Will David Yau Yau- President Kiir Peace, hold water in Jonglei State?
By John Adoor Deng, Australia
This week in Juba, the city was sharply divided in receiving former clergy half trained, General David Yau Yau, who received a prestigious state welcome in the world newest capital, Juba. A man who was a state enemy for a couple of years was received with opened arms by President Kiir and his government, an assurance that he is fully accepted and forgiven for a second time.
Analysts speculate that too much in the agreement has been given to David Yau in the recent sign agreement. The area of the Murle, Anyuak (Pochalla), Jie and kacipo shall in the first time, in the history of Sudan in general and South Sudan in particular, becomes separate Greater PiborArea Administration (GPAA). The chief Administrator who shall champions this portion of governance shall be appointed and shall exercise powers as equal to that of the state governor. In other word, Greater Pibor Area is a state in the making. The questions then become; did this cobra faction deserve this much? Is it the best model to award rebels by dividing the State? Was this agreement debated in Jonglei state parliament? Were communities that had conflicted with murle through Yau Yau consulted for this peace? Did David take arms because he wanted a state or simply because he lost state election? Ay different between David & late George Athor ? Was GPAA a popular demand of the citizens in Pibor, Pochalla, and Boma? If yes was there any petition presented state parliament?
Although these questions may seem to interrogate the intellect and rationale of our respected religious leaders who mediated this peace, it is equally crucial for us the consumers of this peace to understand it better. However, to the murle communities and individuals around the world, this peace agreement though it was narrowly champion by David, it has met their expectations, they feel that their dreamed world has materialized. David Yau Yau in their eyes is a messiah, a savior who has brought freedom, development and prosperity to their land. In fact, songs have been composed to appreciate, appease and edified David. Politically, Yau Yau in as far as Murle is concern is a king in the making and all other political aspirants must learn how to kneel down to David Yau Yau for their political survival and illuminations.
Realistically, not all people in Juba and elsewhere were happy to see David Yau Yau glorified, especially the communities that have been experiencing merciless atrocities for centuries in the forms of child abduction, cattle raiding, loss of properties and killing of innocent civilians, committed by formerly murle militiamen and recently David Yau Yau men in uniforms. These communities (Dinka & Nnuer) were reminded of their dead ones when seeing David Yau Yau in national Broadcasting television (TV) proudly speaking of his so call achievement. These communities feel that the blood of their loved ones, has unfortunately, cemented the acceleration and elevation of Yau Yau. As much as Yau Yau is happy celebrating his joyous second come back to Juba, the people of Dinka and Nuer communities are bleeding the pain of the obnoxious uninvited atrocities communities’ cobra factions in recent years.
Conversely, it is now the chance of people upon which the atrocities were committed to file legal proceeding against Yau Yau or take him as the prodigal son, although he has not demonstrated his prodigality. It is now chance for General David to demonstrate his seeking of forgiveness. As the former pastor in the ministry of God, David must show remorse of his baseless war that has killed thousands of people and displaced many. David has a chance too, to stop the criminal business of child abduction, cattle raiding and work hard to cement broken relations between murle and neighboring communities. If General David will be strong enough to do these, then this peace although disbelieved shall hold water.
The Author is John Adoor Deng, BA, BTH, MPRL (MPP –current), Director of South Sudan Support Foundation (SSSF). He can be reached at johnadoordeng@yahoo.com.au
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