After years of talks in Kenya, a peace deal was signed in January 2005, under which John Garang would become First Vice-President of the Sudan, alongside the man who led the government's negotiating team Ali Osman Taha.
By: James Monyluak Majok Thon
The SPLM Chapter in Calgary, Canada has held the fourth memorial service on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 at The Church of Nazareth for late Dr. John Garang De Mabior, former First Vice President of the Sudan, President of the Government of Southeren Sudan, GOSS, SPLM Chairman, and C-IN-C, who died four years ago in a tragic plane crash on his way back from an official visit to Uganda to Southern Sudan on July 30, 2005.
The service was well attended by the Sudanese in general. Also in attendance were GOSS Mission Head to Canada, H.E. Joseph Mum Majak Malok, Acting SPLM Representative to Canada, Mr. Flex Dumo, Sudanese Communities’ leaders, Sudanese churches’ leaders, Lost Boys/Lost Girls of Sudan Rep., and SPLA Veteran members.
This happened after more than two months of delay given the fact that Calgary City is a home to more than 10, 000 Sudanese population out of 60, 000 plus Sudanese population living in Canada. The city has been very busy with different schedules and programmes that have been taking place since July until now. Moreover, the SPLM Chapter in Calgary has been very busy in organizing the Second SPLM Canada Convention that will take place on Oct. 31st –Nov. 1st, 2009 in Calgary, Canada. Calgary is hosting the Convention and its SPLM Chapter has been spearheading in the arrangement and consultation processes to put everything in place before the convention day.
The first SPLM Canada Convention took place on Oct. 7 & 8, 2006 in Winnipeg, Canada in which the delegates to the convention passed the SPLM Canada Guidelines drafted by Ontario, Canada SPLM secretariat committee. The document was then sent to Juba for final approval and resolved to convene for second convention after 2 years and mostly, after receiving the guidelines from the SPLM HQS in Juba, however; the document has not been approved and sent back to Canada and that is why the second convention did not convene on time, an explanation by SPLM Chairman in Calgary.
“This memorial service served as remembrance of our heroes and martyrs and a commitment to the ongoing struggle and a celebration of the legacy that Dr. John Garang and others left for us to keep”, Comrade Stephen Yang, Chairman of SPLM Chapter in Calgary. He further went on to say that “this occasion is an important event that deserves an annual celebration and we will make sure that SPLM Diaspora celebrate it as part of our role in renewing our commitment to the SPLM objectives and honour to the fallen heroes as well.” He also talked about recent rumours that President Kiir has died in the violence and assured the public that this is the work of the enemies of peace and we should always refrains from such rumours. He wrapped his speech by recognizing the extraordinary efforts in transforming SPLM visions and objectives into political democratization of the country by the SPLM Chapters overseas and the SPLM leadership back in Sudan and urged Sudanese citizens to register and obtain their SPLM membership.
‘Community Diplomacy’
That the word the man who head GOSS Mission to Canada, H.E., Joseph Mum Majak Malok, told the Sudanese public in attendance. He urged community leaders to conduct public diplomacy with Canadian society, civil organizations, and service agencies to work with Sudanese in harmony and assist in the integration process of the Sudanese community into the mainstream Canadian way of life so that the coming generation benefit from this country and help in contributing to the future development of Sudan. In addition to his remarks, he said that there are now 16 GOSS missions overseas, 13 previous Missions plus 3 recently opened Missions in Australia, United Kingdom, and Norway, and their job is to conduct political and international diplomacy with the international community and in foreign countries so that we have more allies and friends that will support GOSS in whatever way possible.
Malok also assured the attendants that GOSS is planning to form a commission to looks after widows and orphans in Southern Sudan so that their needs are taken care of. He concluded his speech by saying that Garang’s life was full of reward and grace and his visions still alive. He said that 90% of Sudanese in general and Southern Sudanese in particular still wonder why, how, and who killed Dr. Garang. He promised that GOSS Mission to Canada will help sponsor the 5th commemoration of the death of Dr. John Garang De Mabior in 2010.
‘Make separation attractive’
Other speakers like William Lochi, Secretary General of the Sudanese Community in Calgary, Canada, who is also a southern separatist urged the Southern Sudanese in particular to “make separation attractive” and warns the NCP that manipulating the census result is not the way to make unity attractive and added that a “full implementation of the CPA would means full honour to our fallen heroes.”
Another speaker was Peter Pal Thokbuom; former SPLM Chapter candidate who lost election to his opponent 4 years ago. He said that “to make unity attractive among southerners, certain goals and mechanisms need to be introduced that will ensure lasting unity and peace in the Southern Sudan.”
Peter Tut, USAP representative in Canada, told the audience that this day is a national day and we will always support the SPLA army because it is a national army, not SPLM army and reminded southerners that USAP did not walk out during the recent political parties conference in Juba and that USAP would always stand firm in supporting GOSS and SPLM in particular to make sure the full implementation of the CPA materialize.
Lastly, Kuel Agai, SPLM secretary for political mobilization in Calgary, Canada warned that “there will always be no room for those who oppose the will of marginalized Sudanese, especially the opportunists like Lam Akol and others who have been behaving contrary to our aspirations and expectations.”
The author of this report can reached @ jamesmajok559@hotmail.com