Two Contrasting Views on the Fighting between Bor and Twic Youth in Perth, Australia

By Palagol Maketh Deng

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The fighting of Bor and Twic Youth In Perth Australia

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Don’t turn the house of my father into the den of thieves, said Jesus

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January 10, 2015 (SSB) — The attack that occurred in Perth, Australia was intentionally well engineered and delivered by very people who were meant to make any possible fight with the tiny Bor community in Western Australia. As Deng Atem Garang Guek ( Deng de Kuek on his Face book) backed up his Uncle Abraham Aleu Arok , both hails from Abek in Twic Bor county.  However, Deng wrote prejudice article on his social website “National courier” that he controls.

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He popularly propagandised that the comment “JUORAMAl” which Jangdit Dengajok wrote on his Facebook page was the very reason which led the fighting, although an article which he posted only gains popularity among the Twic members but largely being ignored as bias without any basic justifications since it lucks journalism ethics. Some readers reacted that Deng Atem’s article is escalating more violence among the peaceful communities, in fact it’s definitely true. Something which the writer Deng  attribution was one side story, still is.

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Mr. Deng Atem Garang failed to understand the nature of being journalist, the discipline within journalism. He behaves as if he was bewitched and under the demonic influence. The motive behind his writing is clearly understood by the readers, as his maternal uncle, Mr. Aleu Arok hails from tiny clan of Abek, and within the same clan they are from the same extended family.

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In matter of fact there was a  tension building up within Saint Paul church especially between two priests, Abraham Aleu and Michael Anyang. But wrongly blamed on an innocent gentleman who new in the state, he had no idea if there was political division among the Greater Dinka Bor within the State he came to visited. regardless the already looming tension within the Saint Paul Church, the comment on jangdit’s Face Book page was made as best reason to wage war on Buor. As confidential information leaked out the people whom we know that they can unites people, but they instead do the opposite.

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As long the two communities shared many thing in common, this indicates that nothing can be operates under secrecy because such information could be intercepted easily, Manyang Deng Biar from Awulian (Agutyai Manyang face book name) was the very instrumental in destroying the peace loving communities in Perth. He instructed youth to discipline the tiny community of Bor. His message spread so quickly like a wild fire, it angered many within Perth and diaspora at large. So why would Mr. Manyang Deng Biar comment so nicely on social networking but under darkness he is doing the opposite? The crocodile tears!!

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Correspondingly, Mr. Akech Dau Angok was called by the Bor elder to ask his youth to end an attack, but Akech insisted that there was going to be fighting anyway, this is not a surprise attack, he added. Something which left the caller yawning.

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In other hand, as we spoke to an author of “ JuorAmal”, he stated that his message was intended to someone who wrote a harsh comment against his community by calling Buor as less Dinka. As we spoke to him on the phone, Mr. Dengajok said that his comment wasn’t meant for Priest Aleu but the context of the Status he posted matched the situation on the ground. He also explained, “if a thief had stolen someone’s property day before Sunday and in the following morning the priest preaches about stealing, the thief might felt the magnitude as if the priest knew his action, I therefore I assure everyone around the globe, in particular to the South Sudanese in Australia that my message was interpreted out of context” “let’s remains vigilant on issues concerning social networking, we must debate them on where we read them but do not bring them into our communities because those minor issues can have an impact on peaceful coexistence, perhaps if there was already tension in place”, he added.

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 In order to understand the history involving Priest Michael Anyang Reng and Abraham Aleu Arok, first able, it dated way back in 2007 when Mr. Anyang decided to handed his Priesthood to Mr. Aleu Arok for times being until he finished his education and marriage. The handover of priesthood to Mr. Abraham was welcomed by the Saint Paul’s congregation, not forever, but temporal basic, although the relinquishment of such was not only made by the two individuals; on that point there was a written form which was witnessed by the Archbishop of Perth, and so the head of Mirrabooka Parish. besides that, the whole congregation of Saint Paul were also acknowledged, this means that everyone did witnessed the entire process as two Priests spoke out during the church service. Abraham Aleu then assumes his duties as Michael step down.

