Machar move on the 1991 Bor Tragedy is patriotic
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By Isaiah Abraham
August 11, 2011 — The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A)
broke up in August 1991 until 2002, when the two sides came together
again. The break up at that time was so devastating and nearly put the
liberation struggle to its knees. There were problems everywhere: on
the military and political fronts. The ugly part of it all is the
tribal dirty seeds it has sown among our people. It was a split that
never to be talked about openly unless one is prepared to soak all
kinds of salvos from those against and for it.
The split by our people at that time, just not to waste your precious
time, was unnecessary fratricide and horror we must now leave behind
as we look forward to rebuild our nation. A healing is badly needed,
the very pain caused by the aftermaths of the 1991 split. No amount of
reparation could assuage that pain of destruction in that land, but
admission of the miscalculation or mistake does. A bright chapter was
opened to important section of our society. It took one man initiative
to burry the matter (hatchet).
That is why this man called Machar has gone to bed with the Southern
Public. The man is here to stay whether you hate or like him. He has
everything it takes to stay there, irrespective of what haters want
done or not done against him. This is a beauty of people with big
hearts. May this gifted man continue to offer directions to his
people, Oh! May the vision of this great man be firm and unshakable,
Oh!
But some people will rebuff the big man offer on the ground that it
was ‘justice delayed and therefore should be denied’- that it came
late. They also argue that the big man should have gone to Bor or
Panyagor to express it under no pressure (recall how elders in the
party started the argument. The other concern is that the Vice
President made an apology after the man they have tried to wrest power
has gone (dead).
The author however thought that time doesn’t affect the truth so long
as it was done in good faith. Going to Bor/Panyagor or Duk again isn’t
a deal; since the big man has gathered courage to do what a civilized
person does, there is no elephant to make out of it to press him to
the wall. Between him and father (Dr. Garang) and as politicians and
learned ones, they had cleared their differences then and forever.
Radicalists within their camps in this regards shouldn’t make
mountains again out of mound hills; they got to shut up, and allow our
people this opportunity for healing. Machar has started it, others
must follow.
Let’s look briefly at the so-called apology at Garang’s home in Juba
on that cold Sunday the 7th, its importance to everyone and the leader
(Machar) in question. We shall do it in few notes however. Our beloved
Vice President chose the home of our hero (Dr. Garang) to make amend,
something so symbolic and historic not done by any dead of living
Southerners. What has killed our people and still will do them more
harm is pride and arrogance. Time to forge ahead together is right
here. It starts with you
Mama Rebecca de Mabior was just on a thanks giving service/occasion,
and from nowhere politicians from there (Bor) scratched the matter and
the big man didn’t disappoint. It was an emotional moment for
everybody, something a coward and evil minded people won’t do. He
stated what we usually say here that the rebellion was exploited by
others, and wasn’t the policy of the break away faction; that is
unmistakable truth. He took the blame as a leader, and he did it very
emphatically and sincerely. We must be proud of this talent at the
top!
Second, the elegiac will remind others who killed political prisoners
in Ashwa or whatever near Pageri in Nimule County and Chukudum in
1993/1994 that what they did there to finish up politicians, officers
and innocent people because of their political orientation or tribe
was ingloriously a wrong. Whether the directives were given from
‘above’ or not, the loss of lives of our politicians, officers there
remains unforgivable unless the authors of that wanton deaths of
Southerners come out publicly and say ‘we are sorry’. Example is set
by the Vice President how about them?
Take it right, this line above doesn’t allude to insinuation of group
or one person, rather it is an expression of pain about what was done
stupidly that must be let go out of our chests. Shamely though the
officers who were engaged in disappearance are still being promoted,
and are move from one plumb job to another. People know them and
history will not be kind to such individuals in our society. Time has
come for us to show maturity to the damage we did to ourselves.
Third, is that the said apology by the Vice President has put to rest
(as far as Bor Community is concerned) a matter that has always divide
our people; say Bor vs Nuer. The Big man (Machar) and by extension the
larger Nuer community were targeted by Bor community for what had
happened then in 1991. Yeah, brothers and sisters from Bor were on the
receiving end of that rebellion and no right minded person could deny
the destruction it has caused these people. But the by gone should be
by gone, especially now that the big man has come out and say ‘he is
sorry’. That is leadership, not because he personally ordered the
macabre, no! Let no one again go over this matter again; it is close
and is done. Congratulation to the big man for that job well done!
Forth just to wrap up, the entire Southern public shouldn’t take such
moves with guile, wily reception or for that matter for granted. What
this great son of South Sudan (Dr. Machar) did to Bor people in Juba
(not necessary in Bor Town) on Sunday should be emulated by other
leaders whose political path trails blood of innocent people in our
land. Gen. George Athor Deng and Gen. Gordon Koang Chol should now
renounce violence and say to Southerners ‘we are sorry’. By doing so,
they are healed and allow others to heal too (Proverbs 28:13 and James
5:16). God bless Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhorgun!
Isaiah Abraham writes from Juba. He ca be reached at [email protected]
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