The Sudan civil war, and those who poured their parental guidance into nurturing us (Part 3)
6 min readSebit William Garang Dut: The Sudan civil war, and those who poured their parental guidance into nurturing us
By Kur Wël Kur, Adelaide, Australia
December 15, 2016 (SSB) — For those of you who know little or nothing about this leadership genius, I would like to take your time to understand how this man “carried” us, the Face Foundations in Palotaka (Palataka), on his shoulders. I believe Sebit William Garang Dut deserves a recognition for his contributions in bringing up the unaccompanied minors of the Palataka (Palataka) in eastern Equatoria.
Before I ask your opinions about whether he deserves a platform of heroism or not, I would like to mention his South Sudan Liberation Profile (SSLP). Who was he in the course of the liberation? David Matiop Gai, the writer of Dinka Community: The MTN of South Sudan, Palotaka (Palataka) Face Foundation: Dr. John Garang’s Predictable Seeds for New Sudan series and other political articles on PaanLuel Wël, has this to say about Sebit William Garang Dut:
“Sebit William Garang Dut is the elder son of William Garang Dut from Anook community in Maar Payam. He was a director of education in the autonomous government of Southern Sudan. Sebit went to Bongo in Ethiopia. He graduated in rank of 1st lieutenant (LT). He was injured on leg in Jackou. In 1990 Dr. John Garang sent Sebit William to Palataka face Foundation as camp commander with rank of captain. He was promoted as a lieutenant commander in 1992. He served as an educationist in the liberated areas until the birth of CPA. He is now a director of education in the ministry of General Education in the government of South Sudan”
Sebit would stroll around in jesh al hamar’s groups, checking on everyone. When speaking, his voice produced a sound that was so distinctive; the sound of his voice would rip through the clouds of voices of those who surrounded, walking side by side, showing and explaining him some things. His evening patrols became less and less as the realities of taking care for thousands of boys demanded a lot from him.
In caring for us at Palataka in Equatoria, first of all, Sebit William Garang Dut had a young family: his wife and his three children (Nyuon, Anyier and Dut). His amazing children had to sacrifice their times like everyone else. They saw their father as little as all of us. Sebit rarely spent a month in Palotaka without traveling.
Sebit William Garang Dut had an old Toyota four-wheel drive (land rover 110), which he used to travel to places like Pageri, Torit and Ashwa in search of our food and medicines. With that old car, Sebit William was accompanied by his two body guards and a driver, Majur Kuch Achol (R.I.P). However, the car surrendered to its old age. It broke down. It stood a wreck in the junk yard. So, he was given a red motorcycle (by the leadership of the SPLM/A).
For a while Sebit travelled on that bike to other places in search of school stationery, uniforms, and bedding such as blankets. His one bodyguard who sat at the back of the bike became unnecessary because Sebit became the human’s shield for his bodyguard. Maybe or not, this fact had an effect in his decision of traveling alone, I don’t know (this is the purest form of my assumption). He cycled alone.
On one of the fateful days, he slipped into the demons’ den. He had an accident. His wrist, knee and some parts of his body were injured, but the joints of his wrist and knee were badly strained. The accident broke his hip. He was collected and he stayed outside Palotaka for some time while his injuries were nursed in Nairobi, Kenya. When he arrived back at Palotaka, he came limping; he limped for sometimes before he gained his normal gait.
What others say about him:
Sebit William Garang Dut is a hard worker; like he travelled from Palataka to Pagari in search for food; kind like not cruel to red army (us), he was caring or nursing; loved to listen to our complaints; Sebit is patient and a good administrator,” By Jima Anak
“In Palataka, children could only compare their own lives to that of Daniel in the lion’s den. The only hope available would come from their calm, professional teacher and Captain, Sebit William Garang de Dut. As a teacher, Sebit was able to understand how to deal with so many children who were desperate in many cases. Many of them were missing their parents, faced by hunger, dragging with acute or septic wounds but Sebit would always relay word of hope. Having his family and that of Kuol Manyang were the best signs that made many unaccompanied minors to work hard and hope,” By Ajak Deng Chiengkou, Australia
“The best quality of Sebit William leadership while in Palataka, it is a wonderful simple question with complex answers. You know we love him because he was a humble life man, his responsibility, I remember he used to leave Palataka through tough roads to Pageri, the SPLM/A headquarter. His roles and professional development on Red Army was paramount. His emotional intelligence, and vision on the vision of SPLM through the red army. He served the red army in Palataka with unwavering efforts and commitment. Remember Makwei, he was broken again by motorbike while ridding to Pageri for our own affairs. He looked after us and provided food from UN, and reported regularly to World Food Programme (WFP), and Norwegian People Aid (NPA). He was a leader and loving father. He took us through a critical time from 1990-1999 when Palataka remnants remained in Lobone. The other good thing about Sebit, he didn’t want us that time to be harmed by anti-SPM/A like Lord Resistant Army (LRA) of Uganda, and Southerners rebels against John Garang,” By David Matiop Gai, Juba, South Sudan
Readers of this blog, the beauty of the history is when it’s consistent; I asked the people who gave their opinions about Sebit William and their answers with what I wrote have the same train of thoughts. This acts as a thread connecting the fabric of characters of this wonderful teacher. This education and leadership genius is a hero and the founder of the builders of the South Sudan. He worked in South Sudan as a director in the ministry of education.
He left his position because of his health. He is suffering from early stage of arthritis. My dear citizens of my country, as time flies, heroes like Sebit William Garang Dut will fade away in the public view, but their works will be documented and they will live as long as our country lives.
Thanks for your time, and lookout for: [Part four/Awur Mawel Malual]
Kur Wël Kur has a Bachelor Degree in Genetics and Zoology from Australian National University (ANU). He was the former the General Secretary of Greater Bor Community in Adelaide, Australia. He can be reached via his email contact: kurwelkur @ yahoo.com
The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address, the city and the country you are writing from.
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