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Then the bizarre situation between two priests arises when Mr. Anyang decided to resumes his Holy Order position after many years away from his profession. Mr. Aleu was made aware in and mid 2014 after their first discussion failed in February of the same year. On the contrary, Mr. Aleu Arok refuses to buy it, he then directed Anyang to remains as normal part of congregation which not only shocked Anyang but an entire Bor community as to why would Mr. Abraham treats someone who honoured him after a huge humiliation he experienced during 2008 church’s split between Bor and Twic in an ethnic line. The Twic community had chosen Martha Adau Kongor as Priest in their church, and Abraham Aleu Arok decided to stay at home without going to any church until Michael Anyang Reng became so merciful to invite him to help in teaching the gospel and other tasks in Saint Paul’s Church.

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Furthermore, the Sunday of January 4^th 2015 abruptly marked the turning point when secretary Daniel Deng Mach made an announcement during the Church service that Mr. Reng will come forward to briefs the church congregation.

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As he walk to the stage, everyone went silent, we could hear his steeping.  In brief, he acknowledged the best part of Aleu, as well accused Mr. Aleu of not “ being cooperative in building the trust,  by refusing to cooperates is an incitement which causes chaos” and “ The Church is like any Nation, she must be confident of protecting herself and faith, this happens if congregation are happy with the pastor/priest which teaches the gospel”, Anyang added.  Anyang also gave decision to be made by the council..

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Over gain, as Daniel Deng Mach took microphone after Reng finished his speech, Mr. Daniel called the meeting of all lay council, to remains after church services so that they can workout the best solution to the emerging crisis between the two priests.

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Mr. Aleu became discontented with the speech of his opponent, in addition to that, he loosed his temper by asking Priest Anyang “to obey the rules of this country (Australia), that Anyang need to go back to discussions that we had made, and to go back to Archbishop of Mirrabooka parish where he handed his resignation letter”. “Anyang can not just come to me and assume to be just given the position, no no, it can not happen that way”, and also there is no meeting of any kind to be conducted until I say so he I assured people ”.

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Equally important, Mr Anyang came back to grasp a microphone off from Aleu as he heard Abraham saying the last word that there will be no meeting. Anyang said Mr. Aleu Arok should allow meeting of council to commenced, because this is the best way which I believe it can allow the congregation to make their own final decision, whether they would agree that they want me back, or if they only want Aleu to remain in charge”

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Another thing to add on, the head of Priests Rev Beatrice Pate also came forwards as she was about to concluded the prayers, she said that “Abraham Aleu is a nice person, he is very wonderful person, we all want him”, she clarified her position. She also recommends Anyang to write a letter to Archbishop of Perth to be re-licensed as Aleu previously stated. Her statement was clear, because Aleu is seem to had contacted them and brainwashed the Parish priests leaving Mr. Reng in quandary. Obviously ,Mr. Arok had added salt in the wound, his speech was full of anger and frustration as gesture could determine, the interpretation every single word he spoken, were all provocative. Likely many people anticipate that he predicted the council were all Bor, so they would kick him out. Should it be set-up!! it gives many glim of half a smile.

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As soon the prayers ended, Jangdit spotted Bol Garang passing by, somehow he politely asked the gentleman among the grown jokily why he shared his post, and then write an incitement post on top of the shared post? He assured Bol that you made people interpreted my message in different contexts. Its against privacy law. You should have asked me through an in box messaging.

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A question was simple, but Bol shows signs of readiness to fight. Mr. Dengajok left in dismay, but as he drive off to friends house with his cousin Garang , they were followed by those of Bol Garang and  pursuit by three cars. Garang  parked the near by park, those of Bol came in six numbers armed with base ball bats,steel bars,and so on.

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The verbal exchange escalated, those the two gentlemen were overwhelmed as twic youth used baseball bats and steel bars to attacks. The fight but luckily the friends of Mr. Dengajok came but see no need to back up their friend, unfortunately the police arrived at the scene in convoy. Both group were investigated, and set to go to their respective places.

