PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd – South Sudan

"We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing" By Konstantin Josef Jireček, a Czech historian, diplomat and slavist.

HAS THE RED ARMY’S VISIONS BEEN ACHIEVED? – PART ONE

By Gai Deng Biar, Nairobi, Kenya

The Red Army Foundation, Juba
The Red Army Foundation, Juba

March 9, 2015 (SSB) —  Once we see the sign question mark at the end of every word, there is nothing much that ring into our minds and nerves but two answers either NO which disapproves the sentiment or YES which approves it, therefore the title above seeks our approval or disapproval and all readers are requested to follow the author on the direction he takes.

I would not be bias by hastening to what I want the readers to approve or disapprove before I introduce the word Red Army and its genesis for there are those lucky communities of South Sudan whom their children were not taken away from them for reasons best known to them.

In September 1917 Vladimir Lenin wrote: “There is only one way to prevent the restoration of the police, and that is to create a people’s militia and to fuse it with the army (the standing army to be replaced by the arming of the entire people Red Army), was the army and the air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, which after 1922 was called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The army was established immediately after the 1917 October Revolution (Red October or Bolshevik Revolution); in which the Bolsheviks raised an army to oppose the military confederations (especially the combined groups summarized under the preamble White Army) of their adversaries, during the Russian Civil War. Beginning in February 1946, the Red Army, along with the Soviet Navy, embodied the main component of the Soviet Armed Forces; taking the official name “The Soviet Army” until its dissolution in December 1991.(Urban Dictionary)

And having made the aforesaid brief introduction to the word and origination of the Red Army, it is now high time to make second introduction on how and why did Dr. John Garang de Mabior Atem get the man power to name as Red Army, the name he borrowed from Russian when he and Southerners including our current legitimate president Gen Salva Kiir mayardit formed SPLA/M on the basic principles of USSR an acronym of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

In the month of Febuary, 1986 an old and wise man from Bor district which according to the present day in African crisis can be referred to as a statesman, had a dream an act which was seen as a revelation by God.

“Now your people took up arms against the Khartoum governments which had put you under bondage for many years, one day the people would achieved their quest for freedom but who will takes up clerical work in offices for the same people who are fighting will finish and the rest will be taken away by old age”, God revealed Himself.

By the time of revelation, Kuol Manyang Juuk was stationed in the three areas of Panyagoor the present day county headquarters of Twic east, Baidit and Kolyang payams of the present day Bor county. An old man who was trusted by God because of his faith approached Kuol Manyang who was the area commander and as part of his military responsibility, he reported the dream to SPLA/M’s chairman Dr. John Garang.

For almost 90% of South Sudanese people have a rich background on military chain of power, you will all understand that Dr. John Garang sent a message to all units to sell the idea to members of High Command and to name a few; CDR Salva Kiir, CDR Awet Akot, CDR Nyuon Bany, CDR Kuol Mnayang Juuk, CDR Riek Machar a man who frequently change allegiance but by the time of strategic plans for the bright future working force, he was intact with the movement, which analysts believed he was in preparation to overthrow John Garang and the last CDR was James Wani Igga a man promoted rapidly for purposes of rallying equatorians behind SPLA/M, however the move did not bear fruits.

The idea was well taken by the commanders who were enjoying huge support from the fields except CDR James Wani whom his people led him down. the above narratives gave birth to decentralization of idea to the grassroots through the chiefs because late Dr. John Garang used to have a unique leadership approach which can be equated to bring all of us on board and achieve your goal. In the following year of 1987, the dream attracted 20, 000 children at the age of 6 to the age 17 from Bara el gazal and Upper Nile regions.

They were to be settled in Ethiopia at a half military camp came to be known as Panyudo. They were later named as Red Army but don’t forget there were many Red armies like red army of Koryom which were demobilized from Koryom battalion. Never stay away from my approval or disapproval of the visions for it has to be continue because of space at the web publication.

Author is a supporter of the government of President Salva Kiir, constitutional fearing citizen and an incoming financial analyst/commentator, reach him at gabrielbiar39@gmail.com

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