend, he tiptoed towards his sister’s boyfriend and slapped him really hard in the face till he flailed, and stumbling back loosely and gained controlled making the young girl speeding away like a bodaboda. Innocent young girl, as light as a feather-too light of foot disappeared in the crowd like magic

We came in to calm the situation from getting worse between the two gentlemen. The slapped-guy had to leave touching the slapped part – mission has failed, where as the slapper remained waiting for his girlfriend

Few minutes later, the girl friend of whom he was waiting with came on a bodaboda, stepped down and rushed to her boyfriend and hugged him when the slapper was surprisingly looking in with his trouser suspiciously bulging in front for no reason at all (other person’s business!)

He tried to call his girl friend on phone but his call could not be answered. This inflicted in him annoyance and left talking to himself looking back that she may appear but he was wrong. The say that, “success comes as failure is almost taking over did not really favor him”.

The guy was not a Nuer, but a Dinka citing his six initiation-lines (scars) drawn horizontally on his fore-head. If he is not an Agaar, Ngook or mony-Luany Aguer Adel then he is from Nyarweng or Hol

The celebration was really peaceful compared to the one of 2013 where many fled the country for safety. The son of Mary was healthily produced, the mother-Mary also as fit as a fiddle prompting many to club, drinking and dancing. Many pubs that used to be broke of people were now marred, there is nothing you could not see including GOSS vehicles recklessly packed at the pubs and clubs, you just know that government officials too are thanking God inside there with us. Showing us simplicity and care, telling us the governmental plans for us (South Sudanese) in 2015 in all the assumed wisdom of the intoxicated minds with liquid

The completely deserted and busy market of Konyokonyo in 2013’s Christmas was now back to life again and fully standing with all its four legs shortly before the Christmas. People mixing up again, many began coming out from their hiding-holes, others coming from far and near to buy their Christmas attires

All the types of people, black, brown, short and tall ones, tiny ones squeezing their ways through fat ones

Short ones disappearing under the tall ones, many people who were unacquainted with the stories of Konyokonyo coming back to their homes heart broken by the pick-pocketers

Hair getting styled with alien hairs, nails, legs and arms painted like walls by women and girls

Many dressed in new fashion – fashion spreads like Ebola in this country. And for men, many had saved for Christmas and were now in the adventure of buying the expensive liquors ever-those ones in tall, thin-necked bottles-it is a good day you would want to yield, shout and sing loudly at least. A day you would talk in assumed wisdom to your accompany

It is the day goats and cows began to diminish. They are bought not to be kept but to be slaughtered. The bar-owners buying more beers because they assumed that the birth of Joseph’s son (not me) will make many drinks like fish.

That is why we love and want peace because we want to always live like this in harmony. Worse came in New Year’s celebration when the SPLA or unknown gunmen (I don’t know how to put it) shot in the air without orders from their bosses. When they heard fireworks at Galaxy, they thought that post-CPA system of shooting in the air has started. They started shooting including some military generals and the barracks. Should that be a mistaking of Galaxy’s fireworks to gun-works or are we still entangled in the post-2005 mindset? Our beloved Nation where Gunshots (gun-works) substitutes fire-works!

A certain lady at the neighborhood ululated and again suddenly called out, ‘where is my child?’ when the shots began to be numerous

There was a stampede in Shirkhat Dinka church; many unwittingly got themselves in the parody of a run deserting the church except of some few.

The new-year was marked with ululation, drum and jerricans beating, gunshots, running and cars’ hooting on the roads but I ululated a little in my room because nobody knows the drunkards who might be shooting horizontally claiming that they are shooting in happiness and later claims that, ‘he was shot by cross fire’. Cross fire!

My friend Paanluel asked me that, ‘Kon Joseph Leek, You would think that the government at war would be the last to waste precious bullets to celebrate a useless occasion’. That is true anyway

Believe me, it was the best time to declare a successful coup against a sitting president (do not misquote me ooh), you would ask yourself how on Earth did Riek Machar miss this chance?