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Mr. Jangdit left with his four friends so he and his cousin could change their clothes since they were ripped apart. Within half an hour, they hard the Buor in the community centre were the  Twic youth were just nearby, spear headed by Chol Majok Chol from Pakeer, who also had married from Palek in Bor. The fight at the community centre was intense but the Twic East youth were repulsed as they were scattered around the area leaving their thirty cars behind with engines still running. Both sides sustained many injured but no one was admitted to the Hospital as previously reported by Deng Atem Garang on National Currier.

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Many questions remains unanswered, why would Twic youth attacked community centre if they were looking for Jangdit since he was not there at the centre during the attack? Why would they involved an innocent people if  only they were offended by the message they read? Is there no leaders in Twic community? Why would Priest Aleu refuses to step down but knowing the church is largely occupied by Dinka Bor without a single Twic? Why  would many youth from Twic came to the Church during Anyang speech and at the same time had with weapons with them?

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In conclusion, Mr. Aleu Arok should have resolve demand made by Anyang or allowed the Lay council meeting to go head without blocking it, in order to forge good outcome. The fighting which occurred would have been prevented given a great nature of Anyang which he shown during his speech following the events of consulting Aleu for period one year. Also should Priest Aleu Arok made a clear speech without any intimidation to either Anyang Reng or the entire congregation, just in Heavenly demeanour, hence it would’ve postured a great sensitivity of maintaining uniting church with vibrate place worshipping.

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By “The National Courier”

Bor and Twic East Clubbing Each Other In Perth Western Australia Over Church Politics. ‪

Don’t turn the house of my father into the den of thieves, said Jesus

Dirty Anglican Church Politics Dividing the Dinka of Bor and Twi Communities In Perth, Western Australia.

In scenes straight out of Dinka cattle camp, Dinka Bor and Twi East youth mercilessly clubbed each other with sticks and baseball bats yesterday in Western Australia Capital City of Perth after church politics exacerbated by Facebook agitation got out of hand. The incident, which left many with minor injuries, and three others to seek medical attention unfolded after attempts made by a former priest who hails from Bor County in collusion with some church members from Bor County to oust the current priest who hails from Twic East failed.

Background

The dispute arose over the leadership of Dinka Congregation of Saint Paul’s Church, which is located on the grounds of John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School. Saint Paul’s Church is a part of the Anglican Parish of Balga Mirabooka in Diocese of Perth Western Australia. It is a attended by all Dinka people of various clans primarily those who come from Bor County, Twi East, and the Greater Bahr el Ghazal Region.

Dispute

In December last year, Michael Anyang Reng, a former Assistant Priest who had resigned his priesthood four years ago for whatever reasons, rang the current Assistant Parish Priest of Saint Paul’s Anglican Community Church Reverend Joseph Aleu and asked him to resign. Rev. Michael demanded that Rev. Joseph resign so that he may resume the leadership of Dinka Congregation because “his community” apparently has put him under pressure and asked him to take over the leader allegedly because the majority of the congregation hail from Bor County. Rev. Joseph politely referred Rev. Michael to the Archbishop and told him that he would resign if only asked by the Archbishop of Perth because as per the rules of the Anglican Church only the Archbishop has the authority to strip him of his priestly robes.

However, the matter did not end there. A certain Facebook character by the name of Jangdit Dengajok who hails from Brisbane Queensland, and whose real name is Mabior Ayuen Deng decided to fly to Perth in solidarity with his fellow clansman. On Friday the 2nd of January, Mabior aka Jangdit wrote the following Facebook Status abusing Rev. Joseph and the Twi Community:

“When Lucifer was sent down to earth, it’s because he attempted a coup against almighty. A failed coup led him to earth.

“So whoever wants to lead others, he is a Lucifer according to my knowledge. If you want to lead others, then be sure to bring you own forks (sic) within the leadership you’re leading.”

“I will be very happy if this ‪#‎JuorAmal‬ (derogatory term used by Bor against Twi people meaning ‘sheepish people’) is kicked away where we pray so we can breath the cols (sic) breeze.”

