"We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing" By Konstantin Josef Jireček, a Czech historian, diplomat and slavist.
Reasons behind the defection of Maj. Gen. James Duit Yiech For Immediate Release Joint Statement of SSDF, NDF, SSLA and SSDA Date: 07/05/2012
The leadership of South Sudan revolutionary forces would like to clarify to the world the reasons behind the defection of Maj. Gen. James Duit Yiech with one hundred and thirty soldiers to the forces of corruption (SPLA) on May, 05, 2012. The media of corrupt government in Juba fabricated and concocted reasons behind his defection to deceive the people of South Sudan in away to make it appear that a large number of revolutionary forces surrendered to the forces of corruption. In fact, Maj. Gen. James Duit Yiech defected to the forces of corruption with only one hundred and thirty soldiers. What is reported by the forces of corruption that he defected with two hundred and fifteen soldiers is untrue.
Prior to his defection, the leadership of revolutionary forces held an emergency meeting in Maban to discuss the consolidation of military alliance of all rebel Movements and the need to establish a political organ that would serve as basis of National Transitional Council (NTC). The meeting discussed mobilization and strategy of the liberation struggle and concluded the followings points:
1. The success of any armed liberation movement depends on the effectiveness and efficiency of its mobilization strategies to reach out to the target groups for support in terms of human resources to voluntarily join its operations to faster its liberation purposes.
2. The dissolution of the current government of the Republic of South Sudan so as to be replaced by a national broad-base, multiparty system of government, agreed upon by all the political forces, revolutionary forces and civil society organizations.
3. To install and promote the culture of respect for human rights, and democracy, as well as good governance and rule of law for the benefits of all citizens of South Sudan.
4. In order for revolutionary forces to be effective in spearheading a national liberation struggle against the regime in Juba, it was agreed that they needed to extend their operations to Greater Equatoria. Since Greater Equatoria is the heart of SPLM regime and also the seat of National Government, fighting the regime within Greater Equatoria territories will hit the regime in Juba so hard that both the international community and South Sudanese community will feel the presence of revolutionary forces.
5. The restructuring of the military command of revolutionary forces is a prerequisite for the operational successes against the forces of corruption. It was agreed that old commanders must be replaced by young and educated officers in the field. It was also agreed that high school, college and university graduates must replace the less educated in commanding the battalions of revolutionary forces to fight effectively. The idea of replacing old commanders with young ones was precipitated by the notion that no organization—be it political or none-political—could ever be effective in society, and successfully executes its programs, as well as attain its vision, without proper organizational structures.
6. The revolutionary forces need to identify ethnic groups in South Sudan that are marginalized and are subjugated by the SPLM regime in order to be the backbone of the revolutionary forces.
As a result of the points agreed upon by the leadership of the revolutionary forces in the meeting, Lt. Gen. Gordon Koang Chol ordered the replacement of Maj. Gen. James Duit Yiech and Brig. Gen. James Duoth Lam. The former is a sixty eight year-old man and the latter is sixty seven and both are too old to effectively command. As it was agreed that young and educated officers must command the battalions of the revolutionary forces, Lt. Gordon Koang appointed university graduates from North America to replace Maj. Gen. James Duit Yiech and Brig. Gen. James Duoth Lam.
The new policy of replacing old commanders with young and educated officers didn’t sit well with James Duit Yiech and James Duoth Lam. Their defection to forces of corruption on May, 05, 2012 was caused by their rejection of accepting to serve as military advisors instead to command the battalions.
The defection of the two old men will not affect the revolutionary forces and it is a blessing in disguise because the transformation of military structures within revolutionary forces will be realized without them. People may wonder whether Salva Kiir will keep sixty eight and sixty seven year olds in the ranks and file of his forces without violating the law of retirement. It is a normal practice among civilized people all over the world that people approaching seventy can no longer serve in the army. If Salva Kiir would rely on using outdated soldiers like James Duit Yiech and James Duoth Lam, it follows logically that the young and educated officers of the revolutionary forces will defeat the forces of corruption without spending much energy.
The allegations made by the regime in Juba that the revolutionary forces are being supported by the government of Sudan are lies and James Duit Yiech was prepared and advised to make false accusations to suit the propaganda of Juba. We would state, in no uncertain terms, that the forces of SSDF, SSLA, NDF and SSDA do not receive any financial or military support from Sudan government. The main supplier of our forces is the regime of Salva Kiir whose forces defected to the rebel forces with cars and weapons. The cars shown on South Sudan Television are SPLA army cars and do not belong to forces of James Duit Yiech. Maj. Gen. James Duit Yiech and Brig. Gen. James Duoth Lam defected to the forces of corruption without cars. The corrupt regime of Juba gave them SPLA cars to take pictures in order to consolidate its false accusation that the Sudan government supports the revolutionary forces. The truth is that James Duit Yiech defected to the forces of corruption without cars.
