By David Matiop Gai, Juba, South Sudan
January 22, 2017 (SSB) –— (Proverbs 18:21), Death and life lies in tongue, and the curses of Khuoth de Amagak consumed many leaders in Greater Upper Nile. Well during the first Sudanese Civil War in (1955 -197), Second Sudanese Civil War in (1972-1983), and the Third Sudanese civil War in (1983-2005), many South Sudanese leaders died in South Sudan along the cost of freedom, but majority of Upper Nile Sons die in their own brothers hands. According to the book of Old Testament in the Proverbs 18:21, reads, “The tongue has the power of life and death and those who love it will eat its fruit, (Bible NIV).
Suppose spiritual leaders especially Christian leaders would have look into this issue of tongue misfortune, and dismay in Greater Upper Nile. Some commenters came across this article and they read over it and look at it on tribal angle but I am not writing it on the regional concept, I am writing it on the facts of what had happened and what are taking place on ground right now as well as on spiritual angle.
The spiritual side doesn’t sell out or compromise on tribal bases, because curses didn’t look into tribal issues but on those who drink cup of suffering from it and many leaders got killed themselves in Upper Nile are not Nuer nor Dinka, and they are not sons of other parts in South Sudan but communities living in Greater Upper Nile. The relationship among tribes living in Greater Upper Nile is hitting-rock bottom for lose win-win situation. Are you aware or not aware about it?
For example, although I will not start my explanation from very far, just I want to begin in 1984 – 1985, Samuel Gai Tut was killed by SPLA under leadership of William Nyuon Beny Machar. In the same year Akuot Atem de Mayen was killed by Nuer in revenge of Samuel Gai death, but that death among Upper Nile leaders ceased a bit until 1990s.
In 1990-1991, many leaders, and sons of Upper Nile got killed under the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar in Nasir. In a surprise press conference in Nasir, thirty, (30) SPLA leaders were killed in Nasir in high ranks, and high files of SPLA/M and from few people to mention were Justice Manyuon, and Akhim Aluong Khang.
On the top of worse above all, in the late 1990s, this group of Dr. Riek Machar later defected to called themselves SPLM-United under Dr. Lam Akol, and Gabriel Gatwech Chan known as Gabriel Tanginye killed Peter Panom Thanypiny, the honest and respected son of Ayod got killed for his brilliant idea and advice to Dr. Riek Machar that Nuer people will not manage to fight SPLA as one tribe, and he got killed because of his advice, and later on Dr. Riek congratulated those who killed Commander Peter Panom for job well done.
In 1992, Joseph Oduha Haworu from Anyuak community was killed in Panyagoor when they brought assault against SPLA and they planned to attacked SPLA areas in Greater Bor, and those of Dr. Lam Akol and Dr. Riek Machar escaped from that war. They were repelled and totally defeated until they reported themselves with their forces to Khartoum. In the same year many soldiers died between the giant politicians, military commanders, and militias.
In 1996, Peter Gatdet Yak killed the well-known SPLA commander William Nyuon Beny Machar with his three bodyguards. Two years after William Nyuon death, Gatdet killed Kerubino Kuanyin Bol. In the process of curses, killings, and rebellions rooted and do occurred several times among these leaders. They rebelled in and out as long as they wish.
Around 1997- 1998, George Athor Deng killed three alternate commanders. George Athor killed Alternate commander Machok Atem, Alternate commander Lubba Dhiar, and Alternate commander Atem. Machok, and Lubba were sons of Paweny in Pigi County, and Atem was from Awulian Community in Twice East County in Jonglei state. Leaders turn swords against themselves in Upper Nile seriously without pity or love of humanity.
During the Sudan general election, George Athor Deng rebelled, and approximately on Dec 18, 19, 20,21,22, 23, 2o11, Athor Deng Dut was got killed in South Sudan near Morovbo County according to the report and breaking news on former SSTV currently known as SSBC. On the Dec 15, 2013 crisis, conflict erupted in capital Juba followed serious escalation of violent where Major General Peter Gatdet Yak killed his colleague and deputy Brigadier General Ajak Yen in cold blood, and rebelled in Pan Pandhiar barrack, Jonglei State.
Later on, Brigadier General Abraham Jongroor Alier was killed in Pariak, and Brigadier General Butrus Lomich Kengen was killed in Bentiu. Earlier this year in January 3, 2017, Johnson Olony killed Gabriel Tanginye in Amara Western Upper Nile based on spreading social media reports, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, twitter, WhatsApp, and radios like V.O.A, and many websites, which was confirmed by National Democratic Movement press report.
Finally, I don’t want to respond to short sight cut-hellish behaviours, ill personality of those who viewed things in sense of devil desires, and evil hearts of destructives children of devil who intended not to highlight the root causes of atrocious- killings where almost fifty (49) leaders mainly from Greater Upper Nile died in their own red – blooded brothers and bad wishes.
What I want people to realize in this article is to understand the fact that these leaders died not in the hands of common enemy of our country, they died in their own brothers hands in the forest, and birds, and animals fed over their flesh as cursed people and therefore, who are others leaders who died in such killing in South Sudan apart from sons of Greater Upper Nile?
It is in fact that the death over there was a curse spoken over the people, and land in the area. We will be discussing in the next part four the causes of curses among South Sudanese in general.
The author is a co-founder of South Sudan Mental Health care Organization, (SSMHCO). He holds Bachelor degree in Social Work and Social Administration from SSCUST, Bachelor of Theology from CLT, Bungoma, Kenya/Kalispell, USA, and a fellow researcher. He can be reach at david.matiopgai@gmail.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, city and the country you are writing from.