SSTV and Sahat el Fidaa Programme by Brigadier Malaak Ayuen
By Pal Chol, Juba, South Sudan
December 21, 2015 (SSB) — South Sudan was liberated by all the 64 tribes. When the rebellion and the war for political emancipation and against Arab oppression started, many students, government officials and peasants voluntarily joined the movement in their thousands.
It was an expression of anger against subjugation by the successive ruling elites in Khartoum. The first two battalions were 104 and 105 which rebelled in Bor with Major Kerubino, Ayod by Major William Nyuon, Pibor and Pochalla with Capt Riek Machuoc, were oriented for 21 days in Itang military training centres. They were organised into a combat ready forces under the command of Cdr William Nyuon Bany and launched the first ever battle in Malual Gahoth in 1983.
They were followed by other three battalions of Jamus trained in Bonga consisting mainly of students, former South Sudanese NCOS of Sudan armed forces, graduates and teachers commanded by Cdr Kerubino Kuanyin, 4 coys attacked Canal and two companies (coys) were dispatched to Awiel under the command of Major. Kawac Makuei, Capt Deng Alor and 2nd Lt Pal Nyuon Puol and many other officers.
This is where King Paul, as he is being referred to by his henchmen, the current Chief of General Staff who doubles as the State SPLM Chairman, the first of its kind in world order, then a commander of A-2 later on decided to join the SPLA after having been mobilised by the SPLM/A. The tiger battalion under Cdr Salva Kiir and Timsa battalions under Cdr Arok Thon Arok followed suit and went to Pochalla and Pibor for operations.
The war against Arab oppression and liberation started in earnest. The other operations flared up in Jekou and other areas. Professor Adwok in his book of Politics of Liberation, an insider’s view called the Jekou and Malual Gahoth battles as the major disasters for the SPLA and the people of South Sudan .The songs for morale support were composed in various languages including Arabic in order to instill in the minds of fighting forces bravery.
The most famous Nuer war songs composers were Tut Thiep Wunoa of Tiger battalion and Gany Kaang of Mattwo battalion. Gany fell in front of the last trench leading to the fall of Nasir on the 26th January, 1989. If the Brigadier was in touch with the reality and indeed a field officer, he should have known that the Nuer liberation songs contributed in the capture of most of these towns for they were sentimental and electric.
It is worth mentioning that the battle of Nasir was commanded by the Commander in Chief and assisted by the Chief of Staff Cdr Nyuon Kuenyanga and Deputy Chief of staff for Security and Operations Cdr Salva Kiir.The task forces commanded by Captains Gok Thok Kulier and Aleu Ayeny Aleu and under the overall command of the C-in C (RIP) launched the last successful assault on Nasir that led to its fall. Captain Gok Thok was matryed in that operation. Col Majoub from the Sudan armed forces was captured alive.
The only footage that I sometimes see on Malaak Sahat el fidaa is the one showing the Late Chairman reassuring Majoub of his safety. He uses it to misinform and disinform the public that it was the Dinka headed by Garang who fought the fight. Given that Brigadier-General Malaak, who is fluent in both English and Arabic, reduced himself to host senior military programmes which is a job of junior officers like the police program now being hosted by a 2nd Lt, I have the gut to tell the General that you are biased in your programmes because most of those you interview and host are, with all honesty, Dinka senior officers and some of your allies who recently threw in the lots with you.
This is unfair and you are forcing the South Sudanese to believe that the liberators were the dinkas and the rest of the tribes were spectators in the battlefield during the war. This, if you don’t know, will polarise, and it has already polarised us. In Liberation wars, there are splits and divisions. In his Book, Politics of Liberation, P.A. Nyaba said, since its inception in 1983 up to 1991, the SPLA policies and practices ran counter to the aspirations of the people of South Sudan.
General, rest assured that, the 1991 incident should not be an exception and always be a reference in many of your presentations which are in fact geared towards sowing the seeds of discord and plant hatred among us. It was due to ideological differences in the direction of the Movement. Can I remind the General that the 1991 split was not a Nuer project. Many competent Dinka field commanders who fought with their comrades from other 64 tribes of South Sudan would agree with me that after 1991, there was no any other major battles fought except the attempted and failed 1992 Juba incursions by some decent Dinka commanders.
The operation was known as Bright Star campaign under the overall command of Cdr James Hoth and assisted by many Nuer, Dinka and officers from other tribes. Their field officers broke the main Juba bridge and captured the Headquarters of Brigade 116 unfortunately, they did not maintain their hold and tactically withdrew. What later followed were the Kapoeta and Torit offensives directed and commanded by Commander Oyai Deng during the negotiations.
Let the South Sudanese be informed that many prominent Dinka commanders and politicians were part and parcel of Nasir Declaration but some of them later redefected because of their vendettas against the leadership and how the movement was run. Yes, the innocent civilians in Bor were massacred by the forces of Nasir Faction in 1991. They were forced out of their homes. Remember too, that the Torit faction massacred the Nuer civilians in their Luaks in Yuai, Jiech, Leer and Kuac Deng.
Does the General know the 1992 atrocities committed by Capt George Athor (RIP) where he set ablaze the holy place with worshippers inside at Paguong in Ayod county. He carried out these heinous crimes and many human rights abuses on his way from Wec Lam to Panyagoor. These are facts and not fictions as others would believe.The 1985 Gajaak daylight carnage by the SPLA in Liet Nyaruach and Dumbierow is another good example of the atrocities committed.
An active General should not forget this, unless he was, most of the times, stationed in 4th coy, which is always the Headquarters and does not actively engage in battles only when outflanked from the rear. The field commanders from all the tribes of South Sudan knew that very well. It is unblievable why is it or has it been that there was not a single day I heard any of those emotional Nuer songs on the SSTV and those of other tribes. The General is fond of, and always displays the pictures of the skeletal old man and the skinny boy carrying his things on his head.
Those pictures were taken by the Relief Agencies during the era of the hunger triangle engulfing Yuai, Kongor and Ayod in 1993.They have no relation with 1991 split. The real liberators and the most updated know what the hunger triangle is just like that of Ibrahim Hamdi of Central Sudan consisting of Dongola, El Obeid and Medani. The veteran 2nd Lt Bapiny Tiem, now in Ireland, was a cameraman and photographed most of the engagements especially the whole Nasir battle with “T” layout. Were these cassettes disposed of? I have never seen any of his albums shown on the SSTV.
The General should bear in mind that the incumbent President of the Republic is the President of all the South Sudanese and the army is a national army. My humble appeal to my elder brother, father or uncle, Brig Gen Malaak Ayuen, my due respect to him, is that no Dinka or Nuer in his/her right mind would deny that we have killed ourselves. However, do not forget your colleagues and history cannot be cheated. The SSTV, especially military programmes should reflect our cultural diversities. We should harmoniously work for the good of this country regardless of our tribes and political differences.
Many a people believe that our military programmes would have bee used to preach peace and unity. I am, at times, tempted to wrongly believe that the war was between the Nuer and the Dinka when I see an educated Dinka General, whose job, would have been to direct operations in the field, lecturing on individuals and engaging on character assassinations.
South Sudan is for all. The Bible teaches us that, look, I will come and bring my reward. I will give each and every whatever they have done. So, this is a good example to follow in your programmes.
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