I can’t blame the shooters anyway. Our Nation South Sudan is a country of too many littles; little literacy, little ethics, little ideological training and the biggest mouth of appreciating anything without any reason. My military icon, Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso’s president 1983-87 once said that, “a soldier without any ideological or political training is a potential criminal”, isn’t it what we almost witnessed on 1^st January? Potential criminals on the act!

anyhow, we are happy that we survived last year’s banes and more hopping to live more in our nation and HAPPY CHRISMAS AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR anyway though one theory that explains the formation of 25^th Dec for the celebration of Jesus’ birth is that the purpose was to Christianize the pagan festival in Rome of the “Dies Natalis invicti” which means the “birthday of the unconquered sun” the festival inaugurated by the Roman Emperor Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantine aka Constantine the Great or Constantine 1 (270-375, borne almost three centuries after Jesus Christ).

During Constantine reign, Christians assimilates it as the birthday of Jesus associating him with the “Sun of righteousness”.

When Constantine went to battle his most powerful rival in Italy, Maxentius at the Tiber River in AD 312, he had a vision he claimed to have seen Christ superimposed on the sun with the words “in hoc signo vinces” (in this sign, you shall conquer), that is the origin of cross many Christians are now using.

Baptized on AD 337 on his deathbed, he did much to further the growth of the church though he didn’t completely leave his pagan roots

Unless you read Jeremiah 52:31, you will not get the mentioning of 25^th December which has nothing to do with Jesus’ birth but was the day when Jehoiachin, King of Judaea was released in jail by the Evil Merodoch of Babylonian kingdom.

Nonetheless happy New Year my Country men & women

The writer is an in independent journalist and a Commentator on Contemporary South Sudan; He can be reached on; j.konleek@gmail.com & 0955091449

Gordon Buay: “I have Never Denounced President Kiir’s Government”

I HAVE NEVER DENOUNCED MY GOVERNMENT, CONTRARY TO MEDIA REPORTS
For Immediate Release
January, 4th, 2015

Ambassador Gordon Buay in the foreground in light blue suit, swearing in ceremony for Ambassadors

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January 4, 2015 (SSB) — I want to alert the public about the hoax published by a rebel website of Upper Nile Times which alleged that “Juba Ambassador denounces his government”.

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Such a hoax was fabricated by the rebel-terrorists of Riek Machar running the Upperniletimes.net to inflict mental anguish among the supporters of the government.

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The public should to know that the rebel-terrorists of Riek Machar are prone to cheap propaganda which has no meaning simply to quench their thirst for terrorism.

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Commonsense has it that there is no Ambassador that can denounce the Government he is representing.

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I am therefore informing the public to consider the article published by the upperniletimes.net as a hoax fabricated to perpetuate terrorism.

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For Contact:
Amb. Gordon Buay

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Juba dismisses ambassador’s role in alleged coup plot

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January 4, 2015 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese presidency has dismissed as “untrue” and “unfounded” reports alleging ambassador Gordon Buay and the Ulang county commissioner, Gatkouth Bim Nyoak plan to overthrow the Juba regime.

Buay and Nyoak reportedly described president Salva Kiir’s government as a private tribal entity and that the South Sudanese leader was “illiterate” and incompetent.

“I think this is not true. Ambassador Gordon Buay is a staunch supporter of President Salva Kiir and he cannot work against him. Instead he is working for his success. He cannot work for the downfall of the president. What is reported is just a misleading propaganda to cause confusion”, the presidential spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

Ateny said Buay was in Canada on a family visit and would return for his duties at the foreign affairs and international cooperation ministry.

“Gordon Buay is currently visiting his family in Canada and he would return to resume his duties. All that has been said and attributed to him is a lie. There is no truth for anyone to accept”, he clarified.

An undisclosed source in Canada quoted Buay to have branded president Kiir a “lucky” leader, who was in power because of allies.

“If it weren’t because of luck, he [Kiir] wouldn’t have become the president. In addition, without me, Kiir would have lost his legitimacy a long time ago. But I happened to be his sharp critique and protect the constitution of the country, which is what has become the shell to him internationally,” Buay allegedly remarked.

“I have to do this because he can be fooled until he is finished so that he can go to ICC [International Criminal Court] for killing innocent civilians in Juba”..

