Nostalgia for Malakal: Pres. Kiir decreed Collo Land under Dinka occupation

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Nostalgia for Malakal: Pres. Kiir decreed Collo Land under Dinka occupation
Mar. 03 National, Uncategorized 1 comment

By: Gwado J. Ador, United Kingdom, FEB/03/2017, SSN;

The feeling of nostalgia for homeland has been increasingly
intensifying in my heart, while there was no any glimpse of hope for
peace in the horizon.

Unbridled politics coupled by the use of subversive government
machinery made it impossible for many of us and particularly our
relatives set foot to the town we owe all our lives.

For the happy-go-lucky Aloungs, Chwangs, Jwacs, Thons, and Thucs,
there was the momentum of ultimate joy, because, they were able to
realise the long-cherished dreams of being in Malakal and other areas
of their choices in the Collo Kingdom. Thanks for Salva Kiir ‘s
unwavering decision to pay back in kind for tribal support and
loyalty.

And for us ‘the Sons and daughters of Malakal’ obviously, the decision
to award Padang the entire Collo land on the East bank of the Nile was
the worst nightmare we have ever had since the independence of the
whole Sudan in 1956.

As a matter of fact, such decision carries with a lot of prejudices.
Basically, it means Collo by any stretch of the imagination, would not
be able or allowed anymore to resettle or rejoice the habitual
cultural activities and the ritual rites in the beloved land of their
ancestors.

Following the sad incident of December 2013, Malakal town fell under
Dinka practical occupation. The Kiir’s led-government prevailed
declaring the town belonging to Padang. As a matter of principle,
President Kiir allied with his cousins from ‘Ngok Dinka’ believing in
the saying, ‘blood is thicker than water’.

At every opportunity, SPLA forces supported by foreign allies
relentlessly and indiscriminately shelled Collo areas and the
displaced camps using thus draconian methods to suppress and to keep
Collo out in the wilderness.

For the last four years, most of the Collo surviving families,
including children and elderly in appalling health condition were
confined to UMISS protection camp under their mercy.

In the process, many who tried to venture outside the UMISS,
especially women or minor girls looking for firewood or something to
fetch for cooking, risk their lives or end up being raped.

As strangers in the newly acquired land and environment, Padang
entrenched their grips to resettle, resisting thus any attempt by
Collo people to set foot again or even to claim properties in Malakal.

Furthermore, they have vehemently opposed any idea aimed to discuss or
to reverse the decision, which gave them legitimacy over Malakal as
their rightful place.

Thus, their actions to change the landmarks, and features of the town
have taken different turns. Padangs however, managed to accomplish
their desired change in Malakal within a span of short space.

The hurling of events in changing the names of the streets and
features of Malakal took Collo people, other political observers and
the entire South Sudanese by surprise.

By and large, the changes were fast and enormous and they surpassed
all the norms and procedures known in the history of the internal
disputes and land grabs.

Buildings were demolished, and a new survey of the town was swiftly
carried out, perhaps to erase certain features, and partly to prevent
Collo owners from returning home.

Discreetly, Trees were uprooted and the official plots’ registry in
the department of the survey were tempered with, and altered. New
plots in place of old ones were awarded and handed out to Padang
members, including allies from the North. There was a fast track of
everything, and everywhere was there feast to celebrate this big gain
and achievement.

In the hindsight, people fought bitter wars against their oppressive
governments or foreign thieves for such behaviour and for being
cheated or neglected. There were many examples today in Africa and
elsewhere around the world.

Currently, Collo people feel the same way and vowed to fight for their
rights on an end. Undeterred Collo sons and daughters have pledged to
fight and recover the confiscated land from the grips of Kiir and his
‘Jieng Council of Elders,’ (JCE).

In Collo land, young men and women were mobilised and bound to fight
to the last drop of blood until the final restoration of every inch of
land still under occupation.

Yet still, Collo are determined not to leave a stone unturned in
searching for justice and bringing about a lasting peace in that part
of South Sudan.

Whether he did it unknowingly or not, President Kiir who usually
issues ‘such lethal and life-changing pronouncements’ from his comfort
zones in Juba might probably have come to terms with the long lasting
negative impact on such decisions. The Presidential order No. 36/2015
however, has already caused lots of damages and havocs in the country.

