By Luk Kuth Dak – USA
September 7, 2010 (SSNA) — Some of the Nuer’s most valuable treasures: culture, values, character, reputation and norms, are recently under an eminent danger of dissipation!
I remember I was really young when I heard that the Nuer construction workers in Khartoum were feared the most by the Arabs. For instance, if a fight breaks out between any black man and an Arab, the Nuer would almost, always join the fight against the Arab without asking the question: who was right or wrong as long as the other party is black.
As a young reporter and an anchorman at Juba Radio, I was also privileged enough to be exposed and to hang around some patriotic Nuer leaders of the caliber of Mr. Peter Gatkouth Gual, Ustaz Joshua Dei Wal, Ustaz Thomas Khuma Kan, Drs. Michael and Julia Duany, Col. Samuel Gai Tut, Mr. Daniel Gatwech Kan, Mr. Pal Gai Lam, Brig. William Abdallah Chol, Commander William Nyuon, Ustaz Pal Riek, Bakoak Gatluak Faguir, John Dak Puok, Jacob Downg Wan and Ustaz Gadeet thon wakuo, to name very few.
But here’s the key question: Why are David De Chand, Riek Gai Kok, Rev. Michael Chot Lol, Kuot Martin, Dak Duop Bishok, and the rest of the National Congress Party’s Nuer golden boys, allowed by the Nuer majority, to literally alter, change, and destroy everything and anything the Nuer people hold dear, believe in and stand for? As a result, the Nuer that were once the guardians of other black people used to run for rescue in times of crisis and hardship, are now the ones to run away from!!
“A lie cannot live forever.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The most brazen example of the Nuer name being tucked in the mud, is the statement recently made in Kampala, Uganda by the purported professor, and one of the most congenital human liars I have ever seen, David De Chand. “ South Sudan is not yet ready for secession; we will not allow ourselves to be cut off from the mother Sudan (North),” he said.
Not only that, but in an e-mail message he sent to me, he categorically, stupidly, belligerently and personally blasted the Dinka people, as the reasons why he is collaborating with the party of the most wanted criminal on the list of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on war crimes and genocide, fugitive Omer Al Basher.
“Mr. Luk, guess what, you have been insulting me. I will not forgive you for this and the Nuer community will judge you on it. I am a leader, civil, responsible and above educated person and a bona fide scholar. I do not insult but I do reason with who could reason. You have an attitude, pal, and you’ve got to change or you will go down the tube with it.”
“ I did not intend to write you. I wanted you to tell me your comments on what Dr. Lual Deng said about unity. I could not agree more with him, because as intellectuals and men like minds, we are on the right track. I am firmed on what I said in Kampala, Uganda, that South Sudan is not capable of governing itself. The South is in a hell of a mess and I wish you come and see what am trying to tell the world. Surely, Dinka could not lead because they are naturally failures in the art of leadership in the South: Abel, Garang, and salva Kiir, all have proven to the world that they – Dinka leader could not lead at all. Their major problem is that they do not know democracy, compared to Nuer. The world knows today that Dinka leaders are a bunch of extraordinary thieves, thugs and hooligans,” he wrote.
Obviously, De Chand has a personal dislike for the Dinka, as a people.
Now, we all agree on the fact that there have been some difficulties with the government of South Sudan, in delivering some of the most essential services to the most needy in our society. But I am not here to defend the government of South Sudan, but rather to challenge David and the likes, to tell us all of any government that is exempted from shortfalls.
Yet, I was In fact, among some of the writers who have addressed that issue of corruption and tribalism in South Sudan. But still, under no circumstances, no fair-minded person who should just simply put the largest tribe in South Sudan into a one box, and hold it responsible for all of the shortfalls of the Government of South Sudan.
That’s as ludicrous as it gets!
Let’s keep it real! The truth of the matter is: the Nuer are extremely represented in all aspects of the government in South Sudan. They are equally responsible for the successes and failures of the government of South Sudan, (GoSS). Unless, of course, the congenital liar, David De Chand, is essentially suggesting that the number two most powerful man in South Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar, Justice John Luk Jok, 1st Lt. Gen James Hoth Mai, 1st Lt. Gen. Paulino Matip, Ustaz Gabriel Changson Chany, Ustaz Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, Governors, Brig. Taban Deng, Ustaz Simon Kun Pouch Mar, and Ustaz Hussein Mar, to name a few, are not Nuer!!
But there are still some questions that remained unanswered. Here are some of them: Why is it that De Chand, Rev. Michael Chot Lul, Pharmacist Riek Gai Kok and the rest of the “Jallaba” Nuer boys are willing to forgive their masters in the National Congress Party, (NCP/NIF), for all of the atrocities and chilling murder of over two million innocents Southerners and millions more Westerners and Easterners, but they cannot forgive a Dinka of an unfounded alleged mismanagement and corruption?
Does it make sense? You be the judge.
In any event, it all boils down to the fact that all of us, who proudly identify ourselves as Nuer, but kept silent for so long, to reclaim our self worth, dignity and reputation, there are being thrown in the mud by some selfish few, who are obviously would do anything and everything for a “Dirty” cash from the satanic regime of Omar Al Basher.
Last, but not least, David De Chand birth name is Puok Chang and his PhD title is David De Chand!
I rest my case!
The author is a Sudanese journalist/ writer and former anchorman at Juba Radio. He could be reached at: [email protected]