Dinkas for Riek Machar: The Calls For Jieng-Jieng Dialogue on South Sudan Crises
7 min readThe Jieng (Dinka) Community in SPLM/A- IO Calls For Jieng-Jieng Dialogue on South Sudan Crises!
June 9, 2015 (SSB) — Jieng is one of the South Sudan’s 64 tribes. It is the largest tribe in South Sudan and in term of populations it is about 7 million.
Jieng is administratively divided into four sub-sections namely:- Agar, Reek, Padaang and Bor. Jieng people mainly inhabitants and bases in two regions of the South Sudan such:- Greater Bhar El Ghazal and greater Upper Nile Region.
Jieng has long history on political, social and economical contributions into the South Sudan affairs since and before1821. Its people have many contributions and sacrifices during South Sudan liberation and struggle until South Sudan became a separate state from Sudan on 9 July 2011.
Jieng has been friendly and kind to all South Sudanese tribes since and before the independence of Sudan. It’s culture is not different from the other south Sudanese tribes culture. Jieng shares its culture with many tribes particular Nuer, Mandari, Shilluk and Anuak.
Example the period in which Jieng has been transparent and fairs to all tribes. This include the two civil wars between Sudan and South Sudan and the share of powers during democratic government of the High Executive Council lead by Hon and elder justice Abel Alier.
In 1983 and beyond, and for some points, the minority particularly Nuer become to notice that Jieng was not serving the purposes of the nation and for all.
The negative feelings by majority of Nuer and others first appeared as a result of the incitement by SPLM /A leader, late John Garang. The grievances and tribal inciter has caused and continue to causes loses of lives between Jieng and Nuer, and Jieng against Jieng.
The lost of lives and grievances has taken South Sudan so long to return to the unity and pave the way to achieve its common objectives, in which they have been fighting for.
But this long lasting tribal inciter and grievances between Jieng and the Nuer which remain unresolved by then, has again resulted in the Juba atrocities which started as a political differences within the SPLM organization.
The atrocities and the killing of many Nuers and some ethnics in Juba including Jieng on the night of 15 December 2013 has burned the little immense unity and love between Nuer and Jieng, as a result the current senseless civil war was triggered.
As the war started as a revenged by Nuer’s people and white army, Nuer leaders whose their visions focus for national issues quickly reacted and thus they were able to control situations.
The idea of being Nuerism were quickly turn or shift into common ideology which is now become a national call for a total changes of current system. We also call for the removal of Slava Kiir from the power because he has killed his voters and the killing affected only Nuer and those who criticize and challenge his failed leadership.
Another concern is that the intention behind the killing of Nuers was that Slava Kiir and his group sees Dr Machar as a tribal political rival and thus, Dr Machar should not lead or become the president of the country. This attitude was coined and backed up by Slavae with the 1991 incident. Slava Kiir and his group claim that because of 1991incident, Dr Machar should not lead the country or make him a public servant.
The culture of grievance, hatred and tribal inciter which was practiced in the past and continue to be exercised can be seen as one of the element which has fueled the current war.
In order for permanent peace to come to South Sudan and for the war to stop, it is recommended that Jieng people in the SPLM /A must response to the impacts of war across the nation and proposed immense solution to restore peace and bring to an end the ongoing pain of our people particularly the Nuer and Jeing.
It was agree by the Jieng in the SPLM /A that the best and possible way to end the war and bringing permanent peace is the formation of Jieng community. The purpose of forming this, is to address the outstanding problems which prevent the two warring parties to reach the agreements and end the war.
The Jieng community should call for Jieng – Jieng dialogues. This forum, and it process would involved Jieng in the government, Jieng council of elders, Jieng in diasporas, All Jieng chieftainship and Jieng in the SPLM /A. The process would also be supported by the international community of UN, AU, IGAD, Troika, USA, UK, Australia, and China and Russia including local churches and NGOs.
The Jieng community executive committee would be represented on equal basis, whereby each Jieng sub- section should be represented in the national committee.
The objectives for forming Jieng community are as follows:-
- Jieng must prevail security and harmonies to all community members across the nation,
- To respect and protect heritage, culture and values of Jieng and other communities as well.
- Right to engage in political life and support social cohesion and co-existent
- To rebuilt the gap of mistrust and regain dignity lost.
- To apologize, reconcile and heal to, and with those communities which are affected by acts of aggression and oppression of some members and individuals of Jieng.
- To reject unjust and unfair treatments To condemn those obstructing living, life, security and peace.
- To encourage equality in all aspect of lives including distribution of wealth and powers sharing at all level of government
- To encourage developments and investments across the country, particularly, starting with the devastated areas.
Jieng is appealing to the whole world, the current war must stop, and find speedy solution for the current South Sudan conflict.
In order for reconciliation, healing, and permanent peace to prevail in the country, the current senseless war must come to an end and the ongoing pain of our people to stop immediately.
We condemns the ongoing attacks on the civilians, killing of women and children, and rape, destroying of properties de and populations deprived or forced from their homes, and the prevention of humanitarian assistant to reach the needed by the government.
We are urging the International community, UN ,U.S., AU, troika, IG.AD and five other African countries to speedy up with peace negotiation process and engaging the two principals of the warring parties, particularly Salva Kiir and his groups, to agree on the outstanding issues and form the transitional government of national unity whereby majority of political parties share powers.
Furthermore, immediate potency implementation of the enforced sanctions to those who are obstructing peace and held accountable those who commit humanitarian crimes and crimes against humanity and atrocities.
We urge the international community to formed and established a special court to punish those identified criminals in South Sudan. We also call for the release of the AU report on crimes committed in South Sudan.
Calls for Jieng -Jieng dialogues to end unwanted war in South Sudan
The Jieng community in the SPLM/A -IO is cordially and strongly calling for an immediate Jeing- Jieng dialogues to end the senseless war in the country under the theme “ search for peace and end grievance, Jieng fate, its future and beyond”
The purposes of the dialogue is to discuss the following issues, which have influenced the current war
- The genesis of the killing on the night of 15 December 2013 in Juba and else where Federal system as only governance system in South Sudan
- Power sharing and the formation of the transitional government of national unity
- What would be the fate of Jieng community before and after the peace agreement and ways forward?
- Address reconciliation, hailing, accountability and compensation for the victims of war and its properties
- Abolishing of all outstanding loans during the war times.
For the issues raised above, the Jieng community in IO is urging the UN and AU, Troika countries IGAD, plus five African countries, NGOs, and churches to support this valuable initiative and helps facilitate the process of conducting meetings between the Jieng in the government, Jieng council of elders, Jieng Diasporas and Jieng in SPLM/A.
We agree that Jieng-Jieng dialogues and meetings can be conducted anywhere anytime but not inside territory of South Sudan.
The Jieng in SPLM /A would also like to meets with some of NGOs and individuals who are willing to support this project at anytime and anywhere.
Yours faithfully, Jieng Community in SPLM/A -IO
The media statement is released by the following executive members of Jieng within the SPLM/A IO, and they are:-
1. Aguer Rual Head of the committee -Reek Jieng
2. Abdu-Diem Deng deputy head committee -Padaang Jieng
3. Jesus Deng Atem , Secretary General -Bor Jieng
4- General Mabior Marer finance -Agar Jieng
5- Akol Madhan Akol spokesperson -Malual Jieng Molona
6- Nyanthon Monyluak women Representative Jieng
Email: aguer.kuot@hotmail.com; mobile +251929287392;
Email: dengatemwal@gmail.com; mobile +251939314643
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