Problems of Land, Tribes, Politics and Arms In Southern Sudan
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- Created on Friday, 31 October 2008 17:03
- Written by Dr. James Okuk
By James Okuk
"The period of hosting Shilluk in Dinka areas is over; it is now the time for their eviction," Said Dinka of Sobat County (Malakal and Byliët, October, 2008).
When I was deliberating to write on the above topic, I was bothered by an idea of generalization about Dinka (Jiëng) tribe.
However, I got relieved of this dilemma from the fact that when a member or some members of your ethnic group do something outrageous and you refrain from condemning their move (especially when you are their leader) then it is assumed that you are in agreement to what they have done. Please note that I am pointing my finger to bad elements from Dinka and not the good ones.
I recall a hot argument I had with a certain arrogant Jiëng man in 2006 in Wimpy (Nairobi) about history of Shilluk Kingdom and its borders with Dinka people. The man thought history starts at the middle but I told him that it should start at the roots for it to be called a comprehensive history of a people. We did not come up with anything fruitful from that discussion except threats of war because the man was so shallow about the history of his own community. I discovered that he knows history of Shilluk more than History of his own community. His argument was full of terms such as ‘Shilluk did this and that' but devoid of expression of ‘Dinka did this and that.' This is part of the problem of some Dinka with Shilluk in Upper Nile because the former community base their arguments on speculations and the former argue on historical facts backed by both oral and written statements.
According to historians like Darly Forde in his book the African Worlds (1954), the land of Shilluk is bordered by the following areas: Nuba Mountains, Kosti, Renk, Melut, Bayliët, Pangak and Pariang. Also it is known from some historical evidences that Shilluk land has been called Central District of Upper Nile Province with the following geographical boundaries drawn by non-Shilluk scribes without bias:
1) On the Northern Front, the border is marked on the East bank of the Nile by a line drawn from the junction of 10o 15o north parallel with the Nile to the apex of the junction of 9o 30o latitude and 32o 54o longitude;
2) On the Southern Front, the border is marked between Anakdyiär and Bangläy, then to Wünakir on Khor Fullus along the Sobat River, then to the mouth of Zeraf River entering into Lake No; and
3) On the Western Front, the borders extend from Lake No and stretch along Kordofan/Upper Nile boundary northwards to 11o north parallel.
In this article, I am trying to air my opinion for a second time about the issue of Community Land Ownership, Tribes, Politics and Arms in Southern Sudan. But this time my concern is focused on Upper Nile State (Dinka versus Shilluk) instead of Equatoria (Dinka versus Madi/Acholi/Zandi/Bari). My argument is still based on the thesis that "Community Land is a Fundamental Socio-Economic factor to be tempered with by outsiders," especially when a bunch of business and political liars tell an honourable community on its very own ancestral land to pack their things and leave (to I-do-not-know- where) because the time for their hosting is over and what remains is the time for their eviction by any means and using arms obtained from SPLA for this purpose.
As I wrote about the sensitivity of Community Land Ownership in my articles some months back out of my field research and study on "Land Tenure System in Southern Sudan" (see http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article26289), I still want to re-emphasize that ‘A Community Land is A Community Life.' If you take it away then you have taken away the life of that Community as well, and its members will not have a place to build their shelters and execute their socio-economic and political activities. And this does not go smoothly without blood-shed and other bitter consequences. If this could be the result, why then are some southerners comfortable to cook bloody troubles if you have a good hearts and sound minds for the love of beloved South Sudan!
It pains me to see brothers and sisters strangling each other on destructive tribal vendetta in Southern Sudan while the enemy keeps laughing as it warms up to eliminate them all after they have foolishly exhausted their energies. I hate to use the term ‘enemy' but there is no way to avoid the understanding that enmity is just one part of the badness of human beings that balances the other best part of their goodness. That is why you find in any family, clan, tribes or nation some bad individuals as well as some good ones. That is also the reason civilized nations came up with punitive laws to deter and neutralize the bad part of human beings from being actualized without justifiable reason for a greater common good. For example, some individuals get capital punishment or other shameful verdicts because of their weaknesses in allowing their evil part to control their behaviors and actions. On the other hand, some individuals are given noble Nobel Prices and other human honors because of their commitment to develop and promote the good part of humanity, and harmonizing their neighborhoods with dignity and decency. Why don't all Southerners try to choose nobility praxis instead of brutality in this virgin region!
To get to the point, I am seeing that the biggest tribe of Southern Sudan is getting immersed into unnecessary conflicts and troubles within itself and with its good neighbours (time after time) because of mixing up issues of land rights with those of tribal affiliations and insensitive politics of dominating greed. By drawing lessons from historical experiences of post Addis Ababa Agreement of 1972 and also from evaluating the post CPA of 2005, it has been constantly observed that some chaotic ‘Jiëng individuals' have made themselves spokesperson of this gigantic important tribe of Southern Sudan on several nasty occasions. (But this expression should not be interpreted as an endorsement of superiority of the Jiëng over other tribes because each tribes counts and is valuable and superior on its own right in Southern Sudan).
These Jiëng individuals have been uttering ‘rat-smelly' words and executing unethical actions without thinking of the dire consequences from the possible flash-back and retaliation by those who have been hurt and angered by them, especially in regard to unconstitutional land claims/occupations. They think that they have instant and easy access to AKs-47 from SPLA barracks and can terrorize any individual or a group that attempt to correct their detested voracious lifestyle. This bullying attitude has been going on in Equatoria States, Bahr El Gazal States, and Upper Nile States of Southern Sudan with impunities. Such die-hard devil agents are too short-sided to the extent of not learning from the dark histories of tribal conflicts in the virgin continent, Africa.