“There are some of our neighbours who always insist that they are good leaders even in churches. You’re wrong buddy!!”

“There is no way to herd sheep and goats together since they are different animals. They must be herded separately.”

“I am deeply offended seeing those who are against us leading congregations when they suppose to go where they belong (sic).”

“I am very happy seeing my standing up against all sorts of oppression, whether in government of local politics (sic).”

“The splits we see these days within the churches are only the mirror reflection of what originally took place in Roman (sic). So it’s not an offence when your brother is sent back to your own temple.”

“While in Perth, I am very optimistic that impossible becomes possible for no one allowed someone to lead his own family.”

This unsavoury message was seen and read by many before Mabior aka Jangdit deleted it. However, it had already been copied by many people among them Bol Garang and has been doing the rounds on the internet since.

Coup Fails

Then yesterday during church service announcements, the Secretary of the Lay Council Daniel Deng Mach who hails from Bor announced that someone wanted to greet the congregation. Rev. Michael Anyang then went on to address the worshippers and accused Rev. Joseph of being a bad leader and announced his candidacy and intention of wanting to replace Rev. Joseph.

Daniel Deng Mach then announced that there will be a meeting of the Lay Council, however Rev. Joseph in his capcity as the Assistant Parish Priest cancelled the meeting because it was not authorised. This infuriated Rev. Michael who ran to the microphone and told the worshippers that the meeting was going to happen regardless of what Rev. Joseph said.

However, the Head Parish Priest Rev. Beatrice Pate who was present rebuked Rev. Michael and told him in no uncertain terms that:

(a) Rev. Michael was unlicensed priest and therefore neither had authority to preach nor lead a congregation

(b) Rev. Michael would need to write to the Archbishop of Perth to get licenced and only the Archbishop can employ him.

(c) The accusations against Rev. Joseph were irrelevant because his job description pertains only to Church affairs and not community affairs.

(d) Any church meetings that are to be held must first be approved by the priests and chaired by the priests.

Thus with the coup against Rev. Joseph foiled the service ended with many hanging their heads in shame.

Confrontation

Whilst people were gathering outsides after the service, Mabior Ayuen Deng aka Jangdit confronted Bol Garang berating him for having reposted his status, which he had since deleted. Bol did not take kindly to being shirt-fronted and a war of words ensued. However, people intervened and separated the two. When things got heated Mabior aka Jangdit flung by nine fellow clansmen fled the church in a convoy of two cars followed by Bol and three other individuals.

Whatever ensued afterwards is disputed, however, what is clear is that the nine fellows plus Mabior aka Jangdit at the car park of Mirrabooka Police Station beat Bol and his three companions. The police luckily intervened and issued the groups with “Move On Notices.” The two groups went their separate ways with the Bor convoy heading to a community centre.

Nevertheless, the fight did not end there. A group of Twi youth when they heard that Bol and company had been beaten went to the community centre to confront those who had beaten their fellow county men. What the Twi guys did not know though was that the entire leadership of the Bor community having predicted their likely move was laying in wait for them with rungus (clubs), sticks and baseball bats hidden in car boots including the Bor Community Chairman, John Akuot Achiek and Saint Paul’s Church Secretary of the Lay Council, Daniel Deng Mach.

When the Twi youth entered the main building they immediately attacked the ten guys who had fought with Bol and his colleagues. Chaos ensued and some Bor Community members and Twi Community members who had no idea of what was going on tried to intervene but could not separate the two sides. By then John Akuot Achiek (the Chairman of Bor Community in Western Australia), and Daniel Deng Mach (the Secretary of the Lay Council of Saint Paul’s Church) had armed themselves with two rungus each and where chasing the Twi youth around clubbing them senseless.

Unfortunately for few members of the Bor community who could not wield their rungus properly, they got snatched and three of them got clubbed to such an extent that they required medical attention. The attacking Twi youth having realised that the police was probably on its way abandoned their vehicles and left the community centre.

Still in rage for having been attacked, some Bor Community members vandalised five cars belonging to some Twi youth by breaking the windows and slashing the tires.

