In Defence of the Flag: “The Banner on the mountains” By: Rengo Gyyw Rengo, Jr., Southern Sudan
MAR. 01/2011, SSN; By necessity, I would like to begin my arguments on one of the current issues, the Flag of the Republic of South/Southern Sudan, which I am confidently told there are members of some fringe opposition parties who oppose the current GOSS National Flag just because it was designed by one mind, Dr. John Garang and perhaps this incriminates the Movement, SPLM as a whole. If this is true, then we need to lecture some sense in the heads of opposition members who seek vanity. To begin with, if the problem is to do away with Garang’s ideas, then they said group should have begun with the entire rejection of the CPA, and all its components including self-determination. Garang is whole and one, thus his vision must be consumed in its entirety or rejected. For the time being, I would like to call the Flag of Southern Sudan as a “Banner on the Mountains” as it official nickname just like the British Union Jack and the American Grand Union or Cambridge Flag. This is not without reasons or basis. The Year 1986 in some section of Dinka Calendar is known as “Run Alaam” [meaning the Flag’s year] which was followed by “run de thukul” [Red Armies’ year for school, 1987]. This flag referred to here is none other the present Flag of Southern Sudan which was then the Movement’s Flag. The Flag was designed by the Movement, under the guidance of the late Hero Dr. John Garang and raised in the liberated town of Boma, a mountainous and strategic Southern city for the first time in 1986. Boma was captured in 1985 from Khartoum, earning its honour as the first big town captured by the SPLA forces under Commander Nyachigak Ngachilluk, who later died in Riwoto while advancing on Kapoeta. Since that day up to today, even during the difficult days of the Movement in which Khartoum had succeeded in reclaiming back erstwhile freed towns, Boma remained free, and never recaptured again by Khartoum. In March/April 1992, Khartoum forces launched one of its greatest assaults on Boma and tried to capture it. Its zeal and goal was severed by the SPLA under Commander Paul Malong Awan and forces. During its free life, Boma was the only Southern Sudan town that kept the current Flag flying hitherto since its erection in 1986! Thus, the Banner on the Mountains kept flying there. Due to this legacy and status, in 1991 in Torit, the Movement SPLM/SPLA honoured Boma city, by naming the lowest local government unit of Administration, “Boma”, after its Boma city. This being the point of strength, and power. The analogy is that, Boma, was the first to be captured from Khartoum; Boma was the first to raise the South Sudan’s Flag in 1986; Boma never welcome oppression again at its door, in that since 1985, it was never captured again by Khartoum until the war ended in 2005 after the CPA’s signing, and during all those times, the Flag had been flying in Boma, what a great honour for this city! Thus, the lowest administrative unit, which is Boma in our Local Government structure, is where power lies, where voters who at will always vote in or vote out leaders, where ideas emanate for country’s emancipation, where recruits were obtained for war, where food supplies were secured, and where our soldiers would hide at their worst hours during combats and where all resources are located. It is the Boma! There is nothing a world should know than the history of this city and its legacies, strength and being a strong and formidable citadel for our cause. Boma is a town surrounded by Mountains call Boma Ranges that cover the Eastern sky like ominous clouds. In its western part, a frontal to Pibor route lays one Needle Mountains, which is actually called Jebel Boma. On this Mountain, was the SPLA artillery unit that annihilated the enemy invasions’ forces in 1992. This mountain posed a great risk to whoever was/is an outsider to Boma and trying to enter by force. Ngundeng, the Nuer Prophet, was alleged to have talked about Boma, “a small town in a hilly area, where my flag shall be erected, and there shall it stands. That a time will come when the enemy will retake all the towns and cities liberated, however, a flag will remain flying in that hilly town and that will be the only town that the enemy will never capture!” I have paraphrased the language but those familiar with Ngundeng’s prophecies are aware of this tale. Ngundeng had prophesied many things some of which have come to pass, including his people who would be depleted until they weigh or scale in the heart of the palm. Probably he meant one palm that we used to vote for secession and independence. On another occasion, Prophet Isaiah in the Bible, who is said to have pronounced his prophecies along the Nile in the years AD, has also noted in Isaiah Chapter 18 that He, God will raise his battle Flag on the Mountains during both punishment and redemption. Isaiah declared that that will the time, the Sudanese will bring gifts to Him and submit to Him absolutely, these proud, tall and smooth skin people who are dreaded far and near for their conquests and destructions. These two evident, legacies and realities have given our Flag the nickname, “the Banner on the Mountains”! it is not my making but an honour to cherish as our heritage. One can just always say, bring my “Banner on the Mountains”, or let’s erect or raise the “Banner on the Mountains” name it. July 9th 2011, shall be the designated day and date by destiny to raise the Banner on the Mountains! Oh My Motherland! The “Mountains” here means Independence, a place for Freedom, Honour, Dignity and Liberty. Thus, in all, it means “the Independence’s Flag” That brings me to my next knowledge about the Flag we have today. Our Flag, one of the most beautiful Flags in the world, has six colours, Black, white strip, Red in the centre, another white strip, and green down. The triangle has got Blue, yellow and the star. Everyone must be familiar the meanings of these colours and positions they occupy. However, my main concern is on the Blue colour and a star. The first star in the flag in 1986 was Red. I need not go into the rationale behind that but there were sufficient reasons. Later, the star was changed to yellow, and the yellow colour simply refers to our mineral resources such as gold, oil, uranium, etc. However, the existence of the star was not taken for granted by some superpowers or paternalistic allies. It was alleged that John Garang, while on a visit to the United States, was asked to explain what his star in the Revolutionary’s Flag stands for. Dr. John Garang responded and asked, “Why are you bothered about my one star yet you, the Americans have many, more than fifty stars in your flag”. It was left like that. I cannot claim to know why the Americans were interested in knowing the meaning of the star in our flag. Some people seemed to believe or suggest that, they were inquisitive because of communism but stars were not symbols exclusive to communists’ states alone. Garang’s answered must have defeated the reasons behind. Now, Garang was known of always disputing that Sudan is not an appendage of an Arab world or a dwarf child of Africa, with a begging bowl in his hand. This is quite interesting indeed. For Garang, designing a star in a blue sky means Total Independence from all quarters, from within and from without. He knew the ultimate objective was independence in spite of cosmetic packaging. That means, he also knew politics had to be played to maximize political profits and gains. It is interesting, that until today, our leaders describe the blue colour to represent the Nile waters, as a beautiful natural resources. There is nothing wrong with that. It can as well do as a substitute. Then, the star is said to represent a vision which the SPLM/A fought for. What is that vision? Pardon me; I am not expressing any ignorance par excellence. The vision embodies a free, democratic, dignified, prosperous and independence motherland. Garang was a head of our times. In simple word, that vision, independence in political sense, is achieved and that was what the star in a blue sky stood and stands for today, Independence! However, economic independence is underway, a long battle ahead but for economic independence to be achieved, it must be preceded by political independence. Was Garang not a Wiseman and a redeemer? Again, erecting a flag cannot be construed to mean Independence without services. What colours or filthy piece is the opposition envisaging presenting to substitute this noble Flag? Does any colour represent any single tribe or Garang himself? Have they forgotten the incompetence of the public opinion? In Plato’s view, Garang is the philosopher-King he talked about in his Republic. I may advise the government to let the parliament legitimatize our flag. Forward Forever with the New Sudan’s flag, the Banner on the Mountains! Meet me next time. Rengo Gyyw Rengo, Jr. Can be reached [email protected] -- 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.