These bad members of Jiëng tribe have been using defense mechanism to cover their bad acts by arguing on the following bases:
1) Jiëng have the right to occupy others' lands, get employed alone in government institutions, get university scholarships abroad alone, and embezzle public money in Southern Sudan because they died in big numbers during the SPLM/A war of struggle with Arabs (Jellaba) from the North (they call other Southerners traitors and inferior groups);
2) Jiëng are Born-to-Rule and Downtrodden other Communities in Southern Sudan because they are the ‘Superior Masters' (Monyjur) for other tribes; and
3) Jiëng have the right to invade and occupy lands of other communities because any land belongs to God and Monjur are the masters of all lands and can settle anywhere even on the graves and shrines of ancestors of other tribes because Jiëng are the majority in Southern Sudan.
However, these irresponsible habits do not surprise those who know the history of Jiëng. They do not have ancestral shrines and graves because they did not know to burry their own dead, leave alone other people they kill. Culture of burial is a recent history for the Jiëng, and this could be the reason why they do not feel ashamed to grab the land of other communities and displace them from their ancestral legacies, customs and traditions. Also the Jiëng history indicates that they were nomadic wanderers with a thinking pattern that every land is a No-Man-Land and can be occupied at whim for cattle grazing before the green grass get withered for their cows to chew, and before the available water get dried up or flood their temporary settlements. For them farming was just too hard a work to pursue because the harvest needs months of patience. Many Jiëng use to hate farming though many of their members have learn now from their neighbors that agriculture is the best strategy for food security.
In October 2008, irresponsible memos, press releases and appeals have been written (in classical Arabic language) and circulated by some Jiëng students, Chiefs and Politicians in Malakal (the capital town of Upper Nile State). The memos were written against Shilluk tribe, who are now the majority community in Upper Nile State. (Hereafter I will use the terms ‘Collo' instead of the colonially distorted term ‘Shilluk'). For instance, a group that identified itself to a ghost administrative territory called "Sobat County" (Malakal and Byliët) tried to divide Upper Nile State into fictitious Four Counties after wishfully abolishing the status of the current Counties that were endorsed by the late wise hero of CPA, Dr. John Garang de Mabior. I analyzed those documents critically and found out that they aim at the following baseless claims:
1) Protest about Collo Ownership of Malakal and appeal to government to give the ownership to Jiëng before they use force and death on Collo to leave the town;
2) Elimination of Collo Villages along both sides of River Sobat and on the East Bank of River Nile and replacing them with Jiëng Villages;
3) Relocation of some Constitutional Positions held by Collo Politicians in the Government (at National, Regional, State and County Levels) to Jiëng Politicians; and
4) Abolishment of the current Counties of Upper Nile State and establishing new ones where the Nuer and Collo areas should be given one County each (with capitals at Nasir and Kodok respectively) and Dinka areas given Four Counties (with Capitals at Malakal, Akoko, Melut and Renk).
I took sometime to understand the roots of these unwarranted claims of Jiëng for Collo land on Sobat River and East Bank of the Nile and came up with a conclusion that the core aim is to enable their opportunists in Upper Nile State to assume legislative and executive political positions with a short-cut from the adjusted Counties' representation. This aim came out clearly from a letter of appeal signed by Thon Wäy Awin, a Paramount Chief from Akoko who claim to be responsible for Dongjol and Ngok Clans of Jiëng. The appeal was addressed to H.E. Gatlwak Deng Garang, the Governor of Upper Nile State who is a NCP cadre and a SAF general from Jiëng origin. The Governor's name suggests that his parents are from Bor Community in Jonglei State but migrated to Nasir for one reason or another. This Chief expressed a total confidence in the NCP leadership of H.E. the Governor and praised him very much for trying to rejuvenate Arabization and Islamization project of the Salvation Revolution Regime (Surat al-ingaz) in Upper Nile State. He narrated to him how he traveled to Juba with some of his tribesmen and met Dr. Riek Machar who promised them to grant their demands but nothing got materialized so far. That is, the Ownership of Malakal has not been granted to Jiëng, Collo have not been ordered to evacuate their villages along river Sobat (where the village of Hon. Dr. Lam Akol and Hon. Oyay Deng Ajak and the maternal uncles of Hon. Pagan Amum is located), the current counties have not been abolished and replaced with Jiëng counties, and Collo constitutional holders have not been dismissed to replace them with Jiëng constitutional holders.
Thus, the honorable Chief is disappointed with the SPLM because of not responding to their demands quickly. But he is very happy and confident in the NCP because he thinks this party will grant their demands. He accused Collo political leaders for the insecurity in Upper Nile State and for blocking the development which is being carried out by H.E. Gatlwak Deng, the Jellab agent in Upper Nile State.
The Akoko's Paramount Chief tried very hard to pursue the Governor to take action for their demand on a mythical assertion that some Jiëng Chiefs and Elders (like Ayongdit, Awandit, and Ajakdit) know some secret demarcating marks at the middle of the Nile, which indicate the border between Collo land and Jiëng land. He did not specify where these sign are located, who put them there and why they are secret to be known only by certain Jiëng elsers without the knowledge of Collo elders. He forgot that mythical answers have been left to the archives of ancient legendaries because they cannot amuse the generation of the scientific age who base their arguments on facts only.
It is known that mythologies require sensible interpretation from sages and magicians; otherwise they are useless for backing a case of borders demarcation between communities in the highly advanced technological globalization era. Let this ignorant Jiëng Paramount Chief of Dongjol and Ngok Clans know that the UN Secretary-General Envoy to Sudan presented (on 19th October) to Sudanese government a Satellite Imagery Instrument to be used by the Ad hoc Technical Border Demarcation Committee for locating the geographic coordinates of borders positioning on the ground. Without doubt, this instrument will be used later to demarcate the borders between Collo and Jiëng lands after the maps are obtained from British and Egyptian Libraries and from Historical Archives on administrative boundaries of the tribes of Southern Sudan. Only little patience is required here because the demarcation of the borders between the South and the North is the priority to any internal demarcation.
