Padang Community Diaspora Press Release: A Rebuttal to Fangak Community & Nuer Supreme Council Press Release.
FEB. 15/2011, SSN; Padang Community in Diaspora is aggrieved and saddened by the accidental deaths of the Fangak civilians in the recent armed conflict in Jonglei. Padang Community is stricken by the death of a single civilian regardless of tribe or racial background. With that said, we mourn with you as a community in this sorrowful situation that has befallen your wider community at large. Nobody in this world rejoice over the death of any innocent civilian. However, as Padang Community in Diaspora, we are appalled and astonished by the malicious and threatening languages being cited in both Fangak and Nuer Supreme Council press releases as potential, violent menace poised against the wider civil population of Padang in Jonglei. We urge both Fangak Community and the Nuer Supreme Council that Padang Jieng and Nuer are not at war with each other due to the armed conflict initiated by the warring armed forces. The innocent deaths of the civilians cannot be attributed to a single warring party either in any armed conflict due to the unanimity of accidental crossfire that can occur inaccurately and lack of target knowledge. Incident of civilians getting killed in the crossfire is a common trend in any worldwide conventional armed conflict. And here we cite that many civilians are murdered in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and else where between the world most technological and mechanized armed forces and the Taliban or Al Quae-da forces when they missed their respective targets. In addition to that, Tanginyang Gatwech Chan forces had caused several military havocs in Malakal three times and many civilians from Nuer, Shilluk , and Padang Dinka have lost hundreds of their innocent civilians as the results of both Tanginyang Gatwech Chan forces and the SPLA and SAF forces respectively. The SPLA forces committed the same atrocities in Shilluk, Baliet, Khorflus, Panrieng, Bentiu, Atar, Warrap, and Lakes state last year and nobody even dared to question the SPLM despite so many petitions forwarded to the presidency. Raping of Padang women in Atar and Baliet happened under the watch of Lt. Gen Bol Kong, who was marauding in the areas and no single GOSS and SPLA offered any sympathy to all the civil societies affected by the SPLA soldiers lawlessness and cruelty because they would say these soldiers were acting on their own discretion or are undisciplined. Many Lou Nuer and Murle civilians lost lives too as the results of similar mistake of the armed forces conflict. The reason why we cited the about exemplary illustrations is to persuade the Fangak community that their beloved civilians did not die as a result of being the prime targets but was caused due to crossfire just like any other civilians in similar circumstances between the armed forces of the SPLA and Athor forces in the areas simultaneously. So the notion that Fangak Community and Nuer Supreme Council incriminated this heinous atrocity specifically to be the criminal responsibility of Lt. General Athor's loyal forces is unfair and unjust and total injustice. Reasons are:-- Athor forces did not launch an attack, but the SPLA forces assaulted his position and then he fought back in defense to retain his position. According to his spokesman, Dok James Puok in his interview, Athor did not launch an offensive attack on Fangak rather he was in defense mode until his forces overran the SPLA forces in Fangak and Pom and retreated right after they captured both areas. Most of his forces that launched this offensive attack against the SPLA in Fangak were mostly Nuer, particularly Laak Nuer, and there is no obvious motive as to why they would be stupid and naive to massacre their own fellow Nuer civilians intentionally at gunpoint. Bear in mind also that most of these civilians didn't die as the result of gun shots but they drowned in the river while fleeing/ducking the crossfire bullets. Athor forces spokesman has denied this as baseless and biased propaganda meant to tarnish his image as a criminal and to incite the Nuer of Fangak/Laak to initiate a tribal war between Nuer and Padang Dinka so that Nuer forces loyal to Lt. General Athor and his wider political supporters can dissociate with him. Indeed, it was a tactical military strategy designed by the SPLA and GOSS elites to instigate a tribal war between Padang and Nuer and to strip Athor forces of his manpower. The Fangak press release has incited that there is a conspiracy within the SPLA/M behind this evil plot that led to Fangak as Athor designated assembly point during the signing of permanent ceasefire agreement. Again, both Fangak Nuer or Nuer in general and Padang Dinka, have been and continue to be traditional neighbors for centuries who share common cultures and practices and will continue to live alongside each other in peace and stable harmony. Padang recommends that both communities (Padang and Nuer) work collectively as a team to promote peace, stability, justice and equality and reconciliatory co-existence trifled and marred by the cause of the armed conflicts and political differences. We are in the 21st century, we all must restrain from inciting and initiating tribal hegemony and ethnicity versus one another. We should adopt the system of civilized and educated world to tame and police our societies to live in peace, love and unity. Ultimately, we must refrain from culminating and capitalizing on the tribal revenge or retaliatory counter attacks on civil population as was intercepted in your respective press releases. Padang Community Resolutions and Recommendations: As Padang Community, we resolve the following recommendations to be implemented by the GOSS, SPLA and Governor of Jonglei. 1. Complete and absolute withdrawal of the SPLA Forces in the areas affected to avoid more civilian casualties as is in the case of Fangak, Atar, Khorflus and Baliet and Malakal. 2. We resolve that GOSS and Jonglei government and Upper Nile to adopt a joint initiative of peaceful settlement to this armed conflict that put our civil population in harm's way due to hostile confrontation. 3. We call on all Southern political parties across South Sudan to find a political solution to this crisis in order to avert the death of civilians and quell military insurgency through amicable approach. 4. We resolve that SPLM and GOSS cease military hostility against Athor forces and Padang Community will delegate a commission to consult him to accept peace, reconciliation and dissuade him to stop further military aggression against the SPLA. We have the power as his community to convince him and bring him to Juba only if we are given unconditional opportunity free of military coercion and political deception. 5. Padang masses across the world demand peaceful solution to Athor conflict and GOSS/SPLM ought to listen to our voices because we have power to persuade our son and we are the only way to peaceful resettlement. Conclusively, we anticipate the collaborative implementations of the aforementioned resolutions and recommendations and we remain hopeful to see the positive outcome of your action as the government. Best regards, Padang Community in Diaspora. 1. Wilson Thonakur Lual- Padang President. 2. Bany de Ngor – Vice President of Padang. 3. John Kuol Miakuac.- Advisor for Presidency. 4. Abiel Mialual- Secretary General. 5. Stephen Mijok Dongwei- Assistant General Secretary. 6. Thirik Lang Mijak- Information Coordinator. 7. Thon Akol Palek- General Advisor for Secretariat. 8. Zachariah Ayong- Finance Secretary. 9. Wuor Miaker Monytung- Treasurer/Finance Secretary. 10. John Abui Chol- Assistant Treasurer/Finance. 11. Angelo Manom Kurkuot- Treasurer/Finance Advisor. 12. Ajak Miabok- Women Representative.- 13. Andrew Bith Abui.- Padang Finance/Treasurer Auditor General. 14. Miyom Wuor Mijok- Padang Representative in State of Nebraska Grand Island. 15. Monyluak Deng Kur- Padang State Representative of Nebraska. 16. Akot Tor Deng-Ageer- Former Padang State Representative of Nebraska. 17. Geng Miaker Monytung- Padang Community elder. 18. Andrea Kiir Miyom- Padang elder. 19. Bol Sambul Chan. Member. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
