President Kiir Mayardit: We need peace, not military solution, to end this reckless war
By Biar D’Chol Biar, NY, USA
April 25, 2015 (SSB) —- President Salva Kiir Mayaardit Kuethpiny Lual, it’s well over a year and some months, and our hearts are still conspicuously burning with umbrage against the Juba, Bortown, Malakal, and Bentiu atrocious of December 2013 & 2014! …
When the smoke of a gun barrels clearly shocked our nascent nation; citizens recklessly and mercilessly killed; bodies littered the streets in the cities; businesses and houses ransacked & demolished by the very citizens; everything was in disarray. Citizens displaced from their homes.
The dead bodies sprawlingly left everywhere; vultures and animals fed on them. The deceased bodies weren’t buried with dignity, because their loved ones were on the run for their own lives. This ruthless war was thought to end with in a week or a month, but it’s now interminable.
And even today, we’re still grieving with no glimpse of hope for peace, yet to heal our hearts! President Kiir, when can we have smiles back on our faces: One year from now, or another 22 years of civil war?
This government-rebel war, though some elements termed it as Dinka vs. Nuer, suddenly dawning on us. Nevertheless, the citizens still look up to you as the legitimately elected president to deliver peace to the suffering civilians.
As a national figure, however, we’ve criticized, denigrated, and inveighed you for the speck we see, but it doesn’t mean the entire nation disrespects or hates you. Of course, there’re people, in the past & now, who had, and continuously called you: a “despot & dumb” president. Ostensibly, they may’ve done so out of frustration on how the nation’s comprehensibly descending to hell.
But, that’s not the case! I genuinely believe, that you’re not a ‘despot’ leader, as it’s being said in the social media. I know many ample things you’ve done in the past as a magnanimous, charismatic & a caring leader. You’ve amnestied many rebels more than any leader in Sudan. No one doubts that!
However, we mostly disagree with you on how you handled the nation’s affairs. I know that the cause of the government-rebel war was the power struggled between you & Dr. Riek…that the lives, bloods and monies of the South Sudanese were and still being used to protect your seat, & Dr. Riek quest for power. But, is it right to use citizens lives for you & Dr. Riek quests of power?
President Kiir Mayardit, I’ve seen it last year, very clearly, that you can easily vanquish the rebels. No doubts about that. I know that you’ve Uganda people defense force (UPDF) as an ally, stationed in Juba & Bortown; well-equipped SPLA generals & elephantine forces of the SPLA, defending nation’s sovereignty.
You can slaughter the rebels by thousands if you choose to. The rebels maybe slaughtered in hundreds or, thousands, and pursued to their territory if you decided to take that cause. That is, you can conquer their areas as you’ve shown yesteryear, in Bentiu, Malakal, and Nasir…etc.
But, what good can you achieve as the leader of the nation, continuing with such unending war? I know that as a general, you’ve fought in both Anya I & II wars, and had immensely seen the consequences, and insidious effects of the war. Generally, we just emerged out of a twenty-two years civil war a few years ago.
And the memories of the war were remarkably still fresh in our minds. The nation was still lamenting & healing from the calamities of South-North’s civil war. Believe it or not, I thought the erroneous and odious war of south & north, ingeniously taught us, and will never go back to war. But those who thought so and I were deadly wrong.
In that war, two and half million lives were lost, & that enormous would never be recovered. President Kiir, looking at that many lives lost now and in the past, why, then, continuing with this useless war? Do we want 2.5 million lives lost again? If that’s the case, then, whom are you going to rule as a president for the next extended three years that you’ll be in power?
Strictly speaking, you’re the constitutional legitimate president of the nation; unanimously voted to the office with 93 percent votes. As a constitutional president, we don’t agree with anyone trying to remove you by military means. The nation believes that you came to the office through ballot box, and will be removed through ballot box.
The entire nation believes in the constitutionality of your presidency. Thusly, where’s that pride you walked cheerfully to the stage during the inauguration in 2010? Why’re you continuing to lead down the very citizens who voted you into the office, president Kiir?
