How Women’s Choices are Disvalued in South Sudan
How Women’s Choices are Disvalued in South Sudan: A Response to Dengdit Ayok, Paanluel Wël And Chier Akueng
By Amer Mayen Dhieu, Brisbane
It was not long ago when Emile Durkheim (father of Sociology) struggled to make sociology being recognized as an independent field of study. Though he confused himself with different views about society, a point that I always disagree with, I came back to agree with his concept of “cult of individualism and social reform”.
However, from the title of my article, are the above mentioned South Sudanese writers and authors giving us what we know about Durkheim’s “cult of Individualism”? The answer is a big NO. Below is what they protested against the long gone case of South Sudanese President daughter (Adut Salva Kiir Mayaardit) at a time of HER marriage to the Ethiopian Guy.
First of all, Dengdit Ayok, whom I view as socialist, stated: “This wedding is a demonstration that foreigners have not only monopolized ‘our’ market economy and robbed integrity after penetrating it, but it is also a demonstration that they have taken our national prides”
This was quoted in his article ‘NYAN BENY’. Mmmmh! I get it, she’s indeed nyan-e-beny, and also our national asset and pride. Is this the definition we give to other women out there? Are they also our national asset and pride? Are women in general sources of national income? I will come back to that in a minute.
Another remark was made by PaanLuel Wel, a South Sudanese blogger and the author of “THE GENIUS OF DR. JOHN GARANG, VOL. 1 & 2”. In his remark which I somehow agree with, goes a statement: “South Sudanese need to know the truth and no one should be harassed for airing a verifiable fact…” This is taken from his article “Was President Kiir’s Daughter Impregnated before the Wedding?”
This remark from PaanLuel Wel demonstrates a liberal view of “freedom of speech” but yet how could Adut Salva’s marriage as South Sudanese citizen become a national concern? What is so unique about her? Is that because she is the President’s daughter? If yes, then PaanLuel Wel has combined liberal ideas with socialist concept of “class”. Again I will come to that in a minute.
Lastly, Chieer Akueng, another self-proclaimed concerned citizen, who, in my view, is a capitalist, stated that: “This has shown and has become evidence to citizens that our affairs have been ‘hijacked’ by the foreigners” Chier Akueng made that pronouncement in his article: “All South Sudanese are Dishonoured: Should the President Apologize?”
Wow! What great remarks but why? What’s behind their protests plus other concerned citizens who didn’t get chances to pen down their concerns too? I personally did understand PaanLuel Wel concern for the reason that the Chief Editor had been arrested for publishing the controversial article. Hence, his remark or statement that South Sudanese have right to know the facts concerning the case captured my attention for that reason.
Indeed, in my opinion, Adut’s marriage is an individual topic that needs no unsolicited opinions from the general public but should rather be limited to her family and closest relatives. Still, the choice to get marry to whoever she wants is “cult of individual” and should never be opened for public discussion.
Though liberalism urge for freedom of speech, it also entitle individual right for privacy and dignity. Discussing Adut’s choice of marriage/husband is not different to other type of rights permitted by the UN human Rights Charter. I therefore totally disagree with these remarks that are making a public discourse out of a private, individual matter.
In addition to PaanLuel, Dengdit is totally out of line. Women are not part of national economy and that their choices of marriage cannot be count as a dismal failure of our national economy or whatever that ‘monopolization’ is. His remark closely demonstrate concept of those dark days of slavery when human beings were sources of national economy, either sold as laborers or exchange for other goods. Though Adut’s husband has or didn’t pay any dowry, she will remain as her family asset, not national one.
Lastly, it’s those who have aired their outrage publicly that should rather punctually apologize to Adut as a common South Sudanese citizen, not her dad the President as requested by Achier Akueng. The reason is that the above writers and others who might have communicated their male chauvinism have technically and overtly breached Adut’s right for “privacy and personal dignity”. They also infringed upon her individual right to choose her partner, whether within or outside the geographical and socio-political borders of the Republic of South Sudan. I am yet to come across any article of our Constitution contravened by Adut’s pursuit of her heart desires.
Not just that but there is something “Fishy” about demonstrating on this issue. When we come back to the history, Mabior Garang de Mabior is one of those bany’s children that has or have got married to a foreigner. Mabior has a child with a Kenyan lady, did we talk about it?
Again, Teny Riek, the son of Riek Machar Teny, our former Vice President, recently wedded Edyta, a young white lady from Poland. Riek himself is married to two white ladies—Emma from the UK and Becky from the USA. Ex-minister Deng Alor is married to an Ethiopian lady. Did we talk or write about them? This is just the tip of the iceberg, for there are many others.
Giving these examples does not make me anti-them because it’s their choices but it does vividly outline and illustrate how South Sudanese society downplay and disvalue women and their rights to choose their partners. I therefore urge the entire nation to start respecting and accepting women choices as human choices. This is because our rights as women are also human rights, not less.
AMER@ 2014
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