RESPONSE TO HESKEY DZENG: ‘WHAT DOES DANCE TELL US?’

By Amer Dhieu

“The politicians were arrested by the leadership who want them hang by the neck till the die, or firing squad. This leadership believe the men were guilty and the only maximum penalty was DEATH SENTENCE” Kuir Garang.

Dear Heskey Dzeng!

It is overwhelming how our thoughts always clash occasionally. Out of guilt, I thought I should let you know that it has becomes a tradition that I often feel the need to reply to your articles even if this is my first reply. First was how you publicly accuse Madam Rebecca Nyandeng. Though it wasn’t my taste of the day I really respect and like how you articulate your accusations. Reply to that article is still on my to do list.

I roughly went through your article (What does this dance tell us) this morning and was provoke to respond to it by outlining something you might have missed out, slightly fail or ignore to understand. First of all it was my biggest surprise to see Dr Majak and his group walk out of that jail unhurt. Given the fact that no one has ever survive political motivated sentence. Historically it has happened in the entire African continent. Most people ended up being murdered in Cold blood with no investigation being made.

One of cold blood murder case in South Sudan was the merciless killing of political Analyst and commentator Isaiah Abraham. I am sure this has created feeling of distrust in government’s ability to protect opposition leaders or political activists. To make it short I personally knew that they were going to be murdered in Cold Blood. If they survive my assumption and have been free then there is no point of me not singing “Aliak e Wunda xoi yic” Because it has turn out to be not what I was expecting to happen but what I was praying hard for but never have faith in it.

Back to your claims of celebrators not being appropriate, you might have come across the quote that I have quoted above but let me explain it abit more. First the four political detainees were informally sentence to death from the first day they got arrested. Minister of information in the federal government publicly announce their sentence to the international and national medias. Sadly he was not talking of them going to jail but BEING SENTENCE TO DEATH EITHER BY HANGING OR FIRING SQUAD.

Many people in their local places have also express their anger whatever motivated that and have call for the same death sentence. On the other hand Rebel were calling for their release in order to accept international call for peace. With these two regardless of people being in a mourning state, who can not celebrate the return of his lost sheep that have nearly got eaten up by wild animals.? Who can not celebrate an action that will bring peace to the country where peace is desperately needed if it is true that rebel will accept call for peace after their release?

I understand There are sad news everywhere, every day but again we rarely have good news. Releasing political detainees is a turning point to the country, the government and their love ones. We cant be intimidated by their celebration however should they be singing provoking song? I would say that is freedom of expression.