Aftermath

The injured members are doing well. Mabior Ayuen Deng is flying away soon to Brisbane to enjoy his peace while leaving Perth in turmoil. Bor Community members have filed a police case against those who attacked them something that should have been done in the first place by anyone who felt aggrieved instead of taking law into their own hands.

The situation in Perth is tense and the rumour mill is in overdrive. Accusations are flying left and right.

Twi community leadership and Bor community leadership have buried their heads in the sand, living in denial that THERE IS NO problem between the Bor and Twi Youths with the Twic East Community Chairman Manyang Deng condemning National Courier in various posts on Facebook for bringing the dirty church politics and unhealthy social media habits of the two communities into light.

The irony of the situation is that Rev. Michael is related to Twi, his mother hails from Adhiok, Wernyol Payam, Twic East County where Rev. Joseph comes from. Mabior Ayuen Deng aka Jangdit is married to a girl from a prominent family in Ajuong, Twic East County. Some of the Twi youth who attacked Bor are also related to Bor by blood or marriage.

The National Courier urges the irresponsible parties and those who fan flames of hate aka the semi-illiterate so called intellectuals who contradict themselves left and right to desist from injecting venom into the society.

National Courier © 2015

The Lynchpin of UNDP Mission is to Study How to Fail Developing Countries

By David Aoloch Bion

January 10, 2015 (SSB) — The United Nation Development Program (UNDP) is the United Nations (UN) agent for development that implements its policies around the World.  UNDP is the virus that caused failed state in the developing, third World. UNDP employs experts who studied  ‘’ Security, Peace and Strategies ‘’. These strategic experts study the situation of any developing country and predict how the situation will unfold.

These strategic experts’ study comprehensively any country and they tally all factors and conditions that can make a country success story and factors and conditions that can make a country a failed story. From there the  UNDP will come up with it policies  and recommendations , if the country agree to UNDP policies and recommendations  , UNDP  will stimulate the succeeding factors and conditions , if the country reject UNDP polices  and recommendation , UNDP will inflame failing factors and conditions .

Therefore , the cornerstone of UNDP policy  is ‘’ every developing  country is to raise up her hands  and UNDP search her , remove every indigenous policies  then she (UNDP) introduces her neocolonial policies , and then  its becomes  loyal , friendly  country which  is earmarked  for UNDP assistance and UNDP advances  it  chances for development .    If the country reject the search of the international community and refuse the neo colonization policies of the UNDP.  The UNDP will simply open the gate of hell on that defiant, developing country by advancing the chances of failing apart like orchestrating of the war, violence and all kinds of horrors.

UNDP is the modern king in the biblical parables of ten minas in Luke 19, here I quote ‘’

The second servant came, ‘’ Sir, your mina has earned five more. His master answered ‘’ you take charge of five cities ‘’.

Then another servant came and said ‘’Sir, here is your mina . I have kept laid in away in piece  of cloth , I was afraid of you because you a hard man , you take out  what  you did not put in and reap what you do not sow ‘’

His master replied ……’’ take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten mina ‘’

‘’sir’’ they said, ‘’ he already has ten ‘’

Master replied ‘’ I tell you everyone who has more , will be given but as for the one who has nothing , even what he has will be taken away . but those enemies of mine who did not want me to be a king over them ,bring them here and kill them in front of me ‘’

This   parable is fulfilled in South Sudan . UNDP is the king who give mina , mina means the money UNDP give South Sudan . South Sudan is the servant who kept mina laid in cloth. Keeping mina in cloth means refusal of South Sudan to abide by UNDP economic, political liberalization policies.  UNDP took the mina away from South Sudan by stopping funding to government projects like planned 2015 election.

UNDP is killing South Sudan now in the ongoing war, if the rebel SPLA/M O do not bring down the government, UNDP is lobbying for UN military intervention in South Sudan.. because the more the crises , the more the UNDP funds .

