The Martyrs’ Day: Hon. Gordon Mourtat Mayen Mabok in Rumbek

Late Gordon Muortat was laid to rest at Rumbek Freedom Square, attended by thousands of citizens who had come to pay their last respects to a man who was remembered by many as a freedom fighter and struggler for the rights of the people of Southern Sudan. In his biography, late Hon. Gordon Muortat was once the President of the Nile Provisional Government in Anya-nya Movement. When the Addis-Ababa Agreement of 1972 was signed, late Hon. Gordon Muortat did not agree with the contents and terms of the agreement, calling it a sell out, and as he did predict the Addis-Ababa agreement did not live long but collapsed.

Late Gordon remained in exile since then until the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed in 2005. However, in 1996 the late leader Dr. John Garang de Mabior appointed Hon. Gordon Muortat as his advisor, a position he held until nominated to being an MP to the Southern Sudan Legislature Assembly (SSLA) following the formation of the GOSS.

In 1965, during the Round Table Conference between the south and north, late Hon. Gordon is remembered for demanding that the south be given the Right to Self Determination. Though it was not granted at the time, but in 2005 his dream became a reality, the south now has achieved what Hon. Gordon was asking for around 40 years later.

In his address to the mourning citizens of Rumbek, the President of the Government of Southern Sudan H.E Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit reminded them of the selfless leader, who spent all his life struggling for the cause of the people. Stating that it is now up to us the present generation to transform Hon. Gordon’s dreams into a reality, after achieving the CPA where the right to Self Determination for the people of Southern Sudan is enshrined.

President Kiir declared 3 days for the state mourning and all the flags in Lakes State fly at half mask. Speaking during the occasion were: Hon. Abel Alier former Vice President of the Republic and President of the defunct High Executive Council for Southern Sudan,
Isaiah Kulang Mabor, Madam Rabecca de Mabior, Andrew Makur Thou, Bona Malual, Clement Wani Konga and Daniel Awet Akot Governor, Lakes State.

All remembered the late as the man who has the south in his heart until his untimely death. Late Hon. Gordon Muortat is survived by ten children and a number of grandchildren. After the state burial the First Vice President of the Republic and President Government of Southern Sudan H.E Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit returned to Juba. He was accompanied by a number of advisors, and GoSS Ministers.

http://www.gossmission.org/goss/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=516&Itemid=192

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BIOGRAPHY OF LATE GORDON MAYEN MUORTAT (1922-2008)

5/2/2008

On behalf of SPLM UK and Ireland Chapter and the family, relatives and friends of Late Gordon Mayen Muortat, the Southern Sudanese Community in the UK and Ireland are profoundly distraught by the untimely death of their father, uncle and elder statesman who has been a source of comfort and an exemplary leader who possess not only wisdom and knowledge, but provided strategic direction, inspiration and encouragement to the many Southern Sudanese Community at any of their functions social/political gatherings in the UK.

Late Gordon Muortat is first and foremost known by Southern Sudanese Community as an Anyanya hero who has inspired many and greatly contributed to the liberation struggle of the people of Southern Sudan and for dedicating all his entire life for their cause. His well attended speeches at many Southern Sudanese occasions in London and other parts of the UK will live in their minds and hearts for years on end. He will sorely be missed by the Southern Sudanese Community in the UK whom he loves so much and who love him to bits.

I would therefore be very grateful if you could publish this information on your well established websites for all to see and share his fantastic achievements that we are all proud of and reaping today.

Thank you ever so much for your help and cooperation for sharing this valuable information with your readership worldwide.

Yours Sincerely

Lukano James Omunson
Secretary for Information
SPLM UK and Ireland Chapter

London, UK

  BIOGRAPHY- GORDON MUORTAT-MAYEN (1922-2008)

Muortat Mayen Maborjok Aciecegi Pac was born in 1922 at Karagok village 10 miles South East of Rumbek. His father was a local chief of Patiop Clan of the Agar Dinka

Muortat was educated at Akot elementary from 1936-1942. He attended Loka Nugent Junior Secondary School in Western Equatoria from 1942-1945. In 1951 he was among the first Southernern Sudanese to graduate from Sudan Police College and was commissioned to police inspector. He rose to Chief Inspector of Police.

In 1957 Gordon Muortat was transferred to the Sudan Civil Administration at the rank of Assistant District Commissioner (ADC). In 1964 following the demise of General Ibrahim Abboud military regime, G. Muortat resigned from the Civil Administration and became one of the founders of Southern Front (SF).

In 1965 he was appointed leader of the Southern Front delegation at the Round Table Conference between the North and South of Sudan. In the same year he was appointed as one of the three cabinet ministers representing Southern Front in the transitional government of Sirr El Khatim El Khalifia. He held the Portfolio of the Minster of Works & Mineral Resources.

In June 1965 he became the Vice President of the Southern Front, when it was re-organised into a Political Party. The great massacres of Juba, Wau and all over the South that were carried out by the Sudanese army in July 1965 frustrated and convinced Gordon Muortat that the Northern Arab Rulers were not interested in the peaceful resolution of the South Sudan Question.

Thus in August 1965 at the meeting of the Southern Front executive committee, he proposed that the party should be dissolved and that the entire committee should move into exile with the objective of merging with the Anyanya political and military wings. In February 1967 he left the country and joined the Anyanya national liberation movement. He was appointed a Foreign Minister in the Southern Sudan Provisional Government (SSPG).

In 1969 Gordon Muortat was elected  unanimously at a convention as a the President of the Nile Provisional Government (NPG). In 1971 he was elected President of African National Front. This organisation was superseded by Addis Ababa Agreement. Gordon Muortat became the leader of the Kinshasa Group that denounced the Addis Ababa Agreement as a sell out and fraudulent.

He continued the protest against the agreement and remained in exile moving to the UK. In 1975 he was elected President of the Anyanya Patriotic Front a liberation movement with the same aims as SSPG, NPG and the first Anyanya. He denounced a splinter group that became known as Anyanya II because they deviated from the original ideals of the APF.

In 1994 Gordon Muortat was appointed as Advisor to the SPLM/SPLA Chairman Dr. John Garang de Mabior and a member of the National Liberation Council. In 2006 onwards he became an MP in the South Sudan Legislative Council representing his constituency in Rumbek.

Muortat died while on a recess from parliament-having achieved so much in his life. He was very proud of the SPLA/M achievements especially now the road to the realisation of our freedom is within sight. He is survived by his wife Sarah Piath Ahoc, 10 children: Acol, Madong, Nyanijur, Laliwengde, Mawan, Mayen, Pac, Nyitur, Acieg and Nyier, and 24 grandchildren and 1 great grand daughter.

He will be greatly missed. May God bless his Soul in eternity