Sadly enough, his reluctance to reverse the establishment order or
engage in a serious and meaningful dialogue show lack of concern to
resolve the ensuing problem in the country.

Ironically, he is determined to proceed with his scheme of
Denkanization of the whole country. This is done by altering maps and
encouraging members of his Dinka community to resettle wherever they
chose as dividends for liberation.

Beyond any reasonable doubt, many people from the aggrieved
communities have come to the conclusion that Kiir and his JCE have
destroyed everything. The communal cordial relationship, including the
sense of nationality, which was regarded by many South Sudanese, as
sources of pride were not any longer being perceived as before.

Against all the odds, his government staggered to stave off looming
threats facing his leadership. Often it uses bribes to silence his
opponents or entices corrupt systems to extradite dissidents from
abroad. It engages mercenaries to fight on their behalf in most of the
eternal disputes.

In fact, his leadership was hit to the core by a number of crises;
including economic failure and looming hunger leave alone the patchy
sustainable defeat on the battlegrounds. The last wave of resignations
among his top generals who hailed from other ethnic origins could be
cited as an example.

Hence, The brave ones among the generals came out openly challenging
Kiir’s leadership. In their latest statements of resignation from SPLA
to the press, the Generals Thomas Cerilo, Henry Oyay Nyago, Khalid,
Yau Yau and others resented the way things have taken shape and called
for Kiir’s removal.

However, the stakes are very high, the discontent was not only felt
within the army ranks and files, but the entire population of South
Sudan were also tired and fed up with the appalling conditions in the
country.

Generally speaking, other ethnic communities loathed the set-up of the
government. They have extensively and openly spoken out about it,
particularly, the issue of Dinka ethnic domination of top ranking
positions in every facet of life.

Although President Kiir casts himself today as the leader of all the
people of South Sudan, he consistently claims innocence and would
always want to appear distressed or very serious searching for peace
and harmony.

However, Kiir’s latest calls for convening a national dialogue or
national prayers day were not seriously taken by many people in South
Sudan, because of the devious mechanism set and the people behind
them.

To many people in Upper Nile, his recent call for dialogue or prayers
was regarded as a ploy. They have argued saying if Kiir was really
genuine, as a good gesture, he would have had scraped his Order 36,
and then dissolved the JCE from existence and as non-constitutional.

As a former freedom fighter, presumably, Kiir should have had known
every corner or tribal composition of some areas in South Sudan. He
should have known which tribes have the dominant presence in some
various major cities of South Sudan and how did this come about. At
least this would have discouraged him from the tendency of occupying
other people’s properties.

The fact that he lived among Collo people in Malakal as a young
intelligence officer, but unfortunately, and after becoming the
President, he developed sentiments of dislikes and prejudices against
them.

Apparently, his hatred might have been triggered by circumstances
known to him alone. However, he was always found bias tipping the
balance in favor of his Dinka fellows in every contested area.

Invariably, Collo people don’t like him either and don’t believe in
him anymore, because of his segregative attitude and negative motives
toward the Collo people of Malakal.

Similarly, the people of South Sudan who overwhelmingly elected him
following the successful referendum are even more disgusted. They
don’t like him too. They are fed-up with Kiir’s ways of handling
affairs and would want him just to pack and quit the stage.

Although Kiir has failed to provide an honest platform for mediation
between Collo and Padang over Malakal, Collo is yet still committed to
dialogue and peaceful coexistence in that part of South Sudan.

Ultimately, Kiir should be held responsible and account for all the
lapses and crimes against humanity. His deeds, including the poor
management of the affairs, have proven very disastrous and divisive.
Surely, his actions had already cost the people of South Sudan dearly.

Like any dictator known in history, Kiir will soon leave the stage in
disgraceful manners and not sorry for. He will most likely go down in
history as the worst leader ever known and certainly, without any
comeback or glory to proclaim.

From: Gwado Ador
Country: United Kingdom
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1 Comment

David .C.
March 3, 2017 at 10:42 pm

Do not worry ,let Kirr and his Denka do whatever they can do for
now. They already finsh that is why kirr bringing Darfourians .There
is outsider behind them. Time well come for them. He is going to hell
with his allies.