In 2013, UNDP carried out opinion poll research in ten states of South Sudan, in that research it tried to find out what do general public think about election in 2015

From the questionnaire, you can understand the agenda of the UNDP in wording of the questions. The questionnaire were  worded  in such a way it influence the response of the people.  All questions were problematic, were trying to complicate election. The motive of UNDP was to strike violence into population through the questions .  The following was one of the questionnaire

(a) there will be election in 2015 . Are you going to vote freely or will be directed by somebody? ………………………………

If yes? Who is this person? ……………………….

(b)  What if the government cancels election in 2015, what does this mean? ………………………………………………

(c)   If the government cancels election, what will you do as the people? ………………………………………………………………

Let take question B , what if the government cancels election in 2015 , what does this means ?

The answer is Dictatorship

Question  C , if the government cancels elections in  2015 , what will you do as the people /

The answer is how the dictators are remove from power around the world , they are removed in the coups , wars , rebellions or any kinds of crises .

UNDP pumps   bulkiest money into civil society organizations, interest groups to stir up chaos and disorders and wars like what is happening in South Sudan. through questions . This is how the UNDP take away the little the country has and this is how those who refuse UNDP to be their king are killed.

A New Year Letter to Dr. Riek Machar Teny

Dr. Riek Machar and a Year of Hope for South Sudanese People

By Deng Kur Deng

Alfred Lado Gore, with Riek Machar, in Pagak, Upper Nile state, 12 DEC 2014

Dear Dr. Riek Machar,

January 10, 2015 (SSB) — As we take our first steps into the new year, let us hope for a better future for the South Sudanese people. But let us also do more than hope. We must work to preserve our progress and change our country for the better, or risk slipping back into the darkness of war.

Before the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), millions of South Sudanese were suffering, and many lost their lives in the process, but our people never gave up the hope of achieving our desire for an independent country. After many South Sudanese made considerable sacrifices during the struggle, our nationality cannot be put to question. As we speak, it remains strong and well-defined; we are a nation secured through our blood. We paid for our country with the blood of our people. It was a just cause, but we must never forget the cost of what we gained.

Our primary cause — to build a new country — was noteworthy because it reflected the nature of our togetherness as South Sudanese people. Not only was our objective of an independent South Sudan achieved, but it was also maintained through the efforts and participation of many people participation who handled some of the outstanding issues with the real enemy, Sudan.

I will not be reflecting on your credentials, Dr. Riek, but I will pinpoint things that deserve to be mentioned about you in terms of your people’s perception. First and foremost, it is clear that you did your part after the signing of the CPA. At that time, many people did not hold grudges against you for taking arms against the people’s movement, as there was nothing more paramount than peace. Because of our acceptance and forgiveness, you became the Vice President of the country. As Vice President, you took peace seriously, which allowed many of us who had been hurt by your actions to forgive you. Within your duties, you were thinking toward the future by stitching together open wounds, and people were healing slowly. You gained the momentum from a lot of people because we all thought it was a reasonable appointment behind now President general Salva Kiir Mayardit. Your aim of upholding peace was commendable, and it is why we can continue to hope for peace and solidarity throughout South Sudan, as they are two important pillars of our coexistence.

Personally, I thought you represented our people very well throughout and also in the promotion of peace among many South Sudanese. Generally I am not easily impressed, but I was fascinated and moved by the number of things you have done for our people. Your direct involvement in many of the problems we were facing as people were an indication of a better direction for the country. I forgave you for your previous discretions against certain South Sudanese groups, and so do many people. You helped me to start kindling hope for a better South Sudan and like a lot of the South Sudanese people.

