Padang Dinka in Diaspora: No SPLM-IO Cantonment Areas in our Land
6 min readJieeng Padang Community of North America: Open letter to the Government of the Republic of South Sudan (GOSS), SPLM-IG and SPLA-IO Under the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar Teny
• Your Excellency, Cc: H. E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan.
• Your Excellency, Dr. Riek Machar Teny Cc: SPLA-IO and leadership.
• Your Excellency concerned citizens of the Republic of South Sudan (ROSS).
Monday, January 28, 2019 (PW) — For the sake of peace signed by the R-ARCISS late last year, and the desire for the peaceful coexistence of the citizens in South Sudan, the Padang community is disappointed with the ongoing activities by the SPLM-IO in two sister counties. We the Jieeng Padang Community of North America demand for an immediate withdrawal of Johnson Olony’s SPLA-IO armed forces from Atar & Khorflus counties (formerly known as Pigicounty) of the Central Upper Nile State.
We are also calling for an immediate release of the Padang people of Atar and Khorfluscounties from being held hostages in Padum. We the Padang community across the board reject the idea of SPLA-IO forces being stationed in Jieeng Padang land, such as Atar, Khorflus, Baliet, Akoka, Maluth, Renk, Panriang, and Biemnom.
The Padang community condemns the illegal occupation and invasion of Padang land. It is a clear threat and an attempt to incite war. The Padang community is united more than ever before and is vigilant to any maneuver being engineered either by the ROSS or SPLA-IO and Johnson Olony against our community.The government of the Republic of South Sudan, under the leadership of President Salva Kiir, must not repeat the same mistake and compromise the lives of Jieeng Padang people by underestimating the actions of Johnson Olony. In 2013 the ROSS government ignored Johnson Olony’s claims on national television during the interview with Brig. Gen. Malaak AyuenAjok (the former Director of Information and communication), about Padang Land and Olony’s declaration of war against the Padang community.
We the Padang People understand that it was the government of South Sudan who heavily re-armed Johnson Olony, even when he had already declared war on the Padang Jieeng community. To resolve this aggression, the Padang community is calling on the national government under the leadership of Salva Kiir Mayardit to pressure SPLA-IO leader Dr. Rick Machar, to order Commander Johnson Olony to retreat from Atar and Khorflus.
If Johnson Olony is not a part of the R-ARCISS peace process, then DR. Riek Machar must declare that Mr. Johnson Olonywith his Shilluk army forces present in Atar are not part of the SPLA-IO and are an enemy of the peace. The Padang community is monitoring these unfounded threats from Johnson Olony and Dr. Lam Akol.
According to the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011, Part twelve, CHAPTER II LAND OWNERSHIP, TENURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES; do clearly state under the Article 169. (5) “Community land shall include all lands traditionally and historically held or used by local communities or their members. They shall be defined, held, managed and protected by law.” The counties of Atar and Khorflus do historically and traditionally have the ownership of their people and are therefore the rightful sole inhabitants – their land is protected by the constitution.
Mr. President, the Padang Community refuses to watch Olonyfool himself again over Padang community land. The Padang community alone could displace Shilluk militants within less than a day, if it weren’t for the kind-heartedness of the Padang Dinka community along the Nile, and for due respect of law and order.
The Padang community demands the release of Atar and Khorflus citizens being held hostages in Padum, between the borders of Atar county and Pangak state. The peace treaty signed by the R-ARCISS late last year, in which the ROSS government and the SPLA-IO used to release prisoners and hostages, should also apply to these Paweny of Padang people who were been hostages for five years in Padum. These Dinka Padang hostages are being used during the day as a shield to attract food and medicine from the UN for the SPLA-IO of Nuer and Shilluk and are being murdered and raped at night.
Mr. President and the government of the Republic of South Sudan, the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan of 2011 once again reminds us under Part 2 Bill of Rights, under the Freedom of Movement and Residence under Article 27. (1) – “Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of movement and the liberty to choose his or her residence except for reasons of public health and safety as shall be regulated by law.”
Why is the same law not exercised for the Dinka Padang community of Atar and Khorflus to move freely, since South Sudan has declared peace in cession? The Padang community demands this right, for those left alive to bring their children home.
We the Padang Community reject any attempt to impose any uninformed SPLA-IO cantonment in any Padang area. There were no Padang sons or daughters involved in the SPLA-IO Rebellion from 2013 – 2018, as we refused any of such provision. Since 1983 – 2011 when South Sudan separated from North Sudan, Padang Jieeng areas have overwhelmingly suffered from Nuer rebellions, resulting in the losses of countless lives of innocent civilians to this day.
The Padang Jieeng community refuse any attempted SPLA-IO cantonment in the Central Upper Nile, the Northern Upper Nile, and Ruweng State including its counties, unless it is an integrated National army of the ROSS.
The SPLA-IO rebels are not a law-abiding group, and are not interested in human rights laws and regulations, therefore they should not be trusted around the Padang community. The Padang Community citizens deserve protection from its government as was inked with the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011 Part Four, under primary Responsibilities of the National government, states under Article 53. (1), that, the government should demonstrate the responsibility for “(a) Maintenance of peace and security; (c) Promotion of good governance and welfare of the people; (d) exercising authority in respect of South Sudanese and the states; and (e) ensuring the protection of the rights and interests of the people.” The Padang community seems to have its rights and interests denied here, Mr. President.
Last and not least, the Padang community urges the ROSS government under the leadership of Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, and the R-ARCISS body to urgently intervene for peace to prevail in the Upper Nile Region before it is too late.
Signed by:
Wilson Thonakur De Lual – Chairperson of the Padang Community in North America
Mayiik Deng De Kiir – Duty-Chairperson of the Padang Community in North America
Ngor Kur De Mayol – General Secretary for the Padang Community in North America
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