I remember the same group of Jiëng in Greater Upper Nile Conference in Panyigor in 2003 and in Governance Clusters Meetings in Rumbek in 2005 calling Dr. Garang bad names and giving him certificate of traitor-ship on Jiëng interests when he approved the present Four Counties in the Collo Kingdom (Manyo, Fashoda, Makal and Panyikang) and issued a decree of appointing their commissioners in 2004. Dr. Garang did this good work with Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin and in consultation with His Majesty, Räth Kwongo Dak Padiet. His Majesty was satisfied and happy with the proposal of Dr. Lam and endorsement of Dr. Garang, which honored the traditional boundaries of Collo Chieftaincies (Omodiate) and grouped ‘two-to-three' of these Omodiat to qualify for a County in terms of population and geographical size.
Instead of emulating what Dr. Lam did by giving the Collo Kingdom its due representation through its deserved Counties and by not making his home village (Panyidawäy or call it Deleib Hill) a County or a Capital of a County, these Jiëng opportunists came out to envy and condemn the fought rights of the Collo Kingdom to participate in government and development decentralization in Southern Sudan. I am pretty sure that no single Collo politician or Chief has stopped these Jiëng of Padang, Dongjol and Ngok clans from tabling their own demands for Counties from the relevant decision-makers of Southern Sudan if they can prove that their population size and geographical territory qualified them for more counties (if at all the government Counties are given out according to clannish demands).
It is not good and not right from these Jiëng to push for their desire in the expense of historical Collo territorial lands on both banks of Sobat and Nile rivers. Histories of Jiëng and Collo are not very ancient for them to be speculated fictitiously and mythically by some moronic and dishonest fellows who do not foresee the consequences of cooking conflicts and troubles in the beloved Southern Sudan. I know that these morons will hate to eat the evils that they have been boiling when the pots have reached the uncontrollable brims. I know that it is the innocent people who often become the victims of the poisons of such bad habits. The devil agents always escape in good shape!
Collo are known by communities of Southern Sudan to be decent and patient community who only decide to act swiftly after a strategic deliberation. The Jiëng of Padang and Dongjol know Collo very well and should get reminded (if they have forgotten) of the consequences of Collo answers to those who temper with their historical land. It is not a wise idea to repeat bad history, especially when it is still a recent history of few decades back. Let the Jiëng trouble-cookers and opportunists recall the consequences of their similar attempts to destabilize and displace Collo from their own ancestral lands in 1970s and 1980s. The sons of Collo daughters who were married by the these Jiëng neighbours should enlighten their bad members who are ignorant about Collo Culture and ‘Land Tenure,' which is attached to their sacred reverence for the Nile, Sobat and Lol rivers. Let them tell their people that Collo do not use these rivers only for drinking, fishing, irrigation, gardening, building, or transportation but they are also sentimentally connected to these rivers spiritually. For example, Coronation of Collo King is connected to some mysteries attached to these rivers. Also let them know it that the mother of the historically known fierce Collo warrior, Dak the son of Nyikang who founded the Collo Kingdom is mythically connected to these rivers too. The Collo called this short woman "Nyikay Nya Kiir or Apwöth Nya Nam"- i.e., Nyikay the daughter of the river (‘Kiir' refers to any big river in Collo language, e.g., they call the Sea ‘Kiir Omel,' meaning River of Salt). Let these Collo nephews not mistranslate and distort the Collo term of ‘Log-jiäng' (meaning the reserved land for resting on the other side of the river) to Log-jäng (meaning the other side of rive where Jiëng live).
What I want to recommend to all the tribal Communities of Southern Sudan is to be patient and non-violent in resolving their conflicts of rights and interests. For example, if any Community or individuals thinks that they have been denied their land ownership and tribal settlement, let them present their case amicably to legal arbitrators in a logical and factual manner. Let them have the confidence that the truth shall always come up forcefully and victoriously even if suspended temporarily by dishonest fellows (including some tribal chiefs and political leaders) who want to sink Southern Sudan into the abyss of conflicts and chaos of insincere business investment and hooligan politics.
History of lands and Communities of Southern Sudan is not so ancient enough to trace out where justice belongs to in terms of Who-owns-which-land (including natural rivers, tributaries, swamps, forests, mountains, etc). It is known that history writes itself and nothing can be changed about it except to record and memorize it as it is. At this critical cross-road to independence, real patriotic Southerners do not need to sharpen their spears, machetes and arrows nor do they need to smuggle AKs-47 from SPLA barracks to point them blindly and outragedly at each other with irreparable regrets. Let politicians of Southern Sudan not ignore the advice of the great sage and statesman of Africa, the late former President of Tanzania (Julius Nyerere) who cautioned when he visited Juba in 1974 that Southerners should learn how to be patient and tolerant with each other in managing their differences and hot issues, else they may lose the greatest value of South Sudan and the dignity of its pure African communities in a cheaper manner.
Even if some community in Southern Sudan believes to have been "Born-to-Rule" they should know that the acceptable ‘leadership' is the one whose legitimacy is limited by the consent of the governed and by being the servant of the people instead of their master. Politics that is based on force, intimidation and humiliation of the other shall not thrive for longer because these ‘other minorities' are also Born-to-Resist-and-Retaliate against their victimizers. Even if you believe to have been Born-to-Rule, at least you should be prudent to figure out ‘Who-to-rule', ‘When-to-rule' and ‘Where-to-rule' so that you avoid disappointing the people to the point of hatred and rejection. So far in the South now, the name of Dinka has become spoiled not because this honorable tribe is evil by itself, but because some of its members have been insensitive to respect others who have lived and struggled alongside with them during and in the continuous war of liberation and independence of South Sudan from the North.
