16 May 2012 should be a bridge between the past and the future By Michael Thon Mangok, RSS
MAY 18/2012, SSN; As we marked 16 May 2012 for the first time in an independent State in the last 29 years of struggle, a lot is in the minds of many Jesh Amre (red army) and Jesh asuud (black army) who spent their entire lives fighting for the freedom of all Sudanese who were marginalized by Khartoum repressive regime. When hope was shattered in the bush and the enemy was determined to crash us, when the hunger was imminent and our civil population would gawk at their lives facing starvation, when Antinov would bomb us everywhere and no anti-aircraft missile to bring it down. It was this day that would energize the SPLA gallant forces to think that this war is worth dying for if that is what it takes to free Sudanese people. The significance of this day is not only to remember our fallen heroes and heroines who sacrificed their precious lives for the freedom of all marginalized groups in Sudan, but to replicate the comradeship life that we enjoyed in the bush, when Jesh amre (red army) and Jesh asuud (black army) would dine together, fight side by side and share the ideas of the war on equal terms, when nothing was in every one’s mind but fighting for freedom. This country was founded on the rich values of history of fighting for freedom, equality and justice for all. I grew up like many other colleagues in the bush knowing nothing but the SPLA day of 16 May. I vividly remember how we would put 16 May on our calendars, how we anxiously wait for the guns shots at the wee hours of 16 May and the famous guns shots saluting the day at 7:00PM till mid night after a long celebration during the day. I remember how we would sing songs of freedom and memorize Dr. John Garang's speeches such as that Jesh Amre will be the future of the new Sudan. We were made to believe that the war is not ending soon; therefore, we need to study and be ready to fight for the freedom. John Garang famous quote “Jesh Amre (red army) will hold the pen in the right hand and AK 47 in the left hand” was our sweetest quote on every 16 May. This day is my life. For some of us who are lucky to celebrate 16 May in independence South Sudan, I believe it is time to replicate. It is a time to think about our comrades who died in the war and now their children cannot afford to go to primary school and access the education because they have no school fees. It is time to think about a woman in the village who lost all her Sons during war and now she is old, nobody is taking care of her, and her future hangs on the balance. It is time to think about a young man who would want to do business but can’t move out of his Payam because he fears that he would be killed by members of other tribes. It is time to think about our people in the country side who eat one meal in a day but can’t tell when they will get another one yet they hear that there is a government in Juba for an independence State. It is time to think about a soldier in Heglig defending the borders of this country and does not know where about his family is. All this is the meaning of 16 May. Twenty ninth anniversary should be used as year to evaluate ourselves, do some self auditing. In the last six years when we were semi autonomous State, a lot of bad things happened, rampant corruption, nepotism in Jobs market, tribalism, and poor distribution of resources and lack of policies in the system. The forgetfulness has robbed us of our objectives of taking towns to the people not people to towns. The resources are concentrated in Juba and if you see how individuals become billionaires overnight in the poorest country in the world, you will agree with me that there is a lot to worry about. Now that we are a sovereign State, it is time to ask ourselves whether this is the independence we fought for? Gen. Peter Wal Athieu in an interview with Bakhita F.M said that those who are holding public offices should raise their thinking and embrace the ideas of the struggle by taking towns to the people. In George Orwell's masterpiece “Animal Farm,” it is imperative to note that “all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others”. Though animals in the farm fought for a single objective of defeating human race so that they would be free and equal, that equality did not last as Pigs and Dogs dominated other animals. For South Sudan, it will be a harsh paradox if a country whose sole objective of the war was to free marginalized of the marginalized fails to embrace equality and prosperity for all. It is my hope that 16 May 2012 would act as a bridge to link the past and the future in the history of our nation. Oh God bless south Sudan. Michael Thon is a political Editor of the Pioneer. [email protected] COMMENTS, PLEASE CLICK HERE Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author(s) and do not represent those of the website. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
