INDEPENDENCE FOR SOUTH SUDAN MIGHT BE IN JEOPARDY

By James Ogilo Agor - USA

Today January 9 ^the, 2010, marks the first anniversary of the Dinka-Shilluk tribal conflict, which occurred simultaneously at Malakal stadium, Anakdiar and Abanim in 2009. Since then, the crisis has been spreading wildly like a jungle fire, with the SPLA's most modern and sophisticated heavy weaponry raining death in the area along the eastern bank of the White Nile River from Kodok to Zeraf River .

The crisis seems to have been sparked by distorted interpretations of certain Shilluk expressions by some irresponsible Dinka fellows, who claim to have mastered the Shilluk Language. The Shilluk refer to the land east and along the river White Nile as "Longjang" (reserved bank) and not ‘Lokjango' (Dinka bank).They refer to lands inhabited by tribal groups as, pothi Collo, pothi Jango, pothi Nwar, pothi Cay, pothi Anywak, pothi Ajebo, pothi Dhongo, pothi Lir, pothi Bwonyo, pothi Ninglith, pothi Tyengtar( land of the White) and so on.

Again the Shilluk or Dinka or Nuer and others, when asked on their way to Malakal town, all say in their respective languages that, "We are going to Makal" Makal is the spoken word, while Malakal is the written word.

In another situation, a Shilluk legend has it that , on arrival at the Sobat mouth, Nyikango found some indigenous people making fire by rubbing a piece of wood in a hole which had been made in a larger piece of wood. Thus the friction sparked into a fire. The word ‘piji' is the action of rapidly turning the small piece of wood. Hence, the name of the Sobat tributary which goes south parallel to the river Nile and making an island with it.

By the way, I am from the Sobat mouth. My great grandmother is a Dinka from Thiny, Dhienhi Mey, my uncles are Awen de Kuel and Deng de Kuany, and my cousin is Monyjok Awet de Kuel. Again on my mother's side, my Dinka relatives include late agriculturist, Gejang Them. On the Shilluk side, from Nyikango down the line, I am No 14 in our ‘Kwareth' family tree. If therefore, there were any story connecting Dinka with the lands occupy by Shilluks on the eastern bank of the Nile I would have heard it from my Shilluk and Dinka elders.

Regarding the song quoted by Tingthonh Abok Dau, "Collo ge Ki bwonyo ji nywaka lwol akiel', this song was composed by a Dinka fellow from Paweny. The song and a drum were payments made to Reth Padiet Kwathker in exchange with Atar Areba station, which had been part of the Shilluk territory. But what is wrong with the Shilluk sharing one pot with Arabs?  In 1965, William Deng, who was the Secretary General of SANU Party in exile, broke ranks and files with Aggrey Jaden, President of SANU which was a separatist party. He came back to Sudan and fought for federation in the Round -Table -Conference. Was that not sharing one pot with Arabs?  When Abel Alier and Joseph Lagu signed Addis Ababa Accord in 1972, was that not an agreement to share food with Arabs? When John Garang de Mabior signed CPA with Ali Osman Taha, was that not to eating together with Arabs? And now when Salva Kiir is 1^st Deputy to Omer Beshir are they not sharing ‘lwol akiel' Tingthonh Abok?

It is very unfortunate and annoying for people like Dhieu Dok and Tingthonh Abok Dau to target the entire Shilluk tribe as liars, betrayers etc.. who should not be trusted.  Such vulgar, offensive and provocative language is uncalled for. What is wrong with Dr Lam Akol defecting from SPLM? William Deng defected from SANU to form SANU Inside. Alfred Wol Akoc broke away from William to from SANU Big 6; Aldo Ajou broke away from SSPA of Samuel Aru Bol and so on. At present, four Southern political parties are led by four persons from only one Dinka clan (Rek) not tribe.

Despite all these chaotic situations being created by the Monyjang, they assert that they have been born to rule; that the south must adopt their language as official language of the would- be independent country of South Sudan .

People like Dhieu and Tingthonh Abok must be told that the history of bravery and fame of Monyjang is but, well punctuated with greed. It begins with robbery of Naath by his elder brother Jang of the property passed to him by their father for inheritance. The reason why there is usually an ‘agamalong' in a Dinka court is to avoid lies, exaggerations and bias in the decision making in the court of law.

It was hoped that Padang intellectuals could have joined the debate on the internet, so as to justify their claim for the ownership of the east bank of the White Nile river and to convince the Southern, national and international communities that this land be given to them forthwith as payment for their bravery in the war against the government of Sudan. Anyway it is an indisputable fact that Padang intellectuals are the cause of this conflict, but they are afraid to come out, because most of them are sons or grandsons or husbands of Shilluk women. Some of them are sons of Shilluk princesses. They fear that, being known to be supporting this irresponsible claim would destroy their family life, especially that they know that their claim is false. And that their children who are now still elbowing into adulthood and are from Shilluk mothers, would disown them.

It is regrettable that President Salva Kiir, State Governors and Commissioners of counties seem not to know the boundaries within which they exercise their jurisdictions. I am told that the citizens residing in our area at the Sobat mouth up to Khor fulus to the east and Zeraf River to the south west have been registered with Jonglei election constituencies, when Abel Alier is the Chief Election Commission Chairman. May I remind Hon. Abel Alier of his comments when he was P.H.E.C. The commissioner of Upper Nile province had gone to Ganyliel for inter-provincial conference with Lakes province. Since his departure, the executive director had continued to fly the province flag. When explained, he said he had thought that Ganyliel was in Lakes Province . President Abel remarked," If the Executive Director of the province does not know where Ganyliel is, who else would know?" Now, if therefore Abel does not know the boundary between Jonglei and Upper Nile States , who else would know?

It appears that president Salva Kiir and all his aides do not consult with former presidents of the H.E.C like Abel Alier, Joseph Lagu and Gismalla Rasas on the matters concerning the administration of the South. If that be the case, what is wrong with those presidents volunteering advice out of sheer courtesy for the benefit of their motherland?

However, wasting much of our precious blood, time and energy on unfruitful confrontations and divisive debate is definitely unproductive. In order to have an entire southern Sudan united vote for independence in the forth coming referendum, tribal and clan conflicts must immediately be resolved and put to rest.

In conclusion, I appeal to President Salva Kiir to immediately resolve the tribal and clan conflicts and by Executive Orders, ask each community to return to their respective places of domicile. If the referendum finds us in this chaotic state of anarchy, we should not be surprised later if the vote turns out in favor of unity with North Sudan . And this is not what we have been fighting and dying for since 1955.

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