Sometimes I feel uneasy to air my opinion about my tribe because some people are very fast in concluding that such and such is a tribalist. But I remember Thales, an ancient Greek philosopher who was mocked by a slave girl who saw him falling into a well when walking and studying the movement of stars in the sky. He became known as absent-minded professor who insisted and persisted that all material things in the physical world are made of WATER (vapour, liquid and solid form) because water is the first material principle of all life. I do not want to ignore the Dinka threats against Collo because of their strategic settlement near natural water in Doleib Hill and other areas of the Kingdom. If my mother, father, sisters, brothers, cousins, relatives and all Collo and their friends are evicted by Jiëng in Anakdiär, Odwar, Ogod, Pa-jur, Pa-thwor, Adhidhyiang, Pa-nyidwäy, Obay, Pa-kwar, Atar and etc, then surely I will find myself fallen in a well-of-land-occupation while busy analyzing politics at the highest level and protecting the CPA from Jellaba's sabotage. This should be the feeling of any highest Collo politicians in any political party or military institution, especially those who hails from the threatened villages and centers.
As a conclusion to this article, I urge Peace Commission and also Land Commission of Southern Sudan to arrange for a Land Border Conference by next year, 2009 between the Collo, Jiëng, and Naath (Nuer) Tribes in Upper Nile State who share borders and have been intermarrying for decades. Let this conference bring in well-informed and non-politicized oral sages from these communities and also foreign historian or anthropologists who have written some facts about these communities. This conference may help in creation and sustainability of harmony and peace between these important tribes of Upper Nile State. It may identify a way forward for resolving the claims over land borders and land ownership. This conference may also be an enlightening occasion for discovering the chaotic liars and opportunists who want to magnify small tribal differences and use these for gaining political aims.
Deare God help me not be an instigator for trivial tribal vendettas in Southern Sudan but also help me not to ignore the criticality of land ownership and threats of eviction of my own people from their own Bomas, Payams, and Counties. May God bless all the Communities of Southern Sudan with harmony and respect for each other!
James Okuk is a concerned Southerner and a Ph.D student in the University of Nairobi. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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01-11-2008 03:57:15 |Publisher| Wadawang
Good analysis Mr Okuk, keep it up , if we can not stand up this time to put these outminded individuals to rest and for good,then nothing,nothing,and nothing worthy for us to stand up for.
And I will say it again those of Ngok and its subimembers are Abyei people, may be time has come for them to go back.We can not fight for them in front lines in Abyei and at the same time claim our land at home.
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01-11-2008 07:23:55 |Unregistered| Nyaopun Aban Aban
Thanks, James Okuk; Land grabbing problems,it's coming more complex issue than implementing The CPA agreement.
Indeed the issue of our borders with some neighbours is something of no laughing matter.
The good news is that the Collo's decision does not prevent states and localities from adopting a different approach.
To be franky Jieng are talking about land border and Malakal because of theirs president Salva Kiir.
What did Jieng got at these time, everywhere in South Sudan being land grabbers?
Land degradation is a major problem for Sudan which led the true sons of the soil to died, because the country already suffers.
Today In South Sudan, Special in great Equatoria Nimule, Kaya, Bazi, Yei, and Juba Dinkas are Demarcating Land with Eguatorians creating new Gorila, and new Bor in different areas, if they are rational human being. Dinkas are doing these "land problems" because of theirs Semi-illiterate President who can support them blindly in what actions they decided.Nyaopun Aban Aban
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01-11-2008 09:40:05 |Unregistered| Dr .Albino Amum Awin
اشكر الاخ جيمس صلمون لسرده بعض حقائق التاريخية عن ارض مملكة فشودة والمزكرات التي قدمت من بعض سلاطين دينكا دونقجول لسيد قلواك دينق حاكم ولاية اعالي النيل بخصوص إستيلا على اراضي شلو الواقعة على الضفة الشرقية لنيل 0
في إعتقادي ان ما يحدث الان ليس خطط دينكادونقجول ونقوك لوحدهم بل هناك مساندةودعم سياسي وعسكري من بعض جهات ما , ودليل علي ذلك تعزيزات وترسانة العسكرية التي تمتلكها موانين دينكاولو نظرت في بيان التي اصدرتها إتحاد طلاب فدانق بالجامعات والمعاهد العليا,اكدوا فيه كل النقاط التي وردت في بيان المجهول التي وجدت في شوارع مدينة ملكال في شهر اكتوبر الماضي, وكرد فعل طبيعي دفع من رابطة واتحادطلاب فشودة بالجامعات والمعاهد العليا قرروا ان يتركوا خلافاتهم الداخلية ويكونوا جسم يوحد شمل طلاب اي(9 (تجمع طلاب فشودة بالجامعات والمعاهد العليا
لمواجهةإحتلال المحتمل من دينكاو تحديات الحقيقية الماثلة امام الطلاب فشودة كفئة المستنيرة والمعنيين بالمستقبل المملكة فشودة 0وهي خطوة جرئ تحتاج إلى وقفة قويةو مباركة و دعم من كل قطاعات شلو المختلفة وتزويدهم بحقائق التاريخية وخرائط من قبل كبار شلو حتى يتمكنوا من تمليك المعلومات عن ارض شلو لكل طلاب في الجامعات وطلاب شلو بصفة خاصة في مختلف الجامعات السودانية0
اما عن تجمع طلاب دينكا اعالي النيل الكبرى بإضافة الى دينكا في اتحاد فدانق, فاعتبرها مجرد جسم وهمي وهلامي يفتقر الى ابجديات التعامل مع الواقع0 لان ادمغة حبيسي التاريخ لا ينظرون الى الواقع ومتغيراته0فإذا كانوا يمتلكون قوة ولم ولن يناذلوا عن اي شبر من اراضيهم حسب اقوالهم لماذا لم يدافعوا عن اهلهم في ابيي عند صعقهم من قبل جيوش الجرار من قبيلة مسيرية, بل وجدنا ان المناضلين من ابناء شلو هم الذين دافعوا عن ابيي وسقطوا في صفوف الامامية0 في لحظة التي هرب فيها شبان ابيي مندسين مع الفتيات والاطفال منز انطلاقة الطلقة الاولى0 اين القوة واين الدفاع عن اي شبر من ارضهم؟ فقط تخويف وهراب ومحاولات يائسة0 ما اود ان اقوله لبني شلو هو توحيد جهود كل فئاتنا وجهودنا من اجل مستقبل افضل لاجيال الغد واخذ الموضوع بجدية0
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01-11-2008 11:31:50 |Unregistered| Kimo Ajing Aba (john-kimo S. A
Thanks to Mr. James Okuk for bringing up this issue of land, though we should have deliberate on it much earlier and reach certain consensus about it. ALso while deliberating on such a communical and common issue we should not indulge in the politics of calling and giving names (for example we should refer to Mr. Gatlwak Deng as the Governor of Upper Nile; without further inferences), because this is a matter which concern Collo as whole, including those who are NCP members. I sugest that our political affliations should not hold any ground here until we fininsh dealing with the issue thoroughly.
