Isaiah Abraham Chan’s assassination marks what the future holds for South Sudanese!
7 min readBy Manyuon Arok, AUSTRALIA.
As days count on, I am reflecting on the life of a dear brother, Isaiah Diing Abraham Chan who was mysteriously murdered in his house at Gudelle suburb, west of capital Juba, South Sudan, six days ago on Tuesday, 4th December 2012. I am humbled to write this piece with hope that my anger would go away to reflect on the lives of many poor South Sudanese and what the future has in store for them, keeping in mind the cause Isaiah Abraham died for. I have always had great hope for South Sudan but that has all changed after receiving that sad news of Isaiah Diing’s death. Khartoum has always been telling the World that we cannot manage our affairs. It is proving to be the case. It has been seven or so years since we started to chart our destiny as South Sudanese and one wonders if there has been much change. The majority of neglected poor South Sudanese are still languishing in the villages of South Sudan with no food, clinics, hospitals, schools, security, roads you name it.
All that the SPLM-led government could be proud of is the independent of the Republic of South Sudan, but they should be reminded that it was bound to happen irrespective of who or which party was in power. Even the SPLM_DC of Dr Lam Akol would have not weathered the will of the people of South Sudan. So what has the SPLM and President Salva Kiir has got to be proud of? Zero. They have been great talkers and non-doers. The SPLM-led government has betrayed the people of South Sudan and they must pay a dear price comes 2015 and it is the right time now for those that do not agree with the current trends of things to form a party for the people. It is no longer enough to sing old songs that it was me, we and SPLM that liberated South Sudan. We must turn a new chapter as we praise whoever that liberated us. However, that has proven to be a daunting task to the freedom fighters. They have led a shambolic government that intimidate, humiliate and threaten dissidents and opponents. South Sudan constitution grants a very citizen freedom of expression and it is proving not to be the case in Juba. So who killed our Isaiah Abraham?
As there are heroes, heroines, orphans, widows and victims of liberation there will be heroes, heroines, orphans, widows and victims of democratic governance and human rights advocacy in South Sudan. Rev. Isaiah Abraham is a true champion of democracy, rule of law, human rights and freedom of expression. Isaiah’s convictions earned him enemies! Isaiah was immensely a man of great courage. He wanted to see his children grew up in a democratic and prosperous South Sudan that protect and grants its citizens full rights. I believe, wherever he is now, he is proud to have died for these causes. Though he was still young he led a successful life having fought numerous liberation wars as an SPLM/SPLA member. When he was a political and military commissar in Eastern Equatoria he excelled well and that is why he rose to be a major in SPLA. His work brought about many draftees from Toposa to join SPLA and enhanced SPLM/SPLA relation with the Toposa people. He integrated well with the Toposa and they even coined a name for him and he was best known among them as Piyio. He speaks fluent Toposa. He even composed songs for them. After seeing the need to have educated people in South Sudan he went for further studies and successfully finished his degrees armed with pens to writes about national issues. The man has a lot to writes about! He detested tribalism something that has earned him enemies among the Dinka. For those that have been following his writings he has always been praising Dr Riek Machar, the man who in 1991 ordered the killing of his elder brother, late captain Awuol Chan Awuol in Nasir following Nasir Declaration. Awuol was killed in cold blood with more than forty SPLA officers from Bor. Isaiah Abraham knew that what happened in Nasir and other places during those dark days was a political turning point bounded to happen and he wanted Southerners to move on instead of concentrating on what happened during liberation. I believe those who have Isaiah’s blood on their hands will not stop but instead, will go for more merciless killings to instil fear into the public. A Political tactic dictators who have nothing to offer resort to. I believe Isaiah Diing Abraham was killed by those who will have the guts to tell us that they will investigate his killing. Do not take us for fools Mr President Salva Kiir. We are wiser than how you think of us! It is only that there is no one to turn to for help. I cannot for the life of me believe the insanity of President Salva Kiir who refused to condemn the killing but instead urged the police and SPLA to clear their names. President Kiir was quoted saying that the police and SPLA must catch Isaiah Abraham’s killers to prove to the public that they did not do it. But if I may ask you Mr president, who else carry guns at night in Juba apart from the police and SPLA? Who abducted, tortured and detained Deng Athuai? Who intimidated, humiliated and manhandled Dr. Madut Jok and international Hip Hop artist, Emmanuel Jal? Who unconstitutionally arrested a journalist who criticized you after consenting to your daughter marriage to an Ethiopian immigrants? Who abducted Dr James Okuk and held him captive for days without a proper consultation to South Sudan constitutional legal procedures?
Any wise Southerner will point a finger to the security agents and whether they act on your or someone’s else behalf is what is yet to be established. Southerners are fate up with negative promises and major Isaiah Abraham will not get any justice under the current oppressive regime. If Dr James Okuk could be arrested, held captive and taken to court by your security agents for speaking against you then who cannot believe that your security units have Isaiah Abraham’s blood in their hands. Why did he die after telling Southerners that your re-election comes 2015 will be a daunting task? Isaiah Abraham being an intellectual and a great thinker always gave credit where it was due. Something his detractors has likened to political detraction and or inconsistency. Isaiah Abraham has been on the government and individuals’ side when it was the right time and criticized them when he saw them going off-track. His way of handling issues is what is much needed now in South Sudan not that type of tribal based and political-oriented sort of approach to national issues.
I am very much convinced that Isaiah Abraham was killed by the security agents and those that are in the elephant’s room. But who is this Dr Justin Ambango Rambo who seemed to have predicted and or has knowledge of what was to happen to martyr Isaiah Abraham? Dr Justin wrote just two days before Isaiah was assassinated and I quote him, “ so who is Isaiah Abraham who is free to say anything about the SPLM-led government and even at times direct personal attacks at President Salva Kiir himself and remained untouched by the security agents who are known for their zero tolerance for these kind of issues? Was this a pure coincidence or has it got anything to do with Isaiah Abraham assassination? There are still no leads to who the killers are, but one thing is certain, Isaiah Abraham was killed for his political commentaries. So it is up to the public to judge who killed him.
It is high time for South Sudanese to come together and face the SPLM-led government head on. Let’s not dwell on tribal based politics as there are no tribe (s) winning because of the system is place in Juba. It is only the elites and comrades in corruption that are benefiting and they want to bleed south Sudan to her knees. We must strive to see no more assassinations in the Republic of South Sudan lest we become a failed state predicted ages ago. We must also carry on the work that took Isaiah Abraham’s life and join hands with Isaiah comrades who have been against the malpractices of the SPLM- led government.
Isaiah Abraham was a gift thus embraced nationalism tremendously. He will lives in our hearts forever!
Thank you for matredom!
R.I.P Martyr Isaiah Abraham
R.I.P Major Diing Chan Awuol
RIP Diing-Monytuul Chan Awuol Chan
Rest in Peace Rev.Isaiah Diing Abraham Chan Awuol
May God Bless your soul and May God Bless
The Republic of South Sudan.
You can reach Manyuon Arok through his email at: abuiderson@yahoo.com.au
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