The envoy, according to the source, also vowed to ally with the army’s chief of staff to take over the leadership should Bor, the capital of its largest state, fall to the rebels.

In the said interview, ambassador Buay and commissioner Nyoak allegedly admitted thousands of Nuer civilians were killed in December, 2013 in Juba by presidential guards and have they evidences showing more than 20,000 people have so died.

BUAY RESPONDS

But ambassador Buay said the allegations were a concoction by the rebels in an attempt to discourage diaspora communities and those at home from supporting government as some Nuer community members have started abandoning rebellion to join the Juba establishment.

“There is no truth in what has been reported. It is just a concoction. This is not the first time. They have been doing it to cause confusion. The website which reported these fabricated allegations has allegiance to the rebels. Those who run it are supporters of the rebels,” he told Sudan Tribune from Canada.

“What the rebels need to know is that I am the government and the state of South Sudan. If you see me, then, you see Salva Kiir Mayardit,” added Buay, who likened his relationship with president Kiir to that existing between Jesus Christ and Jehovah.

Kijana Majok: A Controversial Bor Youth Leader?

By Bor-Prince Mengistu, Australia

“It takes a leader to serve his community, but takes a community to raise one”

Kijana Ali Majok Piel, the newly elected president of Bor-Youth Association (in) Australia [BYAA]

January 4, 2015 (SSB) — Just touching base on a few formalities pertaining to the leadership of Kijana Majok. Kijana’s bid for presidency of Bor-Youth Association (in) Australia [BYAA] arose some sort of discontent among the Greater Bor Community here in Australia, particularly in Melbourne.

Do pardon me for cutting straight to the topic.

Less than two weeks ago ‘Bor-South youth’ conducted a general election which brought Kijana Majok Piel into presidency. Following the election, our brothers from Twie-East and Duk counties questioned the moral grounds of which Bor-South youth elected Kijana Majok to lead the Association, and with due respect, openly expressed their concerns.

As a fellow son of Bor (South) and as an individual who participated in the general meeting leading up to the election, I took it upon myself to briefly justify the premise of which Kijana Majok was brought into presidency. Such rectification is crucial for the convenience of our harmonious coexistence.

First and foremost, the manner and the purpose of which this matter was approached by some of our brothers from Twie-East and Duk counties must be acknowledged and applauded. Their queries elaborated the significance of our social interdependence; and puts into perspective the social fabric laced long before us by our forefathers. This is so, irrespective of the emerging ideas that seek to disapprove the common objectivity.

Given our pastoralist culture, it is a tradition in most Dinka sects for a man to beautify his Bull. In return, the owner of the Bull would use the Bull’s décor to display his wealth, his pride, his manhood, his elegance etc. If a man loves a specific Bull but detests the shape its horns took after, prior to exhibiting his vanity, he (the owner of the Bull) must reconstruct the Bull’s horns through a gradual dehorning process.

Once the shape of the horns is perfected, the owner can then imitate the horns of his Bull with full pride. Here I say, let Bor people not be oblivion to the precedence of teaching its youth how to live.

Everyone has an identity, a certain community of belonging. A community that nurtures its offspring like a mother does her infants. To his community, Kijana is a beloved Bull. Though with unfavourable horns, he must not be slaughtered but reformed. It is a responsibility of the Greater Bor Community to reconstruct his horns, such that he mirrors the image we desire to showcase.

Kijana is now a leader of BYAA, but even as a leader of this association, he is also a leader of Twie-East and to Duk youths respectively. The social interdependence I mentioned earlier suggests so. There’s no need to be in denial of this reality. In addition, it is imperative that Bor-South allows the critics of Kijana Majok to criticise free of any prejudice.

Furthermore, a people’s leader must condone critiques. I urge Kijana Majok to prove his leadership to the people of Greater Bor Community. It should be mandatory that Kijana acknowledges the rights of his critics and grant them their liberties.

In the same spirit, I urge individuals from Twie-East and Duk counties to approve of Kijana’s leadership. Allow him to consolidate power, and because he is one of their own, engage in dehorning him. While it is their prerogative to criticise a given leader, I urge them to refrain from conducts of ad-hominem attacks.