Right now we Collo must act because this is one of our inelinable rights which we must stand up for. The CPA is very clear, it stipulates that "The Land Belongs to the Community".This meaans Collo land belongs to the Collo people; hence its belong to the Fashoda Kingdom; as Mr. James Okuk illustrated that correctly.
Our Members of Parliamentin Juba have got a big job to do now,let me start with Hon. Abuk Payiti, Hon. Henry Omai, Hon. Natali Aywuk, Hon. Samson Oyay, whom we should address and help in taking the issue of our land to the Regional Assembly in Juba, and to our president H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit.
But, more importantly, let us involve our King His Majesty/ Kwong Dak Padyiet to seek an audience with the President Salva Kiir Mayardit,by going to Juba because the King is the Protector and Guardian of our Land,Soil, and directly in charge of peace and stability of our motherland. As such He can not accept his children to be uprooted from the land of the ancestors, at the same time; and in his majest justice, will help those Dinka find their orignalland in the South Sudan,if at all they have no place to go. But to do this we must unite and unite behind our King and urge him strongly in name of the common good of Collo.All the chiefs and Sultants all over Southern Sudan kept coming to Juba and meet occasionally with our president, why not our King?.In doing so he will be the most senior and highest chief of chiefs ever to meet and find officail answers from our president on such a security and integral issue of land.
Finally we should start an awarness program among our Dinka brothers and sisters and bring to their attention the encroachments of their kin- fellow tribe men and avoid generalization of the issue at any cost.
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01-11-2008 12:49:03 |Unregistered| Dr olaw
Thanks to my friend Okuk for this essential informations he deliberated,it is through knowledge first(I am saying first because other options are not excluded as far as the situatio demands)that we can confront these ignorant and arrogant elements,keep the fire burning.
Again I am happy to hear from Dr.Albino that our students are united.indeed this is encouraged and is the only way we can triumph.
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01-11-2008 18:17:21 |Unregistered| James Okuk
Dear brethren, thanks a lot for your fruitful comments which has added a good value to the discussion on our land problems with the Dinka. I agree with your idea of avoiding making references without a point but what I said about governor Gatlwak in the article is not out of blue. I wanted to delete what I wrote before I posted the article but I maintained it for a purpose that I heard that H.E.Gatlwak went to question our beloved King Kwong Dak Padiet last month on the reaction of Collo in Malakal about the Dinka claims over Malakal. He told our King that he is not happy with him because he is not telling the Shilluk not to mobilize themselves again Dinka inside Malakal as a reaction to the circulated memo.The king was said to have replied him that he did not mobilized anybody but heard that some people are doing so.
In my analysis and from the way Governor Gatwak was praised by Dinka in the appeal written to him, I am seeing that this governor could play this contentous issue as a good card to rally some Dinka groups behind him during the coming elections of governors in Southern Sudan. He did not tell these Dinka elements to stop what they are doing but instead went to tell our king to tell Collo not to react. In this way, H.E. Gatwak Deng Garang may not be judged to be neutral because he is one of the people who thinks Malakal does not belong to Collo. He belittled Collo in his book which he published in 2007 by saying that Collo are not the majority inUpper Nile State as it stands now without Jonglei and Unity States.
Here is something written to me by a certain Dinka man in Malakal. I hope you will reply him.
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Dear Okuk.
Congratulation for hearing that your Ph.D learner student. In fact I could consent with you on the issue of the land occupation which now become the most tribalic issues in the most part of the Southern Sudan .But partially I would differ from you in some minute
things that this issue you're not the one that can propogate it, since it's paramount issue that need to be done officially on the government level rather than to do it in the studies level which could show no sounded minded way.
Iam sure if you 're Ph.D student that statement is not the word that you can say because this governmemt & the people occupied the land of the others people tomorrow you may come to rule them. If you 're throwing word now ,what about tommorrow you become some things in the government level. I think that word you can withdraw it.