In conclusion, we would like to inform the people of South Sudan that James Duith Yiech and James Duoth Lam defected to the forces of corruption because they rejected to be replaced by young and educated officers who would safeguard the democratic revolution. It is the belief of the revolutionary forces that young and educated South Sudanese should be the one commanding the forces because without educated military officers, it would be difficult to preserve democratic government in South Sudan after the total elimination and destruction of Salva Kiir’s regime. To prepare the South for democratic transformation, the leadership of revolutionary forces decided to replace all field commanders of the rebel forces with officers who graduated from universities and Colleges. After the defection of James Duit Yiech, the forces of SSDF in Maban, Longichuk and Maiwut counties are now commanded by university graduates from North America.
Signed,
1. Lt. Gen. Gordon Koang, head of SSDF
2. Maj. Gen. James Gai Yoach. Head of SSLA
3. Maj. Gen. Johnson Olony, head of SSDA
4. Maj. Gen. Thomas Thiel, head of NDF
Email: southsudanliberationarmy@hotmail.com
Email:ssdmssda@hotmail.com
Response from Gatluak Nyak Titit
Hello guys,
If the defection of Duit Yiech and Duoth Lam was caused by rejection of being replaced by Gordon Koang Chuol with young and graduate officers, how old is Gordon Koang Chuol and what was his educational background? I think that was simply a justifiable idea to relief the stresses facing the remained leaders on the North Sudan. As well, it is not true that the main supplier of their forces is the regime of Salva Kiir rather Bashir’s dictating government.
Although James Duoth and James Duit defected for that reason, they made a remarkable decision at the right time at the right place. However, there is no person from North American University graduate commanding the forces of SSDF in Maban, Longichuk and Maiwut counties after the defection of James Duit Yiech. That is false information since those counties are still under the President Kirr’s leadership.
Most of the people who are Longichuk and Maiwut descendants are having their own issues fearing them to join their people as a result of the wrong things done under the Pinylik (Something Jikany) moment.
If “it is the belief of the revolutionary forces that young and educated South Sudanese should be the one commanding the forces because without educated military officers, it would be difficult to preserve democratic government in South Sudan”, are those young educated having a good understanding of their mission and plan to lead the nation? That is not true also because during the SPLA/M period there were a lot of misunderstandings among the most educated leaders (DR. Garang, Dr. Lam and Dr. Riek) that led to defection (Nasir Declaration) of Dr Riek and Dr Lam from Dr Garang. Therefore, the clarification to the world about the reasons behind the defection of Maj. Gen. James Duit Yiech with one hundred and thirty soldiers to the forces of SPLA on May, 05, 2012 is not true either.
I believe that the people who need the stability of the Republic of South Sudan will deeply appreciate the great decision made by James Duoth Lam and James Duit Yiech. And both of them should receive a warm welcome, and therefore, to disempower the notion of food fighters bribed by President Omar (Muul) Al-Bashir to fight their own people.
Duit Yiech…OYEEE
Duoth Lam…. OYEEE
South Sudanes Unity………..OYEEE
Republic of South Sudan……………………OYEEEEEEEEE
Regards,
Gatluak Nyak Titit
Victoria, Australia
Dear Gatluak,
Did you tell John Garang before 2005 to stop fighting and join the government in Khartoum to “bring change from within”? We have decided that change in South Sudan will come through barrel of the gun. We spent 2.5 million to get independence. We can also spend 3 million to get rid of Salva Kiir.If you are with Salva Kiir, that is your own choice and when we come to fight your friend, prepare to defend yourself. I am not somebody who can be persuaded that war is bad. War is good as long as it will lead to demise of Salva Kiir like Muamar Gaddafi.
The line is drawn: EITHER YOU ARE WITH ME OR AGAINST ME. If you are on the side of Salva Kiir, prepare yourself for war. When I say that change in South Sudan will come from barrel of the gun, I am not joking. Nobody in this world will convince me that war is bad.
