5 years later: Why President Salva Kiir should visit Bor, Jonglei state
By Mach Samuel Peter, Bor, Jonglei State
September 4, 2016 (SSB) — It has been five years since the visit of incumbent president Salva Kiir Mayardit to Bor town Jonglei State to launch disarmament of civilians and witness the signing of peace accord by six paramount chiefs of former Jonglei state communities of Jie, Kachipo, Anyuak, Murle, Nuer and Dinka in 2012.
I have tried to count President Kiir’s trips to neighboring and Western countries and Internal trips regarding his campaigns against major rival Riek Machar. Most of you may conclude that President Kiir has made many trips abroad than expected internal trips to war affected regions not even 45 minutes helicopter flight to Bor town the foundation of South Sudan to boost the morale of SPLA gallant forces and that of his true loyalists (Greater Bor citizen) because your external relation especially with IGAD countries has failed South Sudan something I thought should have been employed with the youth and affected people of our nation.
African powerful leaders have remained in power throughout many years because of internal diplomacy to persuade soldiers and citizens fight for the right course. For instance President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni visited Bor when UPDF army was invited to bilateral defense but president Kiir failed to use the opportunity to boast the moral and consolidate Greater Bor people who lost thousands of lives and livelihood in their support for current government.
Many people believe that if general elections were to be held in 2015, President Kiir must have visit Bor to present his manifesto. But what happen following the devastation of Bor by White army? Kiir has not stepped foot in Bor to access the situation of most affected people by conflict of 2013 that in solidarity stands with him always.
But I don’t blame our president he is being kept in shadow by some selfish advisors and aides whom I don’t want to mention by name. I urge the president to terminate these advisors and employ the most competent politicians such as Dr. Agot Alier Leek who put the country first.
Because Dr. Agot knows that South Sudan is bigger than his personal gain, he insists that he must die with his body guards during the invasion of 2013 in Bor. His bodyguards later forced him to board the boat that sailed to Lakes. When people return to Bor early 2014 he was the first politician together with Jonglei state members of parliament to land at Bor airport.
He however encouraged the youth to collect the bodies littering on the streets of Bor town including churches and hospital. Shortly he mobilized the youth of Bor County to convene at Panyier military training ground to take up arms and defend the legitimate government and the people something I describe as the true meaning of nationhood.
The seeds we have in both mechanized and division 8 today were planted by him. These are the politicians who should be next to our president guiding him politically on national issues.
One hundred percent of the people of Jonglei State support their democratically elected president Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit not for any political gain but in respect of their vow so call vote during 2010 general elections. This vote was a promise made by 100 percent of the Greater Bor population.
Despite the death of over 2,000 people massacred by Riek forces including women and children and clergies, Bor people supports the current regime and will never turn their back to the last words of Dr. John Garang the founder of our nation who before he died urged the Greater Bor people to support Kiir whatever the situation might be in the future.
The same message of supporting and standing with president Kiir has repeatedly been echoed by Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk and many other influential leaders of Greater Bor such as Dr. Agot Alier Leek, the former commissioner of Bor County and Prof. Philip Aguer Panyang Jot the governor of Jonglei state in different community meetings and state programs.
But the question is, why has president Kiir insisted to visit his people, the people of Bor for five years? A one day visit to Bor can win the confidence and trust of the people in the SPLM/SPLA and brainwash their trauma experienced in 2013 throughout 2014.
Before your father Mayardit passed Away Mr. President, he had asked you to stand by the people of Bor in letter and spirit of nationhood.
If you can spend a week in other parts of South Sudan why not one day visit to Bor town?
The commanders of mechanized and eagle infantry divisions in Jonglei State have played tremendous role persuading youth to join the military to protect their territories, their properties, people and constitution.
Because the youth leaders of Jonglei State are allied and loyal to your administration and the inner cycle, young people have joined the military but still I believe you should have paid a one day visit to say thank you for standing up for your country.
South Sudan’s ruling party (SPLM) generated the basis of inclusive democracy and equality from the liberation struggle whoever wanted to join the movement was brainwashed by Dr. John Garang De Mabior who use to visit almost every village to say wake up comrades.
Furthermore, SPLM vision of taking town to the people cannot be explained only through presidential decrees and without visit and political explanation. The expansion of 10 defunct states in to 28 states and increase of 64 counties to 500 counties does only explain federalism.
The Greater Bor youth except those in diapora whom I have failed to understand have and must have joined the SPLA to champion democratic transformation and tranquility. If three to four people might have joined the SPLM/SPLA in opposition from Bor, this culminated from your long days spent away from home.
It is plausible the educated youth are losing the political vision, objectives, and goals of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and in the long run the ordinary people including their chiefs will despise the government.
I think it is high time for our president to employ politicians with influential political ingenuities such as Dr. Agot Alier Leek who can help shape his decision making on how to strengthen internal relations.
My humble president, you have to visit Bor state hospital where the sick were raped and disabled skeletonized and burn to ashes, St. Andrew Cathedral church where clergies were slain in cold blood and four key mass graves containing over 200 bodies each at Bor cemetery because your visit means a lot to me and the people of Greater Bor.
The writer is a South Sudanese aspiring diplomatic journalist. He can be reached at machsamuelpeter@gmail.com
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