Over a year ago, tragically, all that you have fostered was smeared with the blood of our people once again. We are back at full-scale war — wearing badges, burying our loved ones, leaving others unburied, and immigrating to other countries for safety. A lot of the South Sudanese people have a hard time understanding and accepting these bitter realities. One of the most sickening habits from the Civil War has returned, as our people retreat from their homes to live in the refugee camps in other countries. During the last war, it became our habit to depend on foreign help year after year. There is no point to having a place you call your country if you rarely live there because of the violence that threatens your life and the lives of your family members and friends. Asking for a peace does not mean we are demanding a conviction of who is wrong and who is right. We are asking for peace, regardless of politics and prejudice, so that hopefully everything else that caused the resurgence of war could be fully investigated at President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s insistence, because human lives were lost. He is doing that now, true, but his efforts have been hindered by a lack of seriousness in securing and maintaining peace, mainly due to the fact that there is a powerful parallel energy among the generals in South Sudan who have shifted their focus toward retaliation among our people. Their unrestrained authority and influence, in addition to the consistent violations of the Cessation of Hostilities (CoH), amounts to the suffering of our people. We people feel that policing these generals is the only option left to protect ourselves and our loved ones. It has become evident that you may have exchanged bitter words with President Salva Kiir Mayardit and that the two of you don’t see eye-to-eye on certain issues, but this problem is not about two of you. It is about our people, and that is why this ruthless war must be brought to an end. God knows we the people are not interested in this war; we have been dragged into it.

There was a hostility package signed at one point, but the generals in your stronghold areas seemed to barely notice. If these generals you supported on the ground are very inconsistent and ineffective leaders (as indicated during the Pagak Conference), then peace is less likely to be achieved. Our people cannot be championed through terror. Instead you and your fellow leaders in the government and the military must allow us time and resources to recover from the violence of the previous civil wars we fought with Khartoum. Our people are dying in vain, day after day, and for what? We have already achieved independence and, allegedly, peace. But those two claims of success are only as legitimate as the health, safety, and prosperity of our people. And right now, claims of peace are being dragged through the mud. This is the reason why you must devote yourself to peace once more. It is your duty as our leader to rescue people from abandoning their homes. It is in your power to prevent them from starving and save their lives. Give them peace so they can go back to cultivating their livelihoods that they had to abandon during violence.

The relationship you built to help repair wounds is no longer holding. The most pressing, significant facet of leadership is to set an example by promoting a good relationship with your followers, but I am afraid to say you are not doing very well maintaining your once commendable relationship with your people, and it is not by any means solely your fault. Dr. Riek, you alone cannot uphold a relationship with the South Sudanese when your generals are not well organized and, in some cases, corrupt. In the minds of the people, this problem is another serious concern and makes us doubt that a declaration of peace — even a signed peace agreement — is not very certain. We are aware that there is no way to leap over difficulties and immediately establish peace; we cannot accelerate through those troubles, because peace is a process that needs time and space to iron out uncomfortable elements. However, the South Sudanese government must accept that there will not be 100% satisfaction among all people for every position and decision proposed by your movement and the government. Therefore, you must focus your energies on the most pressing concerns.

In the middle of this chaos in the country, I have noticed a number of my friends joining the rebel movement that you are leading. All of them are from two tribes — the Dinka and Nuer. We have talked about their choice, upset each other, and even insulted each other, but we always come to conclusion that we are still supporting a war that is killing our people, whether we are in the rebel movement or not. We all agree through these discussions that we do not have the power to sign a lasting peace for our people — and neither, it would seem, do you. In these little social gathering, we remember living, suffering through the last war. The memories are excruciating, and we know this war already is and will be no different, which is why it must be brought to an end. If this new peace agreement was up to us, we the people would have signed it long ago, because we are in pain economically, physically, emotionally, and socially. Unfortunately, the war may never end if you do not collaborate with the people who are getting hurt in the process. Our individual frustration is what leads someone like myself to take the idea of peace so personally. I no longer live in South Sudan, but as I watch from a distance at the horrors still being perpetrated against my people, against our people, it tortures me. As a child of the first Civil War, I was affected but am also affected now, as I am sure you are also affected, and that is why securing peace means mutual benefits for South Sudanese in general. We envision peace, but achieving it is entirely the focus we would like you to take seriously.

The vulnerable people of South Sudan continue to wait for peace between the warring parties — one of which you lead and the other one led by President general Salva Kiir Mayardit — but the peace negotiations continue to drag on. All the while, killings continue to shatter many lives, and still we the people remain patient, hoping some solution will eventually emerged. We kept hearing from the government and from the opposition about how close we are to achieving peace, but hearing about how close we are is the same as not hearing about it at all. We are well aware that we can find the path to peace once more, as soon as you and President stop talking about yourselves and your own personal agendas and reflect on the people who are suffering. We the people must be the reason for peace, so a commitment to us will help accomplish that goal, and it must be prioritized.

