By Luk Kuth Dak
“Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
March 29, 2010 (SSNA) — Unfortunately, the interrelated reality of the political paradigm in South Sudan’s destiny is quite troubling, because of the fact that some intellectuals decided to make a living on dividing our people, for absolutely pure individualistic purposes. Yet, there’s still a chance to repair the damage, but that could only be possible, if all of the good of South Sudan try to pull it together to eradicate these divisiveness and tribalism that have, somehow, managed to poison the whole political discourse.
Sadly, I have been unjustly accused of being a diehard journalist for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), simply because I exercise my unalienable right to judge the state of our political affairs. However, the truth is, I’m a neutral journalist, who believes in morals and ethical journalistic responsibilities. In fact, in more articles than one, I have made my position publicly and crystal clear, that, in order for me to be a credible journalist that I have always thrives to be, that I must try- as humanly possible- to be on the neutral zone.
As far as am concerned, I can categorically say that, I have been able to keep that commitment by the letter. However, the one thing that I will not try to deny or hide from is that, I truly admire the SPLM’s vision and mission, to liberate us all, from the longest oppression in the world’s modern / contemporary history. Now, without a shadow of a doubt, the great people of South Sudan are all over the world’s map, for no other reason other than the fact that our braves sons and daughters in the SPLM unselfishly put their precious lives on the line and vigorously fought their hearts out, like never been seen before, for our freedom and independence. Before then, who really knew about a place called South Sudan?
Today, and for good reasons, there is a whole lots of excitement and enthusiasm everywhere you go in South Sudan. Everybody’s fired up at all cylinders. And the magic words are, referendum and election. After all, if all goes as planned, it would be the first time in Sudan’s history that, the oppressed people of this war devastated region will have their say on whether or not they want to join the free nations or remain under the brutal oppression and enslavement for evermore!!
Matter of fact, I find it heartwarming, indeed, to know that all the scientific polls conducted – both internationally or domestically- weather by Sudanile or Sudan Tribune, have unanimously concluded that, in fact, if the referendum were to be conducted today, an overwhelming majority of the South Sudanese, undoubtedly, will choose their freedom over slavery, rapes and oppression. No question asked.
And yet, by no means, this is not the right time to relax; thinking that everything’s going to go as stipulated in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which was singed in 2005. Unfortunately, that’s not the case at all. In truth, we’re still faced with some difficult challenges ahead. Firstly, we should be mindful of fact that, we are dealing here with a radical regime that doesn’t shy away or hesitate from dishonoring the agreements it sings. Certainly, anything can happen between now and 2011!!
Secondly, nobody should be naïve enough to believe that our freedom will be handed to us in a golden plate comes the referendum, as some of the traitors and short-sighted individuals want to convince the rest us that it’s going to be so. In fact, if that was the case, the problem between South-North would have been solved, some very many years ago, and some innocents lives could have been spared, over the course of the past half a century long and counting since the so-called Sudan’s Independence, in January, 1956.
It’s so true, as Plato puts it best, “ … Only the dead have seen the end of war,” And so if you’re a true South Sudanese, you should never take your eyes off the ball, and somehow, assume that the war between us and the Islamic racist state will be over without fighting it. That would be an unforgivable mistake. However, our only choice in order to make our dreams a reality, is that we must continue to fight the bigoted state until the enemy gets sick and tied of fighting and give in to our just demands and thirst for freedom and justice, equally with the rest of God’s children world wide.
Ultimately, that will not come easily. Indeed, it will require from all of us to rally our solid and unequivocal support, behind the only party that is capable of sailing our ship to the Promise land, the SPLM. More importantly, we should always bear in our heart of hearts that, when it comes to self-determination, there are really no differences, per se, among the Northerners and their political organizations. They almost always unit, in order to deny us our birth right for freedom, justice and equality.
Just a few months ago, if you recall, Mulana, Muhammad Osman al Mirghani, the spiritual leader of al Mirghania sect and the supreme leader of the so-called “ Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP), was quoted as saying: “ South Sudan separation is a red line.” That position is literally shared by all major parties in the North. Even as we speak, the assault on our freedom continues. Just yesterday, March 24, 2010, the pro government Newspaper, al Rayaam, quoted the DUP’s own presidential hopeful, Ustaz Hatim al Sir as saying: “There will never be any peaceful negotiation in the event that the South separates from the rest of the country.”
You be the judge!
And further more, there’re all indications that NIF regime is preparing itself for all the eventualities. The regime is rapidly continuing with its armament plan, even in time of peace!! Frequent shipments of heavy sophisticated weapons are pouring in from the “Axis of evil” China and Iran. Of course, not to mention the logistical and financial support the regime receives from some of the haters and bigoted Arab states!!
And so now that it’s increasingly becoming crystal clear, that the enemy is preying on our future. The real question is, who do we trust to come to our rescue? The answer is pretty elementary. Obviously, it’s none other than the SPLM.
Consequently, Now is the high time for all of us to put our differences aside, at least for now. Those who are still mulling on who to vote for in the upcoming elections and subsequently the referendum, must now make their choice proudly clear and declare their commitment that they will vote for Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit and the rest of the SPLM heroes.
Despite all of his humanly shortfalls and weaknesses, Salva Kiir’s patriotism and loyalty to our right for self-determination is second to none. Of course, unlike some of the traitors who continue to sell our just cause for hefty mighty dollars, Kiir’s position has been blunt, unambiguous and unshakable from, the very beginning to the end.
I want to make history. I hope you would, too.
Finally, anything and everything is at stake, right now. We cannot afford to take a chance and put those traitors on the driver seat. It’s a future of a people and a nation that we’re talking about it here.
There’s no room for mistakes!
The author is a free lance journalist and former anchorman w/ Juba Radio. He can be reach at: [email protected]