President Kiir should not betray Abyei, Nuba Mt., Blue Nile in the pursuit of Riek Machar
4 min readBy Mijok Dongwei Akier, Juba, South Sudan
September 22, 2016 (SSB) — “Riek Machar is technically under our custody. Sudan government promised us they will surrender him to us when we expel Sudanese rebels,” says Amb. Gordon Buay. I do not means to attacks anyone nor vilified anybody. I just wanted to clarify somethings to likes of Amb. Gordon Buay.
My position is clear from the starts to end; that am the big supporter of Constitution of South Sudan and believer of democratic transition of leadership in South Sudan. And Supporter of the Government of South Sudan. But, that doesn’t hold me as a beholden to not point out the facts and redirected you to right direction from disorientation.
That, the fundamentals and inalienable
Right of Southern Kordofan, Southern Blue and people of Abyei; cannot be used as bargaining chips to trade-in a custodianship of Riek Machar to hand of South Sudan Government and in turn of expelling Sudan Revolutionary forces; that are on South Sudan territory.
Alliances between the people of Abyei, Southern Blue, and Southern Kordofan cannot be compromised for case of individuals in person of Riek Machar. The plights of Southern Blue, Abyei, and Southern Kordofan is more than handing over of Riek Machar to the Government of South Sudan. It was this alliances that; helps the people of South Sudan to attain their independent. It was this alliances; helps the people of South Kordofan and Blue Nile to continue with theirs struggle for freedom.
So, we are all beneficiaries of this alliances and will continue to do so. If the Government of South Sudan; were looking for Riek Machar alive or dead? He would not have been out of Juba on July 8, 2016. So stop being hypocritically. Riek Machar is no longer a threat to the government nor to Sovereignty of South Sudan; for one to use his presence in Sudan as leverage for normalizing the rocky relationship between the RSS and Sudan; is diplomatic misguided and carried no weight at all.
There are many beneficial things that you guys would use as bargaining chip to normalize the relationship between the two Countries than handing over Riek Machar. For examples; implementation of four items agreement: Citizenship, trade, border demarcation and issue of residence.
The people of Southern Blue, Southern Kordofan and Abyei have bleed and suffered together with people of South Sudan for 21 years of second civil war in Sudan. It would not only be morally wrong to betray them; but it would also be illegal against the vision we fought for.
The art of betraying your Comrades has never been the practice in the SPLM/ SPLA since its inception in 1983 as organization. Those who exhibit tendencies of betraying their Comrades; were subjected to harsh punishment including up to life in prison or fire squads or both.
This art of betraying your comrades; is a foreign practice to the people of South Sudan and must be discouraged and made to cease once and for all. We must discern the differences between our strategic alliances and individuals case. Riek case is individual case whereas expelling SPLM/SPLA- is strategic mistakes by the Government of South Sudan and also morally wrong.
Let not promote the art of betrayal in our Society!!!!
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