Independence of South Sudan above anything else By Jacob K. Lupai , SOUTH SUDAN
JUNE 14/2011, SSN; It is now less than four weeks for South Sudan to be declared an independent nation, the newest on the globe. Coming that far has never been an easy task. The struggle for independence started some 190 years ago. South Sudanese have been in perpetual struggle against slavery, dehumanization and marginalization. Many ended up as slaves in foreign lands. Millions lost their lives in defense of their human dignity. The living continued persistently with the struggle until 2005 and the struggle continues until total independence is achieved. In the referendum just held in January 99.43 per cent of South Sudanese voted for independence. The overwhelming vote for independence has far reaching implication. This is in view that greed and tribalism were at their highest peak. Corruption was rampant. People’s indulgence was grabbing anything then as much as one could as though there was no tomorrow to worry about. Individual property development and enrichment preoccupied many minds while the public complained about the lack of basic services. Those scenarios could have divided people into the have and have-not as Arab style greed and hegemony were being replicated in the South. Why could one vote for independence only to suffer as when people were under the Arabs, one would have asked. The strong desire for independence as manifested in the referendum result of 99.43 per cent for separation illustrated clearly that independence of South Sudan was above anything else. It is therefore fair to say that whatever differences exist among people, the differences should not be allowed to overshadow the independence of South Sudan. There will always be differences. People are not robots or parrots to follow blindly. We are individuals with different experience. We are also tribes and regions hence there will be differences in one way or the other. What is important, though, is to remain focused. In any situation there may be varying views. There are varying views on the draft transitional constitution of South Sudan. The main issues of differences seem to center on the system of governance in independent South Sudan. In the government of South Sudan (GOSS) there are some who advocate a centralized system while others do not. The draft transitional constitution seems to have been influenced by the proponents of a centralized system. In his speech on the opening of the third session of the State Legislative Assembly, the Governor of Central Equatoria State said the GOSS Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Legal Affairs are centralized and do not want decentralized powers and resources. The Governor added that the GOSS Ministry of Interior continues to carry out deployment of organized forces without consulting the State. The President of GOSS also seems to favor centralization contrary to his previous affirmation of a decentralized system. The President differs with his Vice on decentralization. The type of centralization of powers and resources advocated in the draft transitional constitution for independent South Sudan will not go well with a large section of South Sudan. The GOSS will find it an uphill struggle to sustain such a constitution. South Sudan has just come out of a long struggle against centralization in the old Sudan. It is indeed disturbing that an independent South Sudan will be ruled through a centralized system that grooms a single tribe to monopolize all aspects in South Sudan. Surely such a system will be strenuously rejected. The alternative will be the disintegration of the Sudan People’s Liberation movement (SPLM) which will be perceived as backward looking similar to a fascist party of medieval times. Progressives are for a decentralized system for effective delivery of basic services to people at the grassroots. The differences on the draft transitional constitution are nothing compared to those with traitors who are out to sabotage the declaration of independence of South Sudan. People should worry much more about those who do not want to see an independent South Sudan in their life time. In his press briefing on 26 May the President of GOSS said Dr Lam Akol has an army and is planning to invade Malakal in Upper Nile while Abdel Bagi Ayi is being groomed by the President of Sudan, Omar Bashir, to take over Aweil in Bahr el Ghazal. The President of GOSS added that there are southerners who visit Khartoum to see the leaders of the National Congress Party (NCP) with the sole aim of postponing independence of South Sudan. It can be seen that the differences on the system of governance are much more less than those between unionists and separatists. It is important to note that southern unionists were merely 0.57 per cent in contrast to 99.43 per cent separatists in the referendum. However, the extremely tiny minority unionist elements may cause havoc as mercenaries do. It is therefore very important that those who are for or against centralization should focus on the timely declaration of independence for South Sudan. This means that those of us, the 99.43 per cent, who voted for separation should consider independence of South Sudan above anything else. The people of South Sudan have walked the longest route that took them 190 years to reach the doors of independence. Comparing the 190 years of struggle to the only remaining 4 weeks to independence is enough to convince anybody that independence of South Sudan is above anything else. We are just a fraction of seconds away from the Promised Land for the first time in the 190 years of struggle for freedom. We are also most privileged that the lowering of Arab flag of colonialism will be done by none other than Salva Kiir Mayardit, one of the pillars of modern freedom movement in South Sudan. Salva Kiir Mayardit is the only surviving Permanent Member of the SPLM/A Politico-Military High Command that spearheaded the final phase of the struggle for independence and freedom. Whatever differences people may have, the differences should be shelved until after the 9th July. Revisiting the differences should not be to perpetuate a rift but to seek solutions to perennial problems for sustainable unity of South Sudan. It is obvious that after independence South Sudan will never be the same again. Those insensitive arrogant tribalists must acculturalise themselves with an environment of fairness for all. The interim period should be seen as a grace period of greed and indiscipline that should better be consigned to the dustbin of history. The post independence era should be characterized by a robust system of fairness for all. Those who want to live in the past interim period will have themselves to blame. Enough of greed and tribalism have occurred. Independence is the time to take stock for adjustment in search for a better way forward. Pastoralist and sedentary cultures should be harmonized for a peaceful co-existence in promoting a strong united South Sudan. Glorification of theft, land grabbing and squandering of resources should be a thing of the past in independent South Sudan. South Sudan belongs to all with equal rights as defined in the constitution. The problem we may have is that the illiteracy rate is very high that people may simply lack the understanding of how a nation is built. In their narrow and little minds some may erroneously believe they own South Sudan to the exclusion of others. Here tribalism and nepotism become rampant with less shame. Through corruption resources are concentrated in fewer hands with a high level of property development of individuals. This is of course to the disadvantage of public service for a high standard of living for all. The booming construction industry seems to be of individuals with unlimited access to resources. Why and how this is so is an open question. Public works and utilities such as roads and bridges, housing, water and electricity are suffering from lack of resources. However, with independence things may hopefully be different. In conclusion, decentralization of powers and resources may go a long way to address the slow pace of development in South Sudan. For now independence of South Sudan is above anything else. The author can be reached at [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.
