SHILLUK POLITICAL PROPAGANDAS ON PADANG COMMUNITIES MALAKAL EAST BANK AND ANAKDIAR BELONG TO DINKA
After the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), most Southern Sudanese expected to live in peace and never in their wildest dreams would there be conflicts between tribe and tribe, clan and clan, family and family or individual and another as we are a nation that prides itself on its cultures, riches, diversity and intelligence. However, this dream has been shattered by many brutal, inhumane and heartless individuals who pride themselves for being of certain tribes rather than looking at a whole picture of who we are as a nation. It’s not a surprise that the highly educated score greatly on tribalism and less on nationalism; they always aim to promote propagandas that are aimed to cause the least educated to maim, kill, mutilate or harass their good fellow citizens.
Padang intellectuals always keep themselves away from any tribal politics or ideologies that aim to divide citizens on tribal, clan or familial lines and always lack comments on sensitive issues that expose our weaknesses as Southerners. However, other highly educated and respected individuals such as Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, Dr. James Okuk and Dr. Peter Adwok Nyaba, vigorously promote and incite their tribal young men and women to attack their neighbouring Padang communities and kill citizens in high numbers. This is completely insane. I personally do not endorse any tribal conflicts or disputes among citizens of Southern Sudan but there are numerous incidences where many lives have been lost in Padang and Shilluk communities around Malakal areas which resulted from such intellectuals’ behaviours that promote hatred among Southern Sudanese. I would like to name just a few of these incidences and I’ll limit myself only to post CPA as there had been countless incidences in the past decades among tribes that live in Upper Nile State.
An Electrical Engineer was murdered on the night of Jan 7th, 2008 by murderers who don’t want Dinkas in Malakal as workers. The man was from Ngok by the name Kuol Thiony da Gau. This happened before Jan 9th, 2009 when another attack occurred between the Shilluk and Dinka Ngok Lual Yak, which the latter didn’t start but the former did. In Malakal when the celebration of peace anniversary began in Jan 9th, 2009, instead of respecting the Sudanese happiness, Shilluk messed it up; by attacking Dinkas and killed innocent people from Ngok because they were being supported by the NCP and don’t understand what’s behind that support. I wonder what Shilluk people think Dinka reaction would be, since they have lost their loves one. For example; if I were to go and shot down your parents without any reasons, how would you feel? Hope it would not be good for anyone if such thing happens, so it is totally wrong for Shilluk policemen to shoot civilians using government weapons. And that’s how the disputes between the two tribes began; as we all know that bad politics leads to lost of innocent lives. Shilluk do eat together with Arabs in one plate as they say in Shilluk song, that “shoul keke bonyo nyaam eluol akielo”. That is what is going on inside this tribe of Shilluk and I think Shilluk will never get better even if you join the NCP with your leader Dr Lam Akol, I don’t think you will gain anything or any benefit from them.
It will be just the mess to your people as we all know that Arabs are not going to do any good to southerners. So do not rely on Lam Akol because he is not to be trusted. Why did he run away from the bush and left the fight to SPLA/M? He couldn’t confront those Arabs. Padang communities, Shilluk, Nuer Lou, Nuer Nasir and Nuer Bentiu have been good neighbours for long time but when Lam Akol stepped in, numerous destructions and briberies followed that led to relationships meltdown among these communities and all the entire Southern Sudan tribes. I wonder what changes the SPLM-DC can bring to Southern Sudan while it is being led by inhumane professor who kills civilians who are his backbone if he really wants to create change. He is an absolute pretender who deceives himself to be a friend of everyone while he has a lot concealed about him. That is lack of common sense, a foreign minister who has poor ability to understand or profit from that experience or world exposure.
In addition, Adwok mentioned Shilluk land as Malakal and Anakdiar, and how it was occupied. Malakal East bank does not belong to Shilluk. They are on the other side of the west bank; the owners are Dinka Ngok Lual Yak, but Ngok allowed them to be there since that brings Southern Sudanese together. To assure you, Malakal name was (Matakeel) in Dinka, meaning gathering of all cattle or people of Sudan because it is the centre. But when Arabs came as traders, they changed its name to Malakal as they recently did Panthou to Heglig. Also Khartoum name in Dinka was (Kiirtuom) meaning the meeting point of all rivers but traders changed it as well, so historically all those parts belong to Dinka. Since Dinkas are freedom fighters, the went to the bush to fight for the truth and not for some parts of Southern Sudan, and people like Shilluk remain in those areas to share that plate (Luol Akiel) with Arabs.
On top of that; we are talking about Lokjang (The East bank of the Nile) Not Lokchollo (The West bank of the Nile). There are two Malakal areas historically; one is in the West Bank called Malakal Shilluk and the other one in the East Bank which is Malakal Jieng/ LokJang. The reason of calling that Malakal Shilluk meaning there is another Malakal that does not belong to them. We all understand that we came from the Northern part of the Country and possibly Egypt during migratory period, even the human civilization begun with Southerners while in Egypt. The Padang communities and Shilluk came and settled together along the river Nile and between rivers, swamps and Khors (Fulus and Atar). Still we had a border called the Nile with the Chollo and you all know. That is why in those days; they don’t bury anyone from the king’s family at the East bank calling it foreign land. But due to good relationships and inter-marriages, some Shilluk crossed and were given a piece of land at the East bank and Anakdiar. So Anakdiar does not have a meaning in Shilluk’s language is a prime example. Children of the chief who gave that piece of land are still alive; other clans of Ngok were assimilated into Shilluk community and are found in Mijok and Doleib.
