Breaking our Silence In South Sudan "Good Leaders Care About their People!" 21 December 2013
By Machien Luoi Since December 15, 2013 – innocent South Sudanese civilians have been and are still going through hell in their ancestral land and country. In Juba most of the Nuer ethnic community members, families, relatives and communities of the accused for alleged “coup attempt” political leaders became victims of the South Sudan’s Presidential Guards and National Security personnel. Now the same communities are becoming victims of armed SPLA soldiers fighting each other near and around populated towns. Disappointingly, talks about whether there was an attempted coup or there was not one dominates current South Sudan and the world discussions about the situation that unfolded and continues to spread throughout the country. Every day and night innocent civilians continue to live in fear at home and in hiding while these talks seem to take precedent over apology for atrocities committed, sympathy for the bleeding communities and calls for peace, dialogue and an end to the situation. This opinion article is a call on all our responsible citizens and leaders who are currently silent about the damage done to our country to stand up and to urge fighting political forces to cease hostilities, condemn discriminate killings and to dialogue for peaceful settlement of current conflict. Since the incident occurred last week, vulnerable and unapologetic leaders from bleeding communities have been gathered to appear in SSTV to condemn the so called “disgruntled politicians,” while pledging their support to the leadership of the President on the matter (the incident of December 15, 2013). This is not important at the moment. What is important is to condemn acts of ethnic killing in Juba, Bor, Akobo, Nasir and in Unity oil fields as well as any targeting of civilians anywhere in the country. The so called “elders” have been silent either in celebration of victory of one side or denial of incidents that have taken away lives. While such violence in our country has opened political positions for grab, political positions are less important than innocent lives that are lost every day as the two conflicting political camps’ loyal armies fight each other in highly populated towns in the Upper Nile Region. While the conflict had started as non-ethnic conflict, for most of the detained politicians hails from different ethnic tribes in the country, the situation has trended towards that direction. If that is not the case, then how can death of innocent civilians from mostly one ethnic group in Juba, the killing of mostly one ethnic group in Bor as well as other areas be justified? How would the killing of civilians by armed groups from one ethnic community be explained, whether that is in Juba or Akobo? Whether you call the Dinka armed men as SPLA and Gatdet forces as rebels, the truth remains that the composition of such groups are predominantly ethnic, Dinka and Nuer respectively. This is the reality, unless one thinks they have something to benefit from this conflict trending towards ethnic divide, we should be concerned and be willing to press for immediate end to this situation. As the circumstances deteriorate in this armed political fighting, control over security of communities is getting lost. Criminals and undisciplined citizens from communities affected by recent conflicts will seize the opportunity to kill, loot and inflict harm on innocent communities. The blame will fall on those with political power leverage to get things right. Continued devastation of civilians lives as it is now is neither in the interest of the state nor any political leader, unless one thinks by targeted civilian killings a political objective would have been achieved. Since December 15, 2013, many citizens have been stranded at UNMISS centers with less space and high congestions of populations. One can only conclude their health vulnerabilities will increase. An immediate settlement of political disputes will ease civilians’ fears and boost their confidence to return to their homes. As long as citizens are aware of no dialogue between the warring parties, these fearful civilians will not return to their homes because of fear for re-escalation of tensions. As a nation we must ask ourselves relevant questions to our ancestral land and country, and must not live behind the blanketed curtain of tribal chauvinism. If we can’t prepare to dialogue, we must ask whether we must live side by side or we let these conflicts cause each tribe to ask for self-determination for their independence from the Republic. Must we accept unity in diversity or assimilate and adhere to directives of the most powerful one community, the one that will tame all? Should we accept to talk to each other or create a state of anarchy where no one political entity has control over others? How shall we or our grand children feel visiting a Nuer or Dinka’s only massacre memorial sites tomorrow? Is it difficult to imagine the physical, mental and emotional impact that our today’s acts will have in us and our coming generations? Would it not be great if we had less national massacre sites than celebratory sites in our country tomorrow? Our answers to these questions are important to the attachment we have with the state and how we look at each other. It is not splendid to use current situation to gain political seats or enhance our ethnic egos. Human casualties and property damages have been done but dialogue and peace are never late to enter into. It is in this regard that traditional leaders, retired political leaders, retired army officers, renowned academics, celebrated medical doctors, youth leaders, Non-profit leaders of South Sudan communities in the country and around the world need to intervene and persuade political leaders to dialogue. We can’t afford anymore carnage. We suffered far too long through our enemies and in what we had done to each other. History is recurring, but must not let it all happen in our watch. Let us not do more damage to our nation for our own sake and that of the generations to come. Come out now and call the fighting political forces to talk to each other. You must lead this from home. International Community can’t do it all for us and our innocent citizens. 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