Is it the beginning of South Sudan's Unmaking? By: Ladu Lomeling, JUBA
APR. 15/2011, SSN; With the kick-off of the “All Equatoria Conference” on Thursday, 14th, April, 2011 in Juba which is deliberating on issues of common concern amongst the Equatorians, there are some people who strive at misunderstanding the actual intensions behind the initiative. But, since I had the opportunity of having read out the resolutions of the 2002 First SPLM Equatoria Regional Congress held in Yei, I can proudly say it is the continuity (which is long overdue). To me there is no sinister motive behind the move, nor is it aimed at alienating any Southerner or even plotting any evil. It’s a platform for envisaging the effective participation of Equatorians in the new political dispensation after the overwhelming separation vote. The unity of the people of Equatoria is also/and truly the unity of the entire South as a nascent nation in the world. We need to now strategize and embrace development-oriented projects that will propel us to full-fledged prosperous country of peaceful co-existence. Indeed, things are not all that rosy if we evaluate our performance for the last five years. I'd like to share my thoughts on some of the silly things that bedevil us as a people. One of them is in regards to CES (Central Equatoria State) losing revenue owing to interference from the GOSS. It's true that we must address the issue with sense of political maturity (national outlook). But, unfortunately (having followed realities on the ground), it seems there's no goodwill from those who perpetuate such actions. They deliberately think that, whatever the case they'll always walk away unpunished, because they're "blue-eyed". The people of CES, and most especially Jubans demonstrated their support for the ruling SPLM party, right from its inception in 1983 to-date. Yet, despite having thrown in their lot in a genuine gesture of inclination to the SPLM/A, they're finding themselves victims of subjugation, political intrigue and open brutality in the hands of some unscrupulous elements terming themselves "liberators." I'm aware that, for South Sudanese to forge a cohesive nation, this will also always demand that we must have respect for our "diversity." The question of land-grabbing which has been ignored by the authorities has now compelled the Bari Community to request the relocation of the capital from Juba. This hasn't come out of the blue, but is indicative of the events in the early 1980s that eventually culminated into the Kokora scenario. We're afraid it might revisit us if we do not embark on sincere dialogue amongst ourselves...especially due to the current social contradictions. Impunity in CES, and especially in Juba has become the order of the day, where the law of the land only seems to be favoring specific "ethnicities". The most civilized way for one to acquire land is through legitimate procedures, but currently there're more that 3000 plots of land that have been forcefully grabbed by "others" particularly in "Tongpiny". A typical example, is a situation where Uncle Eliaba James Surur (a veteran Southern politician) was recently manhandled by a certain "Major" without any intervention from the powers that be or investigations conducted. Victims of this monster call land-grabbing continue to silently suffer without any redress at all. If we cannot accord respect to our leaders and elders, what kind of a nation are we striving to build? Equatorians are very peaceful people, that's why they're being taken for a ride by others who regard themselves as "wielders of power in the South", and it's really not because the former in any case are passive, or cowards! The situation calls for sincerity in being able to outrightly castigate those whose actions are truly manifestation of nothing, but sheer hatred (unfounded) towards other communities. The debate should now be centered around evaluating out socio-political performance, and the nature of equitable sharing of the national cake in the aftermath of the signing of the CPA in 2005 to-date. This will definitely allow us to forge a way forward as a new nation by avoiding falling into the same hegemonies of the past years. One fact we must now construed is that, much as we strive at "teaming" the unrefined lot of bullies, the only way out is to have the guts to say "we are fed up"...let them go! We all deserve to live dignified lives and free of being treated like second-class citizens (especially after having waged perennial armed struggles against the same vice). Let us be realistic, and not idealistic in seeking for the causes of our differences (conflicts) as South Sudanese...otherwise we might be forced to witness "the beginning of the unmaking of the new nation." The writer is a journalist. Can be reached on e-mail: [email protected]. The views expressed above do not reflect of UNMIS, but are truly his personal. -- 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.