Best Regard
Wiyual Lul Kuer
Malakal- Sudan
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01-11-2008 21:59:25 |Unregistered| okuc ajak
شكرا للاخ جيمس لهذا الثحليل الهادف يجب ان يستمر التعبئة في اوساط مجتمعنا ونذكرهم بين الحين والاخر بكل المستجدات فيما يتعلق بما نواجهه من تهديدات ومخاطر من قبل الغزاة الجدد والا نلتفت لمواقف الوالي قلواك او هرطقة وتخاريف سلطان دنقجول لاننا اصحاب حق وقضية فنحن اللذين اغتصبت اراضينا ونحن اللذين نتعرض للوعيد والتهديد بين الحين والاخر عبر المنشورات والمذكرات .لذلك علينا اليوم قبل الغد البدء في اتخاذ الخطوات العملية تجاه التصدي تلك المشاكل .لا يجب من بعد اليوم ان نكون في حالة الدفاع لتقديم الردود على مذكراتهم ومنشوراتهم التي يطلقونه بين الحين والاخر ,يجب ان نكون من بعد اليوم من يوزعون المنشورات والمذكرات مطالبين هؤلاء المغتصبين بالجلاء عن اراضينا والا سيواجهون العواقب يجب ان نرفع قضايانا وتظلماتنا الى حكومة الجنوب عبر ممثلينا .سوف لن ينصفنا احد او يلتفت الينا اذا لم نسمعهم صوتنا عاليا .يكفي الى هذا الحد لاننا قد تغاضينا كثيرا عن الظلم والتهميش الذي تعرضناله في تقلد المناصب على كافة المستويات ولكن ان يصل الحال الى اغثصاب الاراضي والتهديد بالترحيل من ارض الاجداد فهذا ما لا يمكن السكوت عليه .سوف يتحمل من بداوا بالامر العواقب المترتبة علي فعلهم ان لم يتم رفع الظلم ورد الحقوق الى اهلها
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02-11-2008 08:19:28 |Unregistered| Dr .Albino Amum Awin
نسبة لاخطاء المطبعية التي صاحبت تعليقي عن المقال اود ان اعيد التعليق مرة اخرى لتصحيح الاخطاء0
اشكر الاخ جيمس صلمون لسرده بعض الحقائق التاريخية عن ارض مملكة فشودة والمزكرات التي قدمت من بعض سلاطين دينكا دونقجول لسيد قلواك دينق حاكم ولاية اعالي النيل بخصوص إستيلا على اراضي شلو الواقعة على الضفة الشرقية لنيل ومدينة ملكال0
في إعتقادي ان ما يحدث الان ليس خطط دينكا نقوك و دونقجول لوحدهم, بل هناك مساندة ودعم سياسي في اَن واحد من جهات ما, ودليل على ذلك تعزيزات وترسانة العسكرية التي تمتلكها مواطنين دينكا اعالي النيل0 ولو نظرت في مضمون البيان التي اصدرتها ما تسمي بإتحاد طلاب فدانق بالجامعات والمعاهد العليا 0 اكدوا فيه كل النقاط التي ورد في بيان المجهول الذي وجد ملقي في شوارع مدينة ملكال في اكتوبر الماضي ,مما دفع برابطة واتحاد طلاب فشودة بالجامعات ان يتركوا خلافاتهم الداخلية ويكونوا جسم يوحد شمل طلاب فشودةبالجامعات, اي (تجمع طلاب فشودة بالجامعات والمعاهد العليا) لمواجهة إحتلال المحتمل من مليشيات دينكا وتحديات الحقيقية الماثلة امام طلاب فشودة بالجامعات والمعاهد العليا كفئة المستنيرة والمعنيين بالغد ومستقبل مملكة فشودة واراضيها ,وتعتبر الخطوة عملية وجرئة تحتاج إلى وقفة قوية ومباركة ودعم بكل انواعها من كبار وكل قطاعات مجتمع شلو المختلفة وتذوبد هذا الجسم (تجمع) بحقائق التاريخية وخرائط عن ارض شلو حتى يتمكنوا من تمليك المعلومات لكل طلاب الجامعات وطلاب شلو بصفة خاصة في مختلف الجامعات 0
اما عن تجمع طلاب دينكا اعالي النيل الكبرى بإضافة إلى دينكا ابيي في كتلة او تسمى بإتحاد طلاب فدانق بالجامعات والمعاهد العليا ودفاعهم العمياء عن عشيرتهم دينكا دونقجول ونقوك ,فاعتبره مجرد جسم وهمي وهلامي يفتقر إلى ابجديات التعامل مع الواقع نتيجة لان ادمغة حبيس التاريخ لا يبصرون الواقع ومتغيراته0, فإذا كانوا يمتلكون القوة والهزيمة لدفاع عن فكرتهم الارهابية ولم ولن يتناذلوا عن اي شبر من اراضيهم حسب اقوالهم ,فلماذا لم يستخدموا تلك القوة لدفاع عن اهلهم في ابيي عند صعقهم من قبل جيش الجرار من قوات قبيلة مسيرية ؟0بل وجدنا ان المناضلين من ابناء شلو ونوير هم الذين دفعوا الغالي ونفيس و دافعوا عن ابيي حتى سقطوا في صفوف الامامية فدية عن ارض ابيي, في لحظة التي هرب فيها شبان ابيي مندسين مع الفتيات والاطفال منز انطلاق طلقة الاولى , اين القوة ودفاع ؟0 فقط تخويف إرهاب وتهديد ومحاولات يائسة0
, ما اود ان اقوله لبني شلو هو توحيد كل فئاتنا وجهودنا من اجل مستقبل افضل واخذ القضية بجدية0
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02-11-2008 09:56:40 |Unregistered| Daniel Amum
I want to express my appreciation for the efford made by our brother Okuk for obtaining these vital informations for the readers to consume. Time of ignorant is over, the information is more powerful then weapons because through these informations you can make strategical plans to demolish any unthical claim by nirrowminded people who think they are everything. This kind miscalcuation will bring negative impact on their leaderships. As Okuk mentioned these misregarded communities will unite to eliminate this ''big tribe''that want to swallow anything in South South. Let me confirmed this argument by what was written in Khartoum Monitor on 30 October, Vol7, Issue 1677, the article speaks about illegal sale and grabbing of land in Nimmule by SPLA commenders. The mentioned name in that article was major General Wilson Deng Kouirot, who station in Juba, and he rented a land in Nimule to Somali man, when people or citizen questioned the Somalian, he told them that this land was rented to him by the mentioned commender with $600. When the community rejected the deal commender send in his own security men bitting up every body who question the Somali man.With argument that they are people who librate those lands with their blood. Therefore, they have right to live wherever they wish,and to take whatever they wish.