I remembered being repeatedly brainwashed as a little boy during my days in the SPLM/SPLA; we were told that Arabs in the north were our enemies. In the years since, indeed I have come to accept that we, too, are enemies to ourselves. If you ask many boys who I grew up with together, they will place a great deal of importance on our unity as people. Today, that still holds true. We are concerned that we have not seen respect toward the Cessation of Hostilities (CoH), and that oversight occurs mostly frequently on your side of the leadership as each general spearheads their own desires. Recently, while you hosted a historical conference in Pagak, women were tortured which led to the death of one of them. This prompts me to ask you, Dr. Riek, what are the South Sudanese fighting for at such a disgusting level of indignity? What are we fighting for that is worth the life of a woman? What are we fighting for that makes us feel like a child should not be spared, let alone protected? Women and children are the foundation of the freedom we took up arms to defend against the real enemy decades ago, but now we are seeing the same atrocities committed against them by our own government. We the people have been heavily burdened and almost defeated by the war imposed on us, and we are asking you to put an end to it once and for all.

In the statement that was released recently, you addressed the South Sudanese people about the “reconciliation and healing; and the creation of conditions for sustainable peace, restoration of social capital and stimulation of socio-economic development in South Sudan.” This sounds all well and good, but we must reach peace before working toward the aforementioned sequences. I hope the generals were listening attentively. Let us be honest, you have demonstrated good will by accepting to be a part to the peace negotiation, but what remains absent in your leadership is a lack of coordination with many of the generals on the ground. You are carrying the pen to sign the peace, but they are carrying guns to kill our people. This makes me wonder, when are you going to intervene in the areas occupied by your forces? Until then, we cannot achieve peace.

Based on Mabior Garang’s statement, you tried to intervene early on while the White Army was carrying out attacks, but it was impossible to control them, which is slightly understandable. Now, however, the movement has expanded to include many tribes, and well-decorated generals are deployed to impose restrictions and place value on one human’s life over another, so it does not seem like the White Army is making decisions anymore. In your position, our people are the most important motivation for why you are fighting, but Dr. Riek, we the people have had enough, so it is time to follow through on your claims. If the people of South Sudan are your top priority, then please listen to us: We are asking you to make this year a peaceful one for the South Sudanese people. Right now, both Taban Deng and Nhial Deng are currently engaged in the peace negotiations, but the outcome has been discouraging for the people. Yet we the people still have hope that you can help guide the outcome of those negotiations, with the knowledge that this war is destroying our future, namely our children. Remember that the South Sudanese people have accomplished a lot through our collective struggle against our real enemy, the government in Khartoum. So in that regard, these tribal disagreements have been demoralizing our once influential unity. For instance, using primarily Nuer to fight the government has huge consequences on families who are losing people to unjust war. In addition to that, it is condescending to our collective effort that we have come to lower the standards in our country by using tribal connections as a way of boosting barriers among those tribes. Beside what has happened in Juba, many Nuer children under the White Army umbrella have perished, and it is heartbreaking to see the future of the country disappear.

Dr. Riek, we the people are asking you to bring us courage, confidence, and the hope to begin again as people of a united South Sudan. Nothing has been left untouched, but the unspoken presumption of continued war is what continues to dismantle our beloved country. This peace process needs full-hearted participation from you, but also from the military leaders, especially some of the more dangerous and wayward generals. When you gained popularity in the country, I became your follower as I also searched for better solutions to many of the undervalued issues, such as education problems, health care, and economic issues, but you lost my support after you took up arms against me and my South Sudanese people. Our people put their hopes and faith in peace, and we are calling upon you in our time of need to accept our burdens and end the bloodshed in the country. Let this year be a peaceful year for our people. It is time to resurrect the importance of peace. And that peace must happen now, before it is too late.

This letter was written by Deng Kur Deng, you can reached him at:pananyangajak@gmail.com