Aborted Coup: A Second Betrayal "People of South Sudan need answers, the sooner the better. " 01 February 2014
By Sabrino Majok Majok February 1, 2014 (Juba)--The legacy of Dr. John Garang de Mabior (June 23, 1945-July 30, 2005), the founding Father of Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), has gone to history as a South Sudanese finest political icon and charismatic mentor whose memories will eternally be remembered by South Sudanese for championing freedom and liberty for decades until his untimely death in fateful chopper crash on July 30, 2005. When Dr. John Garang passed on, the SPLM leadership unanimously elected Comrade Salva Kiir Mayardit, Co-founder of SPLM, as new Chairman of SPLM party. He then became the First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan and President of Government of South Sudan (GOSS) by virtue of being the Chairman of SPLM Party. Since then, Comrade Salva has led his people through challenging phases of implementation of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), national census, general elections and momentous referendum vote that paved the way for independence of the world's newest nation, the Republic of South Sudan, on July 9, 2011. At conclusion of general elections in 2010, General Salva Kiir was elected, through landslide victory, as the president of the Republic of South Sudan obtaining almost 93% of all votes cast. Likewise, most SPLM candidates, at various levels, won landslide victories as well across South Sudan. Thereafter, H.E. General Salva Kiir, President of the Republic of South Sudan, appointed Dr. Riek Machar his Vice President and appointed post-independent Government and cabinet consisting of more than 50 ministers and deputy ministers, representing all ten States of South Sudan. Though there were few discontented quarters in the country, the President was praised by majority of South Sudanese both at home and in Diaspora for forming an inclusive government. Ironically, many appointees in the government were not in celebratory mood as much as majority of South Sudanese were. This is because the appointees in question were nursing hidden agenda to destroy the Republic of South Sudan as witnessed in months leading to a failed coup. For example, when the would-be coup plotters were sacked by the President through a historic reshuffle, they became uncontrollably furious and hell bent to take the country back to unjustified war and ultimately destroy it. The disgruntled elements within SPLM Party and Government include those who were arrested and the ones at large in the aftermath of failed coup. This is in addition to Madam Rebecca Nyandeng Garang and Adwok Nyaba. The former escaped arrest through Presidential pardon, while the latter was released few days later on humanitarian ground due to his disability. Instead of appreciating gesture of comradeship and forgiveness accorded to them by the President, the duo, like their co-conspirators, declared propaganda war against the President and Government of the Republic of South Sudan. It's worth mentioning that atrocities that were committed in Greater Upper Nile States were direct responses to Adwok Nyaba and Rebecca's wild misinformation and disinformation campaign, when they claimed that "members of the Nuer community" were being targeted in Juba by "President Salva's private army," from "Dinka ethnic group." A question worth asking is: when did SPLA become a "private army" or exclusive to "Dinka community"? Rebecca and her new found friend, Dr. Adwok, must back up this serious allegation with tangible evidence so that they can be taken seriously next time. Otherwise, their one sided accounts of events will just be interpreted as a desperate ploy to cause friction and enmity within two sisterly ethnic communities, the Nuer and the Dinka. Currently, Dr. Riek Machar and colleagues are calling themselves "historical leaders" of SPLM and "Dr. John Garang's orphans," in self-gratification in the midst of their tainted political images in the country. What is so "historical" in them when in fact they are angels of doom and division of peaceful people of South Sudan? History is such a cruel entity and can't be side stepped no matter how much we so wish. In the past, Riek Machar back stabbed the liberation struggle in 1991 when South Sudanese were about to achieve their cherished dream of freedom. In fact, people of South Sudan have been mindful of Dr. Riek and Group's ill intention to destroy the Republic of South Sudan. Their ferocious activities were evident right from the time when they lost their positions in the Government during last reshuffle which culminated into a failed coup meant to overthrow a democratic and constitutional government through a violence means. One may ask, why coup now when elections are just few months away? Why bullets instead of ballots? Are coup plotters for or against democracy in South Sudan? To this end, I must underscore that the massive destruction and deaths caused by Dr. Riek Machar and group is unimaginably shocking: three State's capital erased to the ground, innocent civilians including women, children and elderly massacred in cold blood, few infrastructures that existed ruined beyond repair, and so on. Even our former archenemy (Arabs) didn't inflict such massive deaths and destruction that we have witnessed in the aftermath of December 15 failed coup under overall command of Dr. Riek. Yet, Dr. Riek and group are still calling themselves "historical" leaders without shame. Worst still, they call their tribal army--the so called White Army--"freedom fighters." What kind of "freedom" are they fighting for? And for whom? People of South Sudan need answers, the sooner the better. What's more, the unholy union of Dr. Riek and Rebecca Nyandeng is puzzling to South Sudanese, to say the least. Had it not been for Dr. Riek Machar's treacherous betrayal in 1991, the war would have been concluded by mid 1990s. And so people of South Sudan would not have suffered for so long until 2005 when Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed in Kenya. If the agreement was signed earlier, Dr. John Garang de Mabior would have served people of South Sudan longer time instead of 21 days owing to Dr. Riek Machar's incapacitating tactics against SPLM and its leader. Indeed, Dr. Riek Machar's opposition to SPLM stem from a deep-rooted personal hatred against Dr. John Garang. That's the main reason he rebelled in 1991 in an attempt to deny Dr. John Garang a chance of leading people of South Sudan, for better. Other examples abound to confirm this premise. It's surprising to see Rebecca Nyandeng joining rank with Dr. Riek Machar who tried many times to eliminate Dr. John Garang (the supposedly former husband of Madam Nyandeng). Furthermore, Rebecca decision to join Dr. Riek Machar to destabilize the country for which Dr. Garang sacrificed everything he had including his precious blood--is unfortunate and sad indeed. Hypothetically, if Dr. John Garang wakes up from his tomb today, will he bless the union of the duo? Not really for obvious reasons. It's unlikely either for Dr. John Garang to approve Mr. Mabior Nyandeng's support to the person who stabbed him (Garang) and SPLM in the back when people of South Sudan were on the brink of succeeding and winning the war. By joining Dr. Riek Machar in his destructive war, therefore, both Rebecca Nyandeng and her son, Mabior Nyandeng, have betrayed people of South Sudan as well as the legacy of founding father, Dr. John Garang, for a second time. Like their co-conspirators in SPLM/A-O, the Nyandengs are enemies of the people of South Sudan. So, Dr. Riek's SPLM/A-O must be held accountable for atrocities and massive destruction caused in South Sudan. *Sabrino Majok Majok is a South Sudanese citizen. He can be reached via **[email protected] <[email protected]>* Posted in: Opinions<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/24/Opinions.aspx> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. 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