Riek Machar's Dream For Presidency: A Dead End!! "...if he surrenders to authorities, he will have three options in store: (a) execution, (b) life imprisonment, or (c) win a presidential pardon after serving lengthy prison terms not less than 30 years." 06 February 2014
*By Sabrino Majok Majok* February 6, 2014 (Juba)--Dr. Riek Machar has been ambitious to lead the people of South Sudan since he joined SPLM/A in 1984. His relentless quest for leadership was the main reason he rebelled against SPLM/A on August 28th, 1991 ostensibly to democratize the Movement after having failed to unseat Dr. John De Garang from within. Unfortunately, when he found out that his chances were dwindling, he staged a coup and formed Nasir Faction which was later transformed into South Sudan Independence Movement/Army (SSIM/A); human rights record and democratic freedoms and values were curtailed beyond belief on his watch. The worst case scenario happened when Dr. Riek Machar authorized massacre of Dinka Bor on November 15, 1991, butchering, in cold blood, more than 2,500 innocent civilians who had nothing to do with "democratization" of SPLM in the first place. For six years (1991-7), similar ruthless atrocities were committed across South Sudan until he gave up and joined National Islamic Front (NIF) in 1997, arguing that his "collaboration with Khartoum against the SPLA was compelled by the resolve of the SPLM/A to eliminate him physically. 'If your brother is determined to eliminate you physically, you are entitled to ensure your survival even with the help of the devil.'" Yet, his "survival" with help of "the devil" didn't last long because President Al-Bashir knew beforehand his treacherous motive and unquenched thirst for leadership. Having read the writings on the wall and equally finding himself between a hard rock and deep blue sea, he made a U-turn and re-joined SPLM in 2002: hence his quest for leadership within NIF was long gone. While in SPLM, he was hopeful to regain reputation lost amongst citizenry of South Sudan, especially when Cde. Wani Igga gave his position to him to become the Second Deputy Chairman of SPLM after President Salva Kiir, which later earned him a second most senior position within the Government of the Republic of South Sudan following the death of Dr. John Garang. However, due to his restive and treacherous nature, Dr. Riek was shown the door by the President, thus dashing his chances of becoming a president, for a second time. But now that Dr. Riek Machar has staged a coup against constitutional elected government and leads a rebellion in the country, his chances of becoming the president of the Republic of South Sudan are technically and logically nil. With treason charges on his head, he will soon be the most wanted person in the history of South Sudan if convicted in absentia. All the same, should he choose to remain at large, he will constantly run for his life and his quest for presidency will remain a dream that will never come true, whatsoever. Alternatively, if he surrenders to authorities, he will have three options in store: (a) execution, (b) life imprisonment, or (c) win a presidential pardon after serving lengthy prison terms not less than 30 years. Therefore, options a & b are equally enemies of presidential hopeful, Dr. Riek Machar, for their routes lead further away from palace. Let's examine the last option (c) that assumes that Dr. Riek Machar may win a presidential pardon after years in prison. If he wins as assumed and decides to re-join SPLM, he will be surprised to learn that his new position will be a far cry within the Party's hierarchy. This is not to mention his old age after lengthy prison term. Thus, his chance of becoming a president any time soon will be nothing but a joke. However, if he chooses to form his own party upon the said "presidential pardon," he will face unwinnable competition in 2015 against SPLM and other political parties who are now on the side of the masses in the wake of a failed coup instigated by him. In addition, South Sudan electoral laws are going to unfavorably work against Dr. Riek, as well. Because, in South Sudan electoral laws, every political party is required to have a huge following in seven (7) States, a condition which cannot be met by any tribal leader such as Dr. Riek Machar, let alone his intention to abrogate the very constitution of the country--under which he wants to govern. If convicted of treason and felony charges which now hang on him, he will, definitely, be disqualified to run for presidency since he will have been criminally charged and convicted, a crime that he commits within a year leading to 2015 elections. Based on these scenarios cited herein, Dr. Machar's chances of winning any elections in South Sudan and becoming President of the Republic of South Sudan, is nothing but a dead end!! Sabrino Majok Majok is a South Sudanese. Reach him via [email protected] Posted in: Opinions<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/24/Opinions.aspx> Comments [image: RSS comment feed]<http://gurtong.net/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=124&ModuleID=519&ArticleID=14816> 06/02/2014, 11:35 PM - Posted by isaluany THE STATE OF THE CURRENT CRISIS IN SOUTHERN SUDAN: THERE WILL BE MORE DEFECTIONS FROM THE GOVERNMENT, TO REBEL SIDE, UNLESS FOREIGN TROOPS ARE WITHDRAWN FROM THE COUNTRY, A PREDICTION BASED ON FACTS AND CITIZEN CONCERNS. REPLY LETTER WRITTEN BY MR. MAJOK, MAJOK, SABRINO. Thank you for your opinion on the current crisis on S. Sudan. I would like to reply to your view on the leaders of our country. I do believe that with all the atrocities committed on both sides. Mr. President is in the floating state. He will only rule from the Capital, juba. There will be more defections from the military, because of the involvement of foreign troops. Long before you may know it, the truth will come out, the foreign troops are exploiting the resources of our country without right of authority. When more tribes wake up to the worsen crisis, it will mean whether to continue accepting the rule of foreigners in the country without their say, or joined hands with those who are willing to upheld their rights as citizen. It was really sad to hear that the current government is taking citizens assets without their rightful permission, from their banks accounts, this in one way or another will bring more uprising than good. For the case of the Rebel leader, He will not surrender, but instead he will stand with the majority of citizens who see their rights being fulfills and shall not see foreign minds dominating their rightful prosperity in the country. The only thing that the two leaders can do, is to gain forgiveness from within, and unite the citizens, without exploiting the resources of the country. If this forgiveness is not carried out by the two leaders more bloodshed will continue. There will be chances of the old enemies of S. Sudan to join hands with the rebels and take out the current leader, who does not see, nor hear the cries of citizens, but instead inflicted more pain, and fear into their lives. The president does not have power beyond foreign troops in the country, in the short term he will wins, but as the crisis continue, more pain mean more defections, more defections mean more bloodshed and before one will comprehended it. The crisis will only not be for the two leaders, but for those who want to let their voice be heard. Mr. Majok, lest not inflict more violent in our dear country, then to unite our brothers and sisters, and to find peace. Even if Mr. Machar surrender, the wounds are not yet bandages, children will be born seeing these wounds and they will continue to wage wars, and peace will have no place, but instead, continuation of more atrocities. Thank you for your opinions, and don't let your feeling overtake your rightful thinking, for the betterment of our united country, South Sudan. Thanks -- 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]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob. 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