Reply to John Ashworth’s Malakal Clashes – Two Viewpoints

By James Okuk

With due respect to the British Ex-Catholic Priest (John Ashworth), I disprove some of his misperceptions and misanalyses of what had happened between Collo and Dinka in Upper Nile State, which he jotted down in his article "Malakal Clashes - Two Viewpoints" published in Gurtong.net on 19^th January 2009.

What I am saying here may hurt him and his friends but let them know that the truth has neither a friend nor an enemy. The truth is only the friend of truth-teller and enemy of the falsity-teller.

It is unfortunate for the son of a former colonialist who had served for a long time as a priest in Malakal to misinform the world that there is no tribal domination by Dinka in the government affairs of Southern Sudan and that there is "little disagreement" whether some Collo people were murdered brutally at the middle of night in Anakdiär by some shameless Dinka bandits, using heavy weapons from the SPLA.

It is well known that the former Fr. John Ashworth has not been neutral in the differences of Southerners among themselves. For example, during the 1991 split of the SPLM/A mainstream into Nasir and Torit factions, Mr. Ashworth has been known for his animosity towards Dr. Lam Akol as it was clearly evidenced in some of his advocacy writings against SPLM/A-United. Hence, I am not surprised of his pretension to be neutral now. He seems to be still on one side of the conflict!

Mr. Ashworth recommends in his article that Southerners should beware of the tactics of "Divide and Rule" used by his grandfathers and fathers and later adopted by Jellaba of Northern Sudan, but at the same time, he contradictorily applies the same tactics on Collo people by trying to instigate that the current Malakal Ownership and land conflict between the Collo and Dinka has its beneficiaries: those who are not in good terms with Reth Kwongo Dak Padiet. This means that the Ex-Priest is happy to see Collo divided with some of them soaring relationship with the Reth (King). Also his article suggests that he is so sad to see that Collo people are getting united and all of them are almost becoming friends of the Reth Kwongo and lovers of their brothers.

I had wished that Mr. Ashworth would highly hail the common firm stand taken by Collo MPs, VIPs and Intellectuals against the burnings of Collo villages, confiscation of Collo properties (land), killings and displacement of Collo people and their humiliation by some Dinka people in Upper Nile State!!! Alas, the British Ex-Priest took the devil role by condemning the Unity of Collo but at the same time pretending to encourage Unity of Southerners. Isn't it logical and truthful that Unity of Every Tribe in Southern Sudan is very crucial for cementing the Greater Unity of all tribes or ethnic communities of Southern Sudan? I am ready to go for a performance of catholic penitence rite if I am wrong of criticizing the former British Priest, John Ashworth.

Again, I am surprised that Mr. Ashworth is ignoring the fact that some of the Dinka Traditional Chiefs and Religious Leaders (Pastors) have been part of the problem between the Collo and Dinka. In fact, it were some Dinka Traditional Chiefs and Pastors who were writing inciting appeals to the GoSS and Upper Nile Government to take away Collo lands and give it to Dinka. The Collo people responded to the appeal by saying "No" but in a legal manner and not by killings, burnings and displacement of Dinka from the invaded and occupied areas of Collo. The documents and all proofs are there with the specific names of some Dinka Chiefs and Pastors from Dinka Padang Community. Let Mr. Ashworth ask for these documents and witnesses if he doubts me.

Given these fresh facts, how can a priest with knowledge of communities of Southern Sudan, especially Upper Nile State (and particularly Dink and Collo) recommend the engineers of troubles to take the lead in resolving the mess they are deeply involved in? This is a ridiculous recommendation from the Ex-Catholic Priest who pretend to be a human right activist on behalf of Southerners.

James Okuk. PhD Studemt, University of Nairobi.