By Machien J. Luoi
Gurtong - Monday May 22, 2011- Obviously, North and South Sudan are on a verge of bitter and unwarranted final divorce comes July 09, 2011. This anticipated separation has drawn jealousy and envy on the part of North Sudan’s NCP government and its proxies in the North for the soon to be born Republic of South Sudan (ROSS).
As a result of this jealousy and envy for the soon to be new nation of Africa and the world, NCP and allies have embarked on supporting militias to destabilized the South Sudan government in Juba and imposed economic embargo on commercial goods and materials coming down to South Sudan from the North. These situations are threatening the social, economic and political stability of a young nation.
Nonetheless, to all South Sudanese inside and outside the region who know the regime(s) of Khartoum, this behavior is not new, it is expected. For those who are scared and getting hopeless, just believe on better days ahead, freedom is not free, so don’t lose hope, “we shall overcome.”
It has taken 191 years for South Sudanese to arrive to the right to self-determination plebiscite which ended with 98% of the registered voters voting for separation, last January 09, 2011. A long journey of 191 years deserves a high approval rating of 98% or more.
To the North Sudan’s NCP and proxies, this meant that all bridges between the two Sudans are to be burned since the outcome of the referendum meant South Sudan will be a country of its own, an equal power in the region and international arena. Afraid of an independent South Sudan, that has strong relationships with South Kordofan’s Nuba Communities, Blue Nile’s Funj people, and Western and South Dafur, NCP immediately, found a helping hand in South Sudan dissatisfied rebel SPLA officers, immediately armed them with automatic weapons and UXOs (unexploded ordinances) to fight the soon to be ROSS in various fronts.
Strategically, this would plunge South Sudan to war with itself, land little credibility to ROSS on part of International community, consequently, that would confirm the old assumption of the North that South Sudanese can’t govern themselves.
We are all aware of this act by the NCP. Civilians and man in uniforms alike are dying en masse in an internal war between South Sudanese, officiated by NCP government. For instance, Kaldak in Upper Nile State, Mankien and Boaw in Unity State are now in ruins. There are many lives lost, uncountable damage in property, thousands of people remain displaced, while social, economic and political relationships between those whose support comes from Khartoum and those defending the South sovereignty deteriorates. The people who are dying on both sides are South Sudanese, the starving civilians; the displaced people and burned properties are our own.
Almost immediately after our independence, Khartoum regime will go and we will remain, whether at peace or not, on our own. What stories shall we be telling ourselves and children after the January 09, 2011 and beyond? Shall we be saying that Khartoum planted landmines, starved, displaced and burned our houses as we were heading to our independence? We will admit we did it ourselves under the influence of Khartoum.
Freedom is not priceless, that is true. But who should we pay our freedom price to? To our own sons who will also be freed with us on July 09, 2011? It shouldn’t be this way. We have our own grievances yes, but we must not use force or fight each other for our own tranquility, “a lasting peace cannot be founded on force, but only on moral order.”
In these regards, let us pray and work for peaceful settlement of our internal issues, persevere and absorb loses inflicted on us by our own brothers through the influence of our enemy and hope for better days ahead. This is what it takes to be free.
On May 02, 2011 Newspapers (Citizens, Sudan tribune), carried headlines that alleged Central Bank of Sudan distributed letters of termination of South Sudanese employed in the bank from their positions. Although, the Bank later denied the claim even though it happened. Other institutions in the North have been and could be laying South Sudanese off from their jobs in the North Sudan in silence. This is happening can be confirmed by recent economic blockade which prevented all southwards commercial trucks delivering market goods and materials to South Sudan were by the NCP government.
It has been three weeks thus far with no commercial items moving south from North Sudan which South Sudan states to the North (Northern Bhar el Ghazel, Warrap, Unity Upper Nile, Lakes and Jonglei) depend on for economic services.
The economic embargo has resulted to shortage of fuel in most fuel stations, hence grounding most automobiles from going anywhere for any business; most construction activities have come to a sudden halt owing to the fact that construction materials coming South from Khartoum, Kosti and other towns in North Sudan are stopped; on another hand, lack of food supplies resulting from Khartoum’s embargo is catastrophically going to result to hunger and starvation in the states whose economic livelihoods are dependent on North Sudan; whatever little food may be there, will be unaffordable because prices are going up; before long the number of children entering to classes will reduce while the figures of children to see doctor for starvation/hunger related issues (malnutrition, other) will increase; coupled with fact that shops and restaurants are closing up; huge number casual workers and even salaried associates are being laid off because of unprecedented economic downturn in South Sudan, we seem to be heading for the worse.
However, should we surrender to these sanctions and does nothing, while watching our communities succumb to demise orchestrated by our enemies in the North? No, time has come for us to understand that we ought to be economically independent. Our merchants in the affected states of South Sudan must look for new market frontiers. Our traders should start going as far as Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Central Africa Republic and as near as Yei and Juba, to bring goods and materials for economic survival and independence from the North Sudan. It is not easy yes, but remember“the cause of freedom has in it a recuperative power of virtue which can draw misfortune new hope and new strength,” said Winston Churchill.
In just the Sudan’s 2nd Civil War alone, we lost more than 2 million people, 4 million plus displaced and uncountable damage in property sacrificed, we endured the situation and victoriously emerged out of the war through peaceful agreement (Comprehensive peace Agreement), we were not defeated it was a stalemate.
Now, with only 46 days left, we can endure the inflicted harm by rebel militias under the influence of the enemy and sustain pain of economic sanctions by North Sudan’s government, because soon we will be free. Dear South Sudanese, freedom is not free, don’t lose hope, “we shall overcome,” you all know this.
The author is a South Sudanese residing in Bentiu, Unity State.