Brother Okuk what you said that ''big tribe is getting immersed into unnecessary conflicts and troubles within itself and with it good neihbour'', this is totally true, this may indicate that Dinkas are disorganize community because no body among Dinka that challenge the attitude of their members,or this is imperial spirit enslaving Dinkas.
Please allowed me to add something here, this days are hot debate in related to uncertain in Malakal. In one debate one Nuer man said why do Collo said that the land is belong to Reth, he think that this claim is a wrong for land belong to God?? He wants to deny that Collo is not an inhabitant of Malakal. He point out that Malakal was build by the money of all communities?? no tribe have right to claim Malakalas his own. Now the Nuer is watching the tension between Collo and Dinka closely with hope they may fight so that the one who have right will take his right by force. He went on to argue that when ''the blind major in Upper Nile State'' take decision no body will stop them, and Malakal will not be the same again.He calls his own community and he accused other communities of calling Nuers blind people, but now there eyes are open, and those who think that their eyes were open early mustbe reminded that Nuer eyes are open Another one said if Collo think that they more educated in the State why are they been governed by Nuer for so long. In other words, this expression may imply that Malakal belong to Nuer. What I sense in this baseless argument is that Collo is target by those who called themselves ''big communities in Sudan''. Collo you are not fighting one frontline war but many wars which you should be ready to wage them bravely. Let put our hands together to face any threat to our existence
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02-11-2008 10:54:52 |Unregistered| Dr olaw
We should not open more than one front at the same time.the Nuer who spoke did not put it officily,and was representing himself unlike others who have written memos.again the enemy of your enemy is your friend.lets concentrate on these wrong elements of dinka,
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02-11-2008 17:41:15 |Unregistered| Dr .Albino Amum Awin
in addition to what Dr Olaw said .opening of more than one front, it will make us in confrontation with many minor enemies and make Dinka to alie with nuer which in turn scatter our efforts and decrease our strength to face invation of our land by dinka. so we should stop any front till we solve problem of Dinka ,then we will look to any other case.
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02-11-2008 18:47:16 |Unregistered| Tipo William Mel
there are a lot of challenges on the way, so people need to pioritize them in order of importance,and let us learn from Jesus teaching when he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. Of course, exposing all fruitless deed into the light to become visible is very important, but it needs wisdom and vigilance. so brothers and sisters, we need to be very careful whenever we do our comments. Not everything can be discuss in the street, some should be discuss at home.
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02-11-2008 19:11:40 |Unregistered| William Okuch Dak
Great job Mr. James.
Accept my profound heartfelt appreciation for your rich contribution.
You know, Collo people are not only vital community in defending Sudan militarily, but also in providing good discipline for those who are hunger and thirsty for righteous knowledge.
War in which Collo people have paid heavy prices might be over. But the complicated one which is building nation again is encroaching Collo which requires each one of Collo people to contribute in anyway she/he could to make South better place to live.
Our contribution must be massive and individual role based on peaceful mobilization and sometime violence for subduing wild people.
Do not be hesitate in applying whatever might bring stability.
So, we are morally constrained to continue correcting and discipling other people who are still living in illusion.
PROVERBS 15:4 " THE TONGUE THAT BRINGS HEALING IS A TREE OF LIFE,
BUT A DECEIFUL TONGUE CRUSHES THE SPIRIT".
Speak now Collo, as you did during the war. Speak for yourself and for others who need you.
Your blessed nation.
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03-11-2008 05:29:36 |Unregistered| Daniel Amum
Dear brothers I'm not interested to drag you into baseless confrontation with any communities in South Sudan,but the fact will remain the same whether today or tomorrow we will face it. Take precuation from now because there is no smoke without fire.Due to my personal concern with the matter,I forced to seek the opinion of other communities about the claim posted by Dinka community to see there reactions, and these are the kind of finding I posted to you for your consumation.If I have cause unrest in our reaction to Dinka.Please allow me to apology to all the readers for bring to your attention my finding reactions from Nuer community.
God blesses you so much.
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03-11-2008 07:14:17 |Unregistered| Nyaopun Aban Aban
Thanks, James Okuk to highlight us, with what the Dinkaman wrote to you privately.
Dear Wiyual Lul Kuer
These Issues of land grabbers can't let you to differ with Okuk, because you are very people who don't let truest to be mention.The Article was to orient you of what you are scrabbling for. The Peopling of Dinkas you are pointing
Need to be shown theirs territory of where they belong to origin.
Too honestly to you, for James Okuk to works in the government you are mentioning need amendments first of all for good governing.
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03-11-2008 07:26:52 |Unregistered| omony Albino
I was not interested to air some fact out about the claim of what so called Ngok pan yak about Malakal, but I felt duty bounded to put the fact at rest. Ngok pan yak are one of the clan that belongs to Abeyie areas. They migrated to the Chollo areas when some part of their land was taken by Messiriyia tribe as part of an agreement between their chiefs and Messiriyia people. It was the Messiriyia whom they welcome as IDPs but not chollo.