An example people of Bor-South would abide by; if similar events were to manifest in Duk or Twie-East. For the sake of social harmony, it is an example that communities of Greater Bor can bequeathed into younger generations

I see no need of entertaining vehement sentiments towards each other. Any leader, whether groomed in Bor-South, Twie-East or Duk will impact Greater Bor through his leadership one way or another. It is therefore a collective responsibility to strengthen (and or empower) our own leaders.

We are proud of Dr Garang’s achievements, aren’t we? Need I remind you that it took collective efforts to craft Dr Garang de Mabior’s lustre? Collectively, Greater Bor Community can build a thousand more Garangs.

The Hatred That Never Quits: Dr. Majak d’ Agoot, Madam Rebecca Nyandeng and Mabior Garang de Mabior Didn’t Cause the Ongoing War in South Sudan

By Mayak Deng Aruei, USA

President Museveni: Last evening (16/11/2104), I held a meeting with H.E Salva Kiir and his delegation, together with a team of 11people led by Mama Rebecca Garang,at Statehouse Entebbe. We discussed ways and means of resolving the conflict in South Sudan. I urged the warring factions to reconcile and ease the suffering of the people of South Sudan.

January 4, 2015 (SSB) —For God sake, this blame game against the deactivated politicians serve no purpose given the scale of conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. Some people, from somewhere continue to maintain baseless animosity and claims against powerless folks who have been politically stripped naked. It is undeniable that their contributions to the cause of South Sudanese is a symbol that would be recognized in History Books or after the fall of both Kiir and Riek. I don’t know when that will happen, but their days(Kiir & Riek’s days) are coming to an end soon! There can be no way that a sane person would divert attention from the real problem and continue to point finger at people who have been locked out of the Government. Even though Mabior Garang de Mabior is part and parcel of the SPLM-in-Opposition, his joining was out of necessity, and he has explained it to the whole world. This conflict is a golden opportunity for concerned citizens to foul aspiring politicians only on their own records, and without linking them with the War owned by President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar.

First and foremost, citizens who want their voices to be part of the History must make sense of what they say, how they say it, when they say it and why they say it. Instead of looking to the main Rivals( Kiir and Riek), some people spends their times tracking whereabouts Dr. Majak d’ Agoot and Nyandeng Chol. Who does not know that Dr. Majak d’ Agoot was once an SPLA’s field Commander? If he had any intention to engage the Government of South Sudan militarily, he would have done it without any hesitation. That kind of posture is not going to change anything as long as President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar have their heads in the sands. One would think that education refines brains, but in the case of South Sudanese, some well educated youths continue to act with the mentality of cattle-keepers! If that is the case, how can we expect unexposed young men who were weaned with mud-molded guns in their hands and grew up tending cows with AK-47s mounted on their shoulders? We (the educated South Sudanese) must reclaim what we have learned in Schools and try to divorce hunger for meaningless supports, and at the expenses of the uneducated masses.

Moving forward, lost of lives in South Sudan is a serious crime against humanity, and making up stories is not going to wipe away responsibilities attached to all the killings. Unlike any other time, the Massacres in Juba, Bortown, Akoba, Bentiu, Bailiet and Malakal will not be traded away for Peace. Why does it seems to hurt more when people are restating facts? It is very true that South Sudanese need Peace, but it has to come without forgetting who killed who at the start of the War(2013-2014). This time around, we must raise the Bar really high because no one is entitled to cause bloodsheds, and expect forgiveness to be part of the Peace deal. Whatever the middle ground that warring parties will settle on, their liabilities(Kiir & Riek’s criminal liabilities) must remain in place until all the investigations in regard to atrocities committed are finalized.

Third and final, kinships should not be confused with the political realities that have shaken the foundation of South Sudan. For some people, all that matters to them are relatives around the President, and that cannot guarantee better future. Had President Salva Kiir Mayardit obeyed the Rule of law strictly(kept Dr. Riek Machar where he was, without withdrawing delegated powers, not meddled with the SPLM’s structures and not sacked the entire Cabinet), SOUTH SUDAN would be in Peace now. That is also true with Dr. Riek Machar who immediately seized the opportunity after the “attempted coup” or whatever the crap it was/will be in the History Books, and begun presiding over the disoriented Lou-Nuer White Army Militias(LNWA). We know for a fact that Sudanese governments killed Southerners during the liberation struggle(1955-2005), and Dr. Riek Machar did it in 1991 and all got away without facing severe legal consequences. But in our own case(current conflict), it’s not going to be tolerated. With or without the help of international Community, all the folks who have bloods in their hands will be dealt with accordingly.

