“When Silence is Betrayal"

I am not a good writer and I always prefer to read than write, but frankly speaking, my conscience could not bear it any longer. As a Sudanese, a Southern, a Collo and above all a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ (and not of anyone else), I have to speak out because I feel that it is our duty to advice or correct our brothers or sisters whenever things go the wrong way.

I have been following with disappointment and great sorrow what is going on in Collo land these days. This sad and annoying news deprived me from peaceful sleep for many nights….killing, looting of properties, raping, etc,… and where? In my homeland (the Collo Kingdom)!! …oh my God!! But…what is this all about… where is everybody? I saw and read a lot of articles addressing the issue but …no comments!...but how come no comments?….why are government officials silent?......but again, no comments!....silence!

So, I thought about what Martin Luther King once said (concerning Vietnam):

“A time comes when silence is betrayal"…….and I think this time has come for us concerning what is going on in Collo land. If you can keep silent and give a deaf ear to what is going on then it’s up to you but for me to hear about the suffering of my brothers and sisters and pretend as if there is nothing going on its difficult to keep silent…because at this stage my conscience considers “silence as betrayal”. The least thing I can do is to speak out.

I have two messages to convey, the first to our leaders (GOSS in general and Collo in GOSS in particular) and the second to my Collo people everywhere.

First message: to our leaders

Yes, you are our leaders and we respect you, honor you and submit to you because it is written:

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities" Romans 13:1.

So please note that whatever the scenario of your coming into power, God is the one who allowed it to happen. He is the one who appointed you (all of you leaders!); it was not by your own powers, strength or cleverness

“The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever he will, and sets over it the lowest of men" Daniel 4:17

Did you thank God for it? Isn't it a blessing that God the almighty valued you and chose you among many to fulfill his people’s needs and be their care takers?

We accepted the choice of God; we respected it because we trust Him even though sometimes we don't understand why things go that way. Unfortunately you did not accept us as your people. Some will say...No! It is the people who rejected us….to them I will say, you are the leaders, you are suppose to be wiser...If you are not wiser how will you lead the people? Even if the people rejected you, are disobedient or are plotting evil plans with enemies, you can still gain them and bring them back to you by the power of love and forgiveness and not the power of guns. Nelson Mandela once said: “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner” and God made it clear to us concerning forgiveness that “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” Jerm 32: 34

So you leaders can’t you forgive your people, your brothers and sisters, erase the bitterness of the past and open a new page?

From humanity point of view, nothing can justify the cruel acts going on in Collo kingdom these days…complete chaos, no mercy, no accountability, it is all inhuman…where are you heading to? What do you want to achieve? Are you proud of yourselves? Do you enjoy peaceful night sleep? Did you imagine yourself or a member of your families in such a situation?

Dear Collo leaders,

With due respect to you all, I think the truth must be revealed about what is going on in our kingdom because God is watching over all of us. We are all accountable to Him the Almighty.

Although you are fully aware of what is going on in Collo kingdom these days, you choose silence... Why do you forget that you have obligations towards your people, communities and families? Please judge your people with mercy “because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful” James 2:13, please don’t intimidate your Collo people for “He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind” Proverbs 11:29, I am sure you have the power to change the current situation and do what is good for your people “for God will bring every deed into judgment including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” Esscl 12: 14.

Why don't you get rid of anger and bitterness and give love and forgiveness a chance?.....isn't it worth a try? I am sure you can be good shepherds who are eager and willing to take care of the flock that was entrusted to you by God the Almighty who appointed you.

Second message: To Collo people

I know you have suffered a lot, you were let down by our leaders many times especially when they engage themselves in their non-ending differences….in which each time you were the victims. I am sure many times you felt abandoned, angry and bitter… but dear brothers and sisters…where will our anger and bitterness lead us? Isn't it harming us by causing us high blood pressures, and heart diseases and may be other illnesses ?

It is written: " In your anger do not sin, do not let the sun go down while you are still angry and do not give the devil a foothold" Ephes 4:26-27

But we have already given the devil a foothold. Look at the Collo communities everywhere they are all divided into groups and groups and groups….some are followers of Mr.X and others are followers of Mr.Y and followers of Mr. Z do not talk with those of Mr.F and those of….Hey, come on…what is this all about? I thought you Collo people are so open minded to overcome such differences!! Some of you will say, we don't have problems with either group X or Y but the problem is that these groups are working with the enemy. But have you ever tried to think about the real enemy?. Listen to this, : " Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowl's around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" 1 Peter 5:8. So if this is our real enemy …why should we give him a foothold? Why shouldn't we " resist him, standing firm in faith"  1 Peter 5:9 . Our political differences cannot justify this disarray in the lines of the Collo community. We can differ in thoughts, ideas, way things are done and so many other things…but we must all agree on one thing:

"The welfare of the Collo people"

Look to our Collo leaders….take a flash back and see how these great patriots and freedom fighters sacrificed a lot and gave a lot for the welfare of all the southerners. Some of you will say that was long ago, but now they became a stumbling block to the Collo people…but I will say…can't we give them a second chance? or may be a 3^rd or 5^th chance? Can't we open a new page and put off all our bitterness and anger and weigh all possibilities of being in peace with each other? it is written " We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves" Romans 15:1. Some will say we have given up, because these leaders will never change…but I will tell you that " what is impossible with men is possible with God" Luke 18:27

Let us use the power of love to change our leaders…for " love never fails" 1 Corth 13:8 , this was the weapon used by Martin Luther King by which he was able to change history ( if you have time to read please go to the following link http://www.mlkonline.net/enemies.html ).

Let us learn to respect our leaders irrespective of how they are or what they say for this is part of our Collo tradition. Let us learn to pray for our leaders irrespective of if they are good or bad…because God is the only One who have the power to change their hearts. Let us seek all peaceful means to end our crisis…let us try to break the silence…let us not give up because our real enemy will never give up…

" May God the Almighty bless our leaders, May He guide them to take the correct decisions, May He fill their hearts with compassion towards their people, May he protect them from the Enemy, May He give them the courage to say "sorry" and open a new page….and May God bless the Collo people and give them the courage and patience to overcome all trials…. may God unite us all for the welfare of our Collo people" Amen.