An open letter to the First Vice President, Gen. Taban Deng Gai
Dear First Vice President Taban Deng Gai,
Deng Mayik Atem (Columbus), Arizona, USA
July 30, 2016 (SSB) — Congratulations on your appointment to this important role in our country’s government. South Sudanese all over the world look to you with great expectations of your wisdom and leadership. We hope that your efforts to bring peace to all our people will be successful.
In 1990, when you were in charge of the camp in Itang, I returned there for the soccer matches. Having spent almost two years at the camp before going to Pinyudo, I was amazed and delighted to see how much you had accomplished to improve the lives of those who were there.
I was also impressed with your contribution to our struggle for independence. Now you face another difficult challenge on behalf of our people.
It is my belief that we can only have a true peace in South Sudan when all our people, from every tribe, district, state, and region believe that they are part of one country. We need somebody like you to reach out to everyone, not just those who have recently been in rebellion against the central government but all our people.
We need to have discussions at which all concerns can be addressed and agreements can be ironed out.
This conversation can only take place if those who have fled from the violence know that they will be protected and defended. While it is important to deal with the contending generals and convince them that we need to have one integrated army, it is also important that every man, woman and child in our nation knows that they will be protected.
There are too many weapons in our country and not enough wells, schools, nurses, teachers, and fields of grain. The success of the great work ahead of you will be measured by the return of hope and safety for our people not in the power of the weapons amassed or the number of people carrying guns.
After so many years of war and so few years of real peace, South Sudan is reeling from wounds, loss, fear and exhaustion. We are in great need of a peace maker and we turn that hope towards you.
With deep respect and best wishes on this special Martyrs Day in the Republic of South Sudan
Your Comrade in the SPLA and the SPLM, Deng Mayik Atem (a.k.a Columbus), is one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan,” is currently Secretary General of the South Sudanese Community Association in Arizona. A graduate of Arizona State University. You can reach the author via his email: deng atem <azdengatem@hotmail.com>
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