Now, the peace’s way overdue! The nation expected peace as the top agenda this year. But it seems both of you deviated into a different path. The peace wasn’t inked on March 6, 2015. President Kiir, is your instinctive gut is calling more lives lost? I’m not exactly sure!
Mr. President, let me clearly reiterated that, the rebel leader: Dr. Riek Machar is not the president of South Sudan. You’ve to know that! And since he’s not the president, he wouldn’t be the person to have a final say in the peace process, though he’s commanding the rebels.
His goal as an individual is to be a president just like you are, as he expresses it earlier in 2013. We clearly had seen that! However, he has the right as a citizen, to express his willing to compete for the top notch. But there’s different between expressing and what citizens want.
Nevertheless, the citizens will determine his kismet. Since he’s not the president, we can’t rely on him to bring peace, as his intended goals aren’t visible to the citizens yet. Hence, the nation relies on you for peace to happen. Having said that, why not use the power invested in you by the people, to bring the smiles back to the faces of Sudanese; who’re now suffering due to this reckless war?
Your attention seemed to be divided between peace & war. If you know that you’re the legitimate president of the nation, then, what’s your intended goal for the suffering citizens? It seems that you’re only worried of your presidency than the peace the entire Nation’s yearning for. As a leader, what’s your next move since the peace collapsed?
Perhaps, the nation still owns the trust in you, as a constitutional president, I believe that peace could come today if it’s your top agenda. I understand that the demands by the rebels’ negotiators convoluted the process, making peace impossible. But what can we do as a nation? Continuing to watch the nation sinking?
You’ve to know that, the rebels don’t care about the innocents suffering at the UNMISS & refugees’ camps. They’re not in any way to give in what they asking for. They may continue to demand more for their own benefits. But, the time is running out for us president Kiir. The public wants more from you. Thus, it isn’t a bad idea to temporary seeks the solution for now to save lives.
Having read last month that the peace talks in Addis Ababa, had failed. This shows that both the government & rebels weren’t genuinely negotiating a peace deal. They negotiators on both sides are taking time; because they’re sleeping at impressive hotels; they get paid by the days. So, why would they bother to expedite the peace process when they benefitting from it?
Mr. president, you’re holding the nation hostage! Don’t tell us that you’re not the problem as you said it many times. Yes, you are the problem with your fraternized! You’ven’t articulated very clearly that, “peace is the top priority.” You seem to be hiding behind the doors, & your sycophants are speaking in the media on your behalf.
Mr. president, why’re you afraid to speak publicly for the nation to see you, to hear & feel you? You always immure yourself in Juba; heavily guarded, not visiting the states to have a first look on the civilians’ lives. In fact, leave alone the civilians! You’ve never even visited your soldiers in the front lines as we speak.
And that doesn’t look good on you as the national leader. The public would love an active leader, but not a taciturn & sedentary leader. You expect the public to support you & you don’t heed for their advises. President Kiir, gets yourself in the media & be a people president!
The war shouldn’t be the focal point, president Kiir Mayardit. Having peace in the country is the only way forward to get back on track. I sincerely think bringing peace to the nation would be away to improve lives and the economy. Nothing that will make the entire nation feels happy toward you than bring smiles in their faces with “peace.” If you’re afraid that if peace comes today, you’ll not win election.
That’s not true, Mr. President! Even if Dr. Riek returns today, and starts campaigning, I don’t think anyone would vote for him if that what you’re afraid of.
The nation still stands with you, and will continue to do so if you bring peace to them. We don’t want another insurgency as a result of failed peace talk. We want peace to be delivered to the citizens. Peace is the only what the nation wants, and nothing else. May peace returns to South Sudan.
SAY NO WAR! SAY NO TRIBALISM! ONE PEOPLE, ONE COUNTRY: SOUTH SUDAN!
© Copyright Biar D’Chol Biar.
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