Tribalism for tribalism is just tribalism ArticleComments (0). Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By James Adiok Mayik February 17, 2012 — It is genuine that the world knows problems of good governance in Unity State, South Sudan. It is also good to make it known nationwide that the challenges facing the evolution of quality governance in Bentiu will soon be a threat to national peace if it is not already. However, we the Panaruu community in South Sudan feels deeply concerned about the recent petition letter written to President Kiir and published by different media houses in Juba, internet, and intranet. We would like to inform the public that such a tribalized letter does not represent the views of all Panaruu people living in Panrieng County, Bentiu, Juba, and other towns in South Sudan and Sudan. This is because we think we need allies from the Nuer ethnic groups to bring a genuine change in Unity State. We also think this letter creates tribal cleavages in our State which is not safe for the future of our people who are struggling to put behind their past and build a new bright future. Addressing grievances on the basis of tribal lines had been tried in the past and did not do any good to both Dinka and Nuer. This is a past which must be thrown away and open up the future for all of us. The petition letter was written by a few colleagues who are entitled to their views, most of whom live outside the country. In that regard, we would like to acknowledge that the letter should be treated as thoughts of a few individuals within us. It has been verified that some of the signatories had their names signed without their consent or coaxed into signing something they thought was not taking such a tribal approach. There are challenges in our States but we cannot seek to address these challenges in this inflammatory manner. This petition letter has received real attention in Juba and Bentiu. Therefore, we feel impelled to clarify that the position of most professional members of the Panrieng community is not this tribal. In this time of struggle to contain ethnic violence in every corner of South Sudan, we feel it was appropriate to write this response to distant ourselves from the impacts of this petition if at all there is any. We understand that these are common factors fueling ethnic conflicts in South Sudan and we therefore feel obligated to dilute feelings of ethnicity upon reading this tribalized letter. As a new nation, struggling to survive legacies of a long and complicated political war, it is advisable that we put priorities on the search for peace, stability, democracy, and development. In Bentiu, we must seek allies from the Nuer communities who are facing the same challenges as people of Panrieng in order to bring change in our State. Seeking allies in a neutral way to bring change is the most genuine approach the affected Unity State communities should use. Tribalizing matters has always been a dangerous fault line leading to death of the vulnerable, not the perpetrators. As enlightened people, we think that alliances on tribal lines should be laid to rest and confront its relics if we are to build sustainable peace and a stable country. This very letter is therefore intent to rebuke approach of tribalizing matters of good governance affecting our State. While we understand that in a democratic society, someone or a group of people are entitled to their views, this response seeks to inform the public that tribalized approach does not represent the views of all Panrieng people. We truly need change in Unity State but we need the type of change that will bring benefit to all the citizens of Unity State, not only Panrieng. If we insist using tribalism to point out practices of tribalism, we will be termed as tribalists ourselves which cancels out the truth in question. We would like to inform the South Sudanese public that Panrieng people are not tribalists as that petition letter may seem to imply. Taking tribal views is a big disservice to the Unity State citizens from other ethnic groups who also need change in Unity State. Tribalizing matters of good governance chases away our allies and deprives us of the necessary united voices needed to call for a genuine change. Tribalizing matters lead to violence, has been tried many times before, but did not work, and must be avoided at all cost. We truly need change of governance and policies in Unity State but we the people of Panaruu (Panrieng County) do worry that some few fellow citizens are using a wrong approach to bring this matter to the nation and the world’s attention. We must understand that Unity State citizens from the Nuer ethnic groups also need this change. This is a fact which cannot be refuted. The 2010 general elections in which the longest serving Panrieng Commissioner helped the current governor win are testimonies to this fact. The matters of quality leadership in Unity State are affecting both Dinka and Nuer communities in Unity State and should not be localized by ethnicity. Having said that, it is good to note tribalizing the need for change will disband our alliances as citizens of Unity State. That will make any call for a genuine change we badly need very difficult if not impossible. If we recoil into our tribal pockets in order to get our share of power, we may get what we want but that does not solve the problems of good governance, abuse of public resources, and poor capacity in the entire civil service of the State. For us to bring a genuine change which will benefit all citizens in an independent South Sudan we all fought for two decades, it is imperative we understand that Panrieng people may not bring this change without the help of colleagues from the Nuer ethnic groups. We know that all people, for example, who work in the Unity State government, did not come to their posts on the basis of meritocracy but rather on the basis of political connection. A system like this will not help both members of the Dinka and Nuer ethnic groups inhabiting that State. This is too big a problem to be tribalized by one ethnic group. That is why it is necessary for all citizens of Unity to unite voices regardless of ethnicity to call for change. The kind of approach these individuals have taken seeks to open old wounds and a past we had always promised to leave buried in order to bring a lasting peace for our people. We therefore need all voices, Nuer and Dinka alike to call for a peaceful change that will benefit all. Like other States of South Sudan, we need to be provided with quality services by people who understand human rights, rule of law, justice, and know their subject matters. This and many others are why change is essential. We need alliances from the Nuer ethnic groups and call for a change as people of the State rather than as Dinka minority in that State is the right and save approach. We need change in Unity State but if we choose to call for this change in the name of being Dinka, it will be easy for the bad leadership to find many allies in the name of Nuer in order to hang onto power longer than necessary. It is advisable that we write neutral and representative petitions and coax all other citizens of the State to be signatories so that it is not seen in the eye of ethnicity. Tribalizing matters is a politically destructive view and must always be overlooked by peace loving nationals. Calling for a change with inclusive views will always bring change that will benefit all. This is the genuine voices of the Panrieng County professionals working in different parts of South Sudan. James Adiok Mayik is a native of Unity state living and working for and international organisation in Juba. He can be reached at ✉[email protected] The views expressed in the 'Comment and Analysis' section are solely the opinions of the writers. The veracity of any claims made are the responsibility of the author not Sudan Tribune. If you want to submit an opinion piece or an analysis please email it to [email protected] Sudan Tribune reserves the right to edit articles before publication. 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