---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: John Ashworth <[email protected]> Date: Sun, May 1, 2011 at 10:58 AM Subject: [sudan-john-ashworth] Fw: South Sudan: 191 years of struggle for freedom To: Group <[email protected]>
Foreigners from cultures where immediacy, short-termism and instant gratification are the order of the day often fail to recognise how southerners perceive the long-term nature of the struggle in Sudan. Dates and incidents from the distant past are often on their lips. There might be parallels with Ireland, Kosovo and other groups who see their struggle in a long-term historical, even mythical, perspective. The NCP in the north also has a long-term vision and plan which confounds European and north American governments who work on 4- to 6-year terms of office. When they took power in a military coup d'etat in 1989 Dr Hassan al Turabi, in an unusually unguarded interview on BBC, let slip, "We have been preparing for this for 40 years". John BEGIN South Sudan officially recognises 191 years of struggle for freedom April 30, 2011 (JUBA) – In the Council of Ministers meeting on Friday chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, the cabinet passed a resolution marking the dates from 1820-2011 as the official period during which the region fought for freedom against slavery and colonization by old colonial masters as well as domination and exploitation by new masters of repressive regimes in Khartoum. The emerging independent state of South Sudan has resolved that 1820-2011 shall be the official period during which the people of South Sudan have struggled for freedom which has now culminated in the exercise of self-determination on independence this year, 2011. The people of South Sudan voted overwhelmingly for independence from the rest of Sudan in an internationally monitored referendum in January, bringing to an end the nearly two centuries of struggle. The vote was in accordance with the 2005 peace deal signed between the former rebels, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the then Sudan government led by the National Congress Party (NCP). The region will announce its formal independence in two months, 9 July 2011. 1820-1956, which was the pre-independence era in Sudan, witnessed stiff resistance in the struggle that repulsed invasions into the South Sudan territory by slave traders as well as colonial invaders such as the Turkish and the British. This was followed by 1955-2011 period which also witnessed a number of revolutionary struggles for freedom against the Arab-dominated successive governments in Khartoum. Officials say separate fierce battles by tribes resisting colonial invaders into their respective territories were fought by the forefathers of the soon-to-be born nation in July. Among many of the first outstanding martyrs who officials also mention at public occasions included Guek Ngundeng, who was killed by the British forces during a combined ground and air bombing raids targeting his headquarters of ‘Bieh’ in the present Jonglei state in Greater Upper Nile. Other similar battles were also fought against the invaders by tribes inhabiting states in the present Equatoria and Bahr el Ghazal regions. Colonial administrators also applied inconsistent policies about the future of South Sudan. At times the British introduced Closed District policy, almost separating north and south Sudan and annexing South Sudan to East Africa in 1930s before the decision was reversed. A North-South conference was also organized by the British rulers in 1947 in Juba during which federalism was demanded by South Sudan, but to no avail. The British colonial administrators, who earlier on decided to undo the policy of Closed District during 1940s, finally handed over the region to North Sudan in 1956, and left. The cabinet approved the State Medal for the new independent state and resolved that 1820-2011 shall be printed on the face of the State Medal, indicating the comprehensive period during which the people of South Sudan have struggled for their freedom. Gabriel Changson Chang, minister of Culture and Heritage, and chairperson of the committee tasked to design the State Medal and the Coat-of-Arms, presented the design to cabinet. The cabinet also passed a resolution choosing the ‘fishing eagle’ as the Coat-of-Arms for the new born nation. The image of the eagle, designed by professional artists, looks over its left shoulder with spreading wings and strong looking claws clinging on object and with the ‘Republic of South Sudan’ written at the base. Officials say the fish eagle has a long vision to see from a far, very accurate in hitting its target with strong claws to hold on object as well as wings to fly. The Coat-of-Arms shall be printed and appear in all the official documents of the Republic of South Sudan, including the passports, letterheads and any other official government’s document in South Sudan. (ST) END ______________________ John Ashworth Sudan Advisor Sudan Ecumenical Forum [email protected] +254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile) +249 919 695 362 (Sudan mobile) +27 82 853 3556 (South Africa mobile) +44 750 304 1790 (UK/international) +88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone) PO Box 52002 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya This is a personal e-mail address and the contents do not necessarily reflect the views of any organisation -- The content of this message does not necessarily reflect John Ashworth's views. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, John Ashworth is not the author of the content and the source is always cited. 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