Ngok pan yak (Ngok jieng) they need to be reminded that Chollo tribe is not a low land that the water from high land can flow into, they are typical valley if tempered with the water will flow back to it source (abeyie). Myopic analysis is part of jieng culture they are found of repeating the history. If they are true habitant of Malakal why do thy go to fangak to perform their rituals, it is apparent that rituals are done in ones original home land but not any around.
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03-11-2008 07:37:20 |Unregistered| Omony Albino
لم يهمّ أنا كان أن يهوّي بعض حقيقة خارجا حول الإدعاء من ما ما يسمّى [نغك] حوض طبيعيّ [يك] حول [ملكل], غير أنّ أنا [فلت] واجب رسم يحدّ أن يضع الحقيقة في إستراحة. [نغك] حوض طبيعيّ [يك] واحدة من العشيرة أنّ ينتسب إلى [أبي] مناطق. هم هاجروا إلى [شلّو] مناطق عندما أخذت بعض جزء من أرضهم كان ب [مسّيرييا] قبيلة كجزء إتفاق بين هم رؤساء و [مسّيرييا] الناس. هو كان [مسّيرييا] الّذي هم يرحّبون ك [إيدبس] غير أنّ لا [شلّو].
[نغك] حوض طبيعيّ [يك] ([نغك] [جينغ]) هم يحتاجون أن يكون ذكّرت أنّ [شلّو] قبيلة ليس أرض منخفضة أنّ الماء من أرض عال يستطيع تدفّقت داخل, هم يكون واد نموذجيّة إن يليّن مع الماء سيتدفّق [بك تو] هو مصدر ([أبي]). تحليل [موبيك] جزء من [جينغ] ثقافة هم يكون أسّست من يكرّس التاريخ. ذهبت إن هم يكونون يصحّ ساكنة [ملكل] لما أتمّت [ثي] إلى [فنغك] أن ينجز طقوسهم, هو ظاهرة أنّ طقوس أتمّت في أحد أرض أصليّة بيتيّ غير أنّ لا أيّ حوالي
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03-11-2008 18:37:42 |Unregistered| Dr olaw
Please Omony write in english you are excelent in it.I realy suffered to understand the arabic comment,I hope it is the typing not the language.Accept my advise.
Regards
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03-11-2008 23:56:37 |Unregistered| William Okuch Dak
My dearest Rev. Daniel, you need not to apology, but to search and reveal what is so vital for all of Collo and Southerners.
Northerners never appoint wise leaders in South, but idiot and ignorant representatives.
Dinka has been monopolizing the opportunities of political, media, commercial and military occupations since Sudan independence. They do emerge into those occupations not because they are well educated and diligent people, but Northern masters who distribute power know their point of weakness.
Collo never complain however about such dominations because Collo knows such nomial opportunities are full of poisons to spoil those leaders and their people as well.
But not this time Rev. Daniel. Dinka has reached the limitation and no Collo man or woman can permit our brothers `Dinka to across such line. Therefore, it is not your findings that have infuriated Collo people, but Dinka's unlawful ordering, that our people must leave or face consequences.
At this stage, no Collo man or woman can afford silence or to leave and live as refugee because of our brother Dinka. No, no, it is time to die than living as refugee or displace.
So please, it is moral duty of every Collo man and woman to play his/her contribution to deter stupid conspiracy.
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04-11-2008 04:11:44 |Unregistered| Ayiik Paul
What a great contribution from brother Okuk ! Bravo! never give up, this is the time to teach Dinka because they made a double mistakes; by claiming for land ownership and falling to read and understand the trusth about collo story and their origin, rather than thier shallow and basseless knowlegde.Let me remain them that this mordern world defend on proven fact not on myth.
Dear collo,we have mentioned some of the significans for the Dinka hyphothesis.What I am wondering is whether they read it or not, because all of our effort should be convyed to the right people (Dinka or thier leaders) othewise our stand will be lost on air.Have we noticed any progress or reaction so far ? we need not only telling them our privilege but also beacuse we will never stop from here. there are lots ahead to discuse about, we have shown a sign of unity but should be seen on the ground. Do we need to add more pressure or wait pateintly for the slow respond from the concerned people, or our right had been denied.What Okuk wrote should be forwarded to the other media beacuuse nothing will stop the trusth to be heard; other southern need to know more about Dinka's hidden agenda.
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04-11-2008 11:07:12 |Unregistered| Omony Albino
Thank you brother Dr. Olaw for your advice on commets that I posted in arbic, infact I dont write Arbic I just tanslated it on acomputer.
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06-11-2008 14:12:13 |Unregistered| majok
I appreciated some mature comment like Omony who is highlighting on history of course every community has the history.In fact every thing need to be related to facts other then talking nonsense like my friend Aban who based his argument on all Dinkas that is a premature kind of presenting issues that may involves other communities in the near future.
and thanks.
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09-11-2008 09:11:52 |Unregistered| Dr olaw
Ok i agree with u that generalization is not wise.but what is your opinion?I have not seen a single Dinka condeming his vicious brothers who are prvoking unnecessarory confrontations.comeout and stop them so that we know they are isolated elements not popular.
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Salva Kiir needs to beware! what these bad elements are doing from Dinka is the distortion of his leadership in South Sudan and eventually Dinka's leadership position in the future. we don't want the history to repeat itsef.the Kokora that happened in the last two decades,occurred as a result of mistreatment against Equatorians by the same people. let us work together as southerners and focus our attention on protecting (CPA)from being violated and dissolved like Addis Ababa agreement,instead of wasting our time squabbling over land issues that will have a negative impact on peace agreement, because the resistance will be there from the owners and inhabitants of the land.