South Sudanese Hypocrites: Deng Bior Deng and Taban Lo Liyong
Nationalist Deng Bior Deng and Taban Loliyong void of tribal descendants?
By Jieng Council of Elders
In Juba monitor newspaper – Vol. 4, issue no 246, 18 November 2014, Taban Loliyong wrote approving and praising Deng Bior Deng for condemning the position taken by “Jieng Council of Elders” on the issue of negotiations in Addis Ababa as being a promotion of tribalism.
First and foremost, let me implore the Chief editor of Juba monitor newspaper and other media houses, to print definition of an “Elder, raan-dit or Kecdit” similar with practical formulations in other ethnic communities. Secondly, I advise Jieng Council of Elders not to bother replying to articles of people who categorically exact themselves from tribal descendants or roots. They have sufficiently rejected their hailing from Kuku in case of Taban Loliyong and from Jieng for Deng Bior Deng. The creator – God, in his immense providence or immeasurable wisdom, endowed mankind in this universe with dignity through diverse ethnicities/ tribes.
Thus, the richness of human world in God’s plan is in many ethnic communities with different values, languages, cultural traits peculiarly for various communities which God purposely made and pronounced as complete, good and beautiful. How can Taban Loliyong and Deng Bior Deng deny being respectively rooted in Kuku and Jieng tribes? Both men in their criticisms of Jieng Council of Elders have not spelt out “ISM” of this universal phenomenon “Council of Elders” which exists in many, if not in every human community. The two men astonishingly fail to grasp the fact that the bias of tribalism is not in Jieng Council of Elders.
However, they totally misconstrued out of context the position of Jieng‘s vehement condemnation and utter rejection of IGAD mediators’ attribution of the evil and senseless civil war of Riek Machar Teny to being a feud between Jieng and Nuer. The fact is that Riek Machar Teny happens to be a Nuer who is ambitiously and desperately looking for power to lead by all means. Unfortunately by accident of history he found Dr. John Garang de Mabior, a Jieng in the leadership of the liberation movement. Riek Machar attempted to take over leadership in 1991 but failed until he joined the enemy forces to fight against the freedom and independence of South Sudan.
Again, from 2005 up to 2013 he plotted another failed coup attempt against Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardiit, another Jieng who was popularly elected in 2010 as President of South Sudan. It is no secret that Riek Machar exploits members of his tribe – his power base, to launch attacks on Jieng and his strategy does not necessarily amount to being a feud between the two tribes. Truthfully enough, Jieng Council of Elders cannot and will not accept wrong or misleading connotation that Jieng brought their son Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit into power as President. Jieng alone, without other tribal/ ethnic communities, did not bring Mr. President by 98% votes. All the 64 ethnic communities of South Sudan voted in the elections for him to come to power!
It must be noted that the so-called “nationalists” are criticizing the position taken by Jieng Council of Elders for protesting against the violation of South Sudan constitution by external pressures that want to impose regime change in Juba through an imposed so-called “agreement for a Transitional unity”. This is to pre-empt or abort the constitutional planned election of 2015. If the plotted plan is not accepted, IGAD and the International Community might invade South Sudan through UNMISS and regional forces (see 28th Extra Ordinary Summit of Head of States of IGAD dated 7th November 2014) in Addis Ababa. Foreign forces are plotting to invade our country after which South Sudan will loose its independence and sovereignty through subjugation under UN and AU imposed trusteeship.
For these reasons and more others, Jieng Council of Elders calls upon all South Sudan ethnic community councils, youth, workers, women associations as well as political parties and civil society organizations to join in protest against such evil conspiracies on our nation. Taban Loliyong and Deng Bior Deng might agree with IGAD resolutions but Jieng Council of Elders has every right to protest and is not shying away because of its ethnic classification. The latest resolution of IGAD Summit of 7th November, 2014 undermines the Government:
a. Asset freezes;
b. Travel bans within IGAD region;
c. Denial of the supply of arms and ammunition and any other material that could be used in war.
d. The IGAD region shall, without further reference to the warring parties, take the necessary measures, if need be, to directly intervene in South Sudan to protect life and restore peace and stability.
What more ill-conceived neo-colonial domination or conspiracies are not in the making?
Long live hard won independence of the Republic of South Sudan!
Long live the free people of South Sudan!
God bless South Sudan!
Council Kᴐcdit-Juba
‘Kᴐcdit’= Elders:
Kᴐcdit in Jieng world, or in Jieng society are called Elders in English Language or Kibaar El Ayaan in Arabic. Its singular form – Raandit, means big or old person. It is a Jieng terminology which is used to denote elderly people who are advanced in age, and who are no longer indulging in young people’s activities, adventures and behaviors.
At its semantic context, the term Kᴐcdit is specifically used by Jieng for those elderly people who are distinguished reference personalities known to have special acumen and sobriety. Kᴐcdit are old persons known to be custodians of accumulated wisdom and experience and are those rich of historical information, traditions, custom, functionary concepts, ethical values, virtues and norms which are cherished by Jieng society. Because of their age and experience, Kᴐcdit are known to be the most tolerant, the most patient people who always impart rationale, wisdom and acumen. Kᴐcdit pick all these from the old men and women who handed them those historical and cultural values from the glorious deeds of the past and ancient generations.
In addition to all those qualities mentioned above, Kᴐcdit in Jieng can further be described as those elderly people with moral excellence and who command community respect and esteem based on the positive successes and deeds they did and which they continue to do in the eyes of the society. Of course, the Kᴐcdit are eminent public figures who embody and represent their societies because they possess extra-qualities and virtues that make them seen and treated in close confidant by their community.
For their age objectivity, impartiality, experience, wisdom, good track record, logic-oriented and well known moral excellence, Kᴐcdit maintain or control the society moral order and are the connecting link between the society and their past. And as reference personalities, they are always the source of inspiration, role models and identification for the members of the younger generations. Kᴐcdit are not necessarily leaders of their respective communities though they can be also leaders, but Kᴐcdit mostly play an advisory role as senior members of the society. They are usually the medium of communication between the society and the unseen world of God and community.
In the past, as it is still the case in Jieng rural countryside today, Kᴐcdit form an Advisory Body, a Council of Elders which at times, or in some places, form a Jury of Elders. Kᴐcdit in Jieng world do decide and approve serious communal matters.
The above description is what Kᴐcdit are. It is not a term used for anybody who is just advanced in age. At its deepest meaning, it connotes all those perceptions stated above for “The Council of Kᴐcdit in Juba”.
Note: Jieng Council of Kᴐcdit was formed in South Sudan in April 2013
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