Overall, let the victims of the senseless War rest in peace. The root causes of the ongoing Conflict are very visible to the whole world, and any rhetoric directed toward innocent individuals will never ease tensions between the Government of South Sudan and the SPLM-in-Opposition. If political Commentators are honest in their expressions, then baseless claims against Dr. Majak d’ Agoot, Nyandeng Chol and Mabior Garang de Mabior should be dropped/discarded altogether, and be considered as victims of the disengaged SPLM. All citizens must give PEACE a chance, and put self-interests aside for a while. Just a quick reminder, South Sudanese are in need of an energetic, courageous and skillful Volunteer who have the will to restore lost hopes. And that is exactly what Dr. Majak d’ Agoot is doing to the desperate South Sudanese around the world. The consequences of gossiping day in and day out have been seen, and that should be a warning sign to those who thinks money can buy happiness and political power.

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The Author is Mayak Deng Aruei, a doctoral student in Organizational Leadership: Organizational Development. He can be reached at kongor.da.ajak@gmail.com

Thiang Nuer Youth Applauds the Appointment of Gabriel Gatwech Chan (Gabriel Tanginye)

Congratulatory Message to Dr. Riek Machar for the Appointment of Major General Gabriel Gatwech Chan Deng (Tang-ginye) as a SPLA Resistance Movement’s Inspector-General.

Left to Right: Gen. Gabriel Gatwech Chan, Gen. Dau Aturjuong Nyuol and Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual

January 4, 2015 (SSB) — We, the Thiang Nuer Youths of Fangak County would like to express our utmost happiness to South Sudan’s former Vice President who is also the current Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLM/SPLA-IO, Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon for having appointed on 21th December 2014, our Father, a great military expert, who has  [or more than]40 years excellent military experience; Major General Gabriel Gatwech Chan Deng (aka Gatchan or Gat-ginye na Tang) as a SPLA Resistance Movement’s Inspector-General.

This is a right position for a right General, Gabriel Tang-i-nyang!  We’re, therefore, one hundred percent sure that Gen. Gabriel Gatwech won’t fail the South Sudanese people and will really do what the nation does expect from him. The decision order that appointed SPLA’s Inspector General particularly at this time to be, Gatchan na Gabriel Gatwech Chan; is one of the national wise decisions Dr. Machar Teny had been taken and will continue to take. Thus, we congratulate him, Major General Gabriel Gatwech Chan (aka Tang-ginye) for the new assignment, the SPLA-IO’s Inspector General.

Moreover, the Association, Thiang Nuer Youth Association (TNYA) would not and cannot forget to put across its gratitude also to Dr. Machar Teny for having appointed by a separate order, the former Jonglei state’s Minister of Law Enforcement, a man who in his life time, never worked against the interest of his own people, General Gabriel Duop Lam (Wich Tuotmhok) as Phou federal State’s Governor.

All, the Thiang Nuer Youths both in South Sudan and overseas  are ,therefore, more than ready to work together, support and rally behind H. E Gabriel Duop Lam at the state level and generally, rally behind the most competent and wise national Leadership  of the present SPLM/SPLA-IO’s Chairman, Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

So that to implement collectively the awaiting national programs including far-reaching reforms, equality, justice, accountability, equitable sharing of national resources, development and democracy in the Federal Republic of South Sudan.

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Long Live Federal Democratic Republic of South Sudan!

Long live H.E Dr.Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon, SPLM/SPLA’s Leadership!

Long Live Major Gen.Gabriel Gatwech Chan, SPLA’s Inspector-General!

Long Live H.E Gabriel Duop Lam, the Governor of Phou federal state!

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Signed:

Manyun Guek Beliu, Chairperson

Thiang Nuer Youth Association (TNYA)

For contact:

Email: thianggekayouthfangak67@gmail.com