When Peter Gatdet defected to SPLA last year, a lot of naive people thought that the rebellion would come to an end. SSLA existed without Gatdet and became stronger without him. The same thing to the defection of James Duit Yiech and James Duoth Lam who do not want to accept generational change. Gordon Koang made it clear that young people should be empowered to lead the rebellion against Salva Kiir’s regime. Thomas Duoth Makuach, who was murdered together with George Athor, was an American citizen.Dr Simon Thor Kuon, who has a PhD from Canada, is now in Maban together with Gordon Koang because he left his family in Canada in order to liberate his people from tribal government in Juba. There are other five Nuer from USA and Canada in the field with them but they are not known to supporters of corruption in Juba. Very soon, those who are celebrating the capitulation of James Duit Yiech will be mourning when they hear the news that will come from Upper Nile State. The revolutionary forces in Upper Nile are composed of highly educated guys who are now planning military attacks against the forces of corruption and government of Simon Kun Puoch. It is a matter of time that Malakal town itself will be burning.The South Sudan revolutionaries are fighting to get rid of satan in Juba. Even if they get help from Osama Bin Laden, there is nothing wrong with that as long as it will lead to demise of Salva Kiir. John Garang got assistance from Sadiq Al-Mahdi who onced fought him. There is nothing wrong for a smart person to kill Salva Kiir with Bashir’s stick.Gordon Buay
DEAR Buay Malek Chuol,
The real South South Sudanese are thinking about the peace and the development of the Republic of South Sudan. Anyone against that idea like you should not pretend himself to be a South Sudanese. The SPLA/M opponents are those who are challenging the current system systematically but not through war.
If you think you will get rid of President Kiir from South Sudan leadership, do not just talk in Canada, go and join President Omar Al-Bashir’s bribed forces and come to South Sudan and fight for your food.
I would encourage you to go back to your right tracks of developing the peaceful way to challenge the SPLM’s current system. That language of war will not bring prosperity to our country even though you will be the next president as you predicted last year in the black house. Everyone has been waiting for you to have been announced as a successor of President Kiir but nothing has been heard since then. I think you failed to do so.
Anyway, your ideas are very supportive in term of challenging the system but it seems as you are assassinating your political career if you are.
Regarding your question whether the First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan, and the former Sudan People Libration Army/Moment Dr. John Garang Deng Mabior was encouraged to stop war and change the system within, No ONE could have done that because we were fighting for freedom of the Southern Sudanese at that time. It is not anyway the same as what is happening in the South Sudanes rebels of today who are just fighting for individual interest not for the public interest.
The reality today in the South Sudan is that there is a dissatisfactions in some cases that make other citizens unhappy…… However, the corruption you have mentioned frequently should not be addressed through war although we know it exists, but through peaceful and systematic challenge in the South Sudan Medias, and through campaigns where the contested candidates can throughout all things that reveal the misrepresentation and mismanagement of the country budget. If there is a corruption in the South Sudan, it will never be eradicated of the country through a bribery war from North Sudan.
Regarding your question whether the First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan, and the former Sudan People Libration Army/Moment Dr. John Garang Deng Mabior was encouraged to stop war and change the system within, No ONE could have done that because we were fighting for freedom of the Southern Sudanese at that time. It is not anyway the same as what is happening in the South Sudanes rebels of today who are just fighting for individual interest not for the public interest.
The reality today in the South Sudan is that there is a dissatisfactions in some cases where some of the citizens are not happy…… However, the corruption you have mentioned frequently (in South Sudan) should not be addressed through war although we know it exists, but through peaceful and systematic challenge in the South Sudan Medias, and through campaigns where the contested candidates can throughout all things that reveal the misrepresentation and mismanagement of the country budget. If there is a corruption in the South Sudan, it will never be eradicated of the country through a bribery war from North Sudan. You need to create your own party because your needs will not be accommodated by the other person’s leadership.
You did not answere whether Gordon Koang Chuol is both young and educated among the other young educated, and ellegible to re-arrange his officers’ positions. Still the explanation you have given again doen not help. The reality is that James Duoth and James Duit had decided to reject the bribery mission of Omar Al-Bashir to fight South Sudanes. Dennying this fact will never help you in your daily steps.
The rejection of Pastor Thor Kon Yuot of his honourable career will never help him successful in that bribery politic. South Sudan is government nowaday, and therefore need to bear in mind that jumping onto wrong side will result on the individual including yourself. Although it is having a corrupt minded individuals, defection of its own native will never overthrow its leadership.
To be successful, you need to join South Sudanese politics practically and endorse your ideas. Dr. Lam Akol is better than everyone of those who are bribed by Omar to fight your own people because he stay in South Sudan challenging government’s daily activities. That is how politic go. I was and still so sorry about the death of our brother you mentioned alongwith George Athor. He was so beloved man but died on the wrong side. I was so sad during the news of his death since I knew him physically and practically. So, as a future leaders, we need to educate ourselves to challenge individuals within the system while together.
Gordon, you are well aware of the Werstern politics that opposition stay in the same parliament with the ruling party throwing the relavant ideas that will convince the votes during the election. That is what we the Young South Sudanese should do instead of encouraging and support our people who defecting from our government to join the enemy. Their death in their attack on the land of the South Sudan will be like death of oxen killed for (Lualdit or Kuth Jiakni) Satan.
Your ideas are so strong brother Buay that might lead us to the good governance but you need to change your direction. I personally support most of your Ideas but now, I regrete to support this idea.
PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.
