Unfolding Bond Between Two of Triplet Brothers "Did we forget the legacy passed to us by our forefathers? If not, what then caused the conflict?" 16 March 2011
By John Adoor Deng (Gurtong Edited)- As the media, both local and international, a few weeks back were bombarded with horrible stories of clan’s conflict in Twic East county, Wanglei Payam, the conflict which unfortunately has claimed lives of prominent members of this Payam is regrettable on both sides of the clans. But the purpose of this article is to demystify public perception against these two communities; states historical harmonious relations of these communities, and expose political position of Wanglei Payam in Twic East County and allude to and unpack how that might have precipitated the conflict among these two of the triplet brothers. Of course it is important to clear myself before one could judge my position in this unnecessary conflict. I am a son between these two clans that were visibly and physically seen fighting on March 3, 2011 in which 22 people lost their lives and over 40 people wounded. My Father is from Dachuek (Wut Thioi- Paan de Luol- paan de Nuul). I am married to a beautiful girl from Ayual (Wut Paan Wiir- Wut Pajeek-wut Acath). My grandmother came from Ayual (Wut Paan de Yak- Paan de Alaak). My name and my younger daughter name are from Ayual. Relationally, socially and scientifically, I am between these two lovely communities. This, of course, gave me an ambivalent position as to where to lean to if I were to be uncivilized and reactive towards the situation. Harmonious Historical Background Historically, Wanglei was made the civil centre in the 1970s when the then district of Kongor was decentralised. Two clans, Ayual and Dachuek, were pulled back from Pawel (administrative centre of Twic East) to Wanglei and Awulian was pulled back from Paliau to Wanglei. This political reorganisation was done under Mr. Ajang Duot who was by then a paramount Chief of the whole Twic District. Thus, Wanglei became a composition of three Communities who adopted their local name Nyuak reflecting the colour of a he-goat that was slaughtered to cement their full coexistence and cooperation. Since then there has been no conflict among these triplet brothers. In fact, Wanglei has been the harmonious Payam in the greater Bor, let alone Twic East. Our leaders negotiated their leadership structure that put Uncle Manyok Duot from Ayual as head, Uncle Deng Biar from Awulian as second and Uncle Dhieu Thon from Dachuek as third power. These leaders have moulded us and the good example of the people they have moulded are: Dr John Garang de Mabior who is from Awulian; Dr. Lual Achuek (Current Federal Minister of Oil) from Dachuek; Uncle Malok Aleng (current governor of South Sudan Central Bank) from Awulian; Dr Majok Daau (Bishop of Pentacost Assemblies Sudan & East Africa) from Ayual; Dr. Biar Deng Biar, from Awulian; Lt General Biar Atem (current Dupty Chief of General Staff in charge of Logistic SPLA), from Awulian; Late Commander Daau Manyok Deng Bul from Dachuek; Mr Jurkuc Barach, (current head of Demining Authority GOSS) from Ayual. These are leaders in the Government and the Army. Wanglei under the above mentioned Chiefs has also produced leading church leaders in South Sudan. They are the Most Right Rev Dr Daniel Deng Bul, Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, from Awulian; Right Rev, Dr Hilary Garang Deng Awier, Bishop of Malakal diocese ECS, from Ayual; Right Rev Peter Bol Arok Yaak, Bishop of Anglican diocese of Twic, from Dachuek; Right Rev Joseph Garang, Bishop of Renk diocese, ECS, from Awulian; and the list can go on and on. Having inherited this rich legacy from forefathers, one would wonder as to what triggered this conflict. Did we forget the legacy passed to us by our forefathers? If not, what then caused the conflict? Political Position of Wanglei in Twic East The case relating to land dispute as it is claimed to have triggered this conflict in Wanglei has not been a point of contention since early settlement. We (Nuak people), have been known as a hospitable society that share resources together and we have been on this piece of land for many years. Why competing over it now? I cannot comprehend why lives of innocent brothers were lost! Of course I would suspect political players who I should called short “sighted leaders.” Looking at contemporary political situation of Twic East, the political position of this Payam in Twic is obvious. In terms of the notion of majority, Wanglei scored the highest in the whole County. We double some payams in Twic East and we are equal to the Payam of Baidit in Bor south in population. Unconfirmed rumours’ have been in circulation since last year that Wanglei has to be divided as an attempt to break the bond between these three clans and crack down their majority. These political individuals of bad will wanted to break the block that Wanglei continues to provide such that elections are easily won in their interest. Our people, particularly the intellectuals, stood in one accord condemning the rumour through speeches and writing. The same rotten community dividers did not stop from there, they went as far as inciting hatred at the level of grassroots population. It is these incitements that have precipitated the recent conflict in Wanglei. All the steps taken before and after the conflict were all wrong and malicious. Our people were collided to kill themselves for a baseless objective and an imported conflict. The Commissioner was overwhelmed and had to follow the mob which ended up in deterioration. It was a big lost to the people of Wanglei, and to the whole of South Sudan. We just ended the war with the enemy (Arabs) and could not be possible to turn the weapons we used to fight the Arab onto ourselves. Killing a brother is not, philosophically speaking, a pride. It is rather a shame and regrettable act. Finally, I appeal to my elders Uncle Malok Aleeng, Dr Lual Achuek, Madam Nyandeng De Mabior, Dr Majok Daau, Dr Biar Deng Biar, The Most Rev Dr Daniel Deng Bul, Rt Rev Dr Hilary Garang Deng Awier, Rt Rev Peter Bol Arok, Rt Rev Joseph Garang, Mr. Jurkuc Barach, Mr. Daau Akoi, Mr Dut Achuek, and all opinion leaders of Wanglei Payam to rally their brain behind a peaceful means to stop this unexpected hostility. I equally appeal to Twic politicians Hon. Atem Garang Kuek, Hon Deng Daau, Hon Deng Aguer Kuerjok, Hon Diing Akol and Twic Community leaders such as Dr. Dau Aleer Abit, Dr Chol, and Diing Akol among others to calm the situation in Wanglei. My last message to Wanglei intellectuals around the world is this: let us embrace peace of our people. We are historically brothers and sisters. We cannot afford to divorce our loving relationship that was built for years. Forgiveness is always the key at such circumstances. May God bless us with peace that transcends all human understanding. May He restore our first love as brothers and sisters in Wanglei. John Adoor Deng is a graduate student pursuing a Master’s of Public Relations at the University of Southern Queensland, and he is a member of Wanglei Association in Australia. Posted in: Opinions -- 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.
