Are Tonj Politicians too “Big” and “Above” Tonj’s Problems or Simply “Too Busy” on National Issues?
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By Ariik Atekdit Mawien, Tonj, South Sudan
Monday, March 23, 2020 (PW) — That Tonj Politicians & MPs are above Tonj’s Problems!! That they are busy on National Issues. That they are too big to return to community’s Conflict debates. And therefore we perished. Our elders, women, children and youths die as if they have no representatives in the national govt.
So our own representatives don’t want to get demoted to be talking on Tonj matters when they have become National MPs and/or National Ministers, Advisors or beyond! They are scared to return to us for Conflict resolutions. Our graves are uncountable and many more have died and ended up in unmarked graves. All birds have fed on our flesh and all fish in the rivers have sucked our blood! Our bones are scattered everywhere, some are not yet found.
Our tears shall never stop. We are facing our toughest times in life. Yet our MPs & Politicians have refused to take initiatives because they want to continue lobbying for positions from Kiir using the crisis. Conflicts got created small and the Politicians apply for employment putting “a phrase that if appointed they can quell down the communal Disputes in their manifestos”. They are trading it.
Those appointed had no idea to solve it; those not appointed put on jealousies and don’t want to help to resolve the crisis. As the Politicians have turned rich, their children are not in the villages. And therefore, they care less and the death toll is rising! Indeed we elected you to the Parliament knowing that you are our sons and daughters! We thought You were our own! We thought you couldn’t scorn us and turn your eyes away from us , when we are at the crisis.
Thank God, we have known you more than you could know yourselves! Aren’t you our enemies? Yes, you are unless you help us bring the security settlement in our villages. You put on your beautiful political suits & drive in Juba as we continue to mourn in the villages. Our poverty has made us to wear rags. And so since 2010, you have not returned home fearing to smell on us again as you enjoy your government extensions.
We have never heard any motion concerning the death of our citizens as you Pay your loyalty to Kiir using the blood of our innocents. For so long we have been misled. For so long we thought our patience will pay us back accordingly. For so long our fathers & mothers thought that they have given birth to strong sons and daughters that can work for Tonj’s safety but until recently we are analysing our thoughts on you.
The Nation and our MPs have forgotten they whole of it! The liberation bottom was here! It has been here, always in Tonj that the liberation struggle occurred heavily and the Peacemaking Process started right here. Wasn’t it Wunlit Peace Initiative that gave birth to CPA! Now Wunlit is in Crisis and South Sudan doesn’t want to give back the Peace Wunlit donated!
If Kiir has forgotten the days of YinhKuel, Mayom Abun and Thiet as the strongholds for SPLA why would Nhial Deng forgot the importance of Akuc-Cheng Village in which the reorganization of the whole SPLA occurred? And now in those villages the blood is spilling on the ground and the huts burnt as the cattle got driven away, elders die uncared for and unreported.
So Tonj doesn’t exist on any Page of South Sudan Books of Law! Which name is bigger than Nhial Deng Nhial in South Sudan? Which Name is above that of Konggor Arop? If Aleu Ayieny can’t care for the lives of the citizens whose uneducated Dad (Ayieny Mangar) had taken care of, then who else do we hope on? If Eng Majok Dut can’t feel the pain and rescue our lives in villages who else shall we report to?
If Mawien Dhor can’t realize that Tonj is gone why is it that Awut Deng Acuil cannot turn up for our rescue? Where is Ayuekdit Yac our elderly mother that we proudly elected to the house? Is it true that the big names can’t help us anymore? So Lewis Anei Kuendit, Akol Koor Kuc, Riak Gok Majok can’t truly feel that there is no person bigger than them any longer to look up to?
How many souls do want to lose to declare that Communal Conflict is a Pandemic matter in South Sudan? I think we have buried enough on the communal Conflicts.
You can reach the author via his email: Atekdit Mawien <ariqdudic@gmail.com>
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