Anakdiar is a Dinka name, Ngok did allow Ajak Goldit’s family to stay there and we named this place because of Rueth’s argument with his brother, when his brother killed his wife long time ago. We accepted his brother to stay when he ran away from his brother Rueth. Settlement from Shilluk to this side of the Nile must not include invading other people’s land. Immigration to other land is something we all know, and if you want to return back to your original land, you will not take any thing or call it that it’s yours and this is what is happening to this tribe. So it is good that Shilluk could know the history and then argue it when you know that you will win the case.
Frankly speaking, these categories of people do not agree with your campaign because they all know how they crossed to East Bank. Only those of you who come from far west and are gluttonous. Which some of you have revealed the secret and admitted that our electrical engineer that was assassinated in Malakal was murdered with intent. And some are saying our Paramount chief deserved to be slaughtered with his family and you still threaten that you are ready for the mess. Let hope you can envisage the kind of animosity you have started and will leave to the challenge; want it or not you will all cross to Lokchollo the West bank.
Another incident that happens to Dongjol Dinka in Bionythiang was not a minor issue you people can roughly play with. Those who attacked Anakdiar village are now under arrest and they will face justice though it is Shilluk who first started the attack. I don’t really know what did Dongjol do to Shilluk for them to be killed brutally like that? Did they attack Fashoda? No they didn’t. Secondly, the attackers were from Lam Akol militias since there were wounded people who saw them with their own eyes and heard their slogan of SPLM-DC Oyee and Fashoda Oyee. Also Major General Kuol Diem Kuol, spokesperson of the southern Sudan army (SPLA), said the survivors of the attack who kill paramount and his family, said the attackers were led by an officer belonging to SPLM-DC of Dr Lam Akol. "The wounded said the militia were led by an officer who has defected to the SPLM-DC," Kuol said. "They saw these men with their own eyes. So how could you complain about Anakdiar attack that the Dinkas that were killed were having the SPLA/M guns while you started it first to have Lam Akol militia? So be careful with what you are doing because the whole World is watching.
And let me tell you that attacking Dongjol Dinka without any reason is like attacking bee hive. Shilluk know very well that it was Dongjol Dinka who rescued them from Mr Tanginy who was about to burnt down Fashoda in 2004 when he bowed to destroy holy village of Mak. Since you people don’t fight, whether in SPLA or in the SAF and if you don’t agree please go and try to access the statistics in any either organized armed forces if you will find Shilluk dominating combatant soldiers. How many battalions did Shilluk formed in the SPLA file during struggle, only Fashoda with less than a battalion which also contributed nothing but surrendering themselves to Arab when Lam Akol signed Fashoda agreement. There is no problem Shilluk if you want to resume your "Luol Akiel" (one plate with Jalaba) as it sang in your Shilluk songs, it is up to you. South Sudan is very big and we cannot betray the cause of our freedom using tribal conflict.
So Mr. Nyaba and the rest, we don’t want to be seen engaging in politics of tribes. There is nothing Dinka has done to you Shilluk and God can witness that. You are the one born betrayers of any noble cause of Southern Sudan. If you feel to be warriors than any other tribes why don’t you organize yourself and liberate your area from the advancing Arab into your northern territories of Chollo Kingdom. Hope you Shilluk remember the murder of the great Revolutionary leader of Anyanya 1 Wutter at Nyinthar malual war. Try it, but it will satisfy all of us, Nuer did organize the same thing like what the Chollo is doing now to drive Jieng out of land. But it was done accordingly. And that is why it takes long for Southern Sudanese not to achieve victory over our main enemy.
So Shilluk stop saying that the government of South Sudan belong to Dinkas, while there are different tribes like Shilluk, Murley, Anyuak, Nuer, Bari, Balanda and so on who are in this government and who have representatives of the above mentioned. Does it look like Dinka government? We don’t want to argue something that is not true and this is what you are trying to confuse the public about. SPLA/M is much respected party/government and freedom fighter; even if there are some mistakes made by them, they are humans and no man is perfect except God. Please Shilluk stop that false politics that could confuse us and act as tribal people; this is not what we want to do to our own people. We want to stay together firmly and defeat this ruling party in the country. Shilluk or Dinkas, we are all Sudanese but if you want to segregate these two tribes their blood will follow you sooner and not later; NCP is not going to do anything just laughing at us.
About Padang leaders that you are talking against, my dear, these leaders from Padang communities are the once who stood firm with SPLA/M and fought strongly against Arabs for the right of Southern Sudan. When Padang people were in the bush fighting for your freedom, you Shilluk came back to towns and supported the Arabs, so the land was given by Arab to you because of supporting the insurgent that time, but history was written long time ago as Lokjieng and Lokchollo. Lam Akol created conflict, but you never understand that all of us will not benefit from it or him, only the NCP who will. It is better to unite ourselves in the south, so we could overcome the Arab together as we were in the bush, but Arab seem to be your living final answer. You don’t remember when over 5,000 Shilluk got killed by Arab in 1997 in the White Nile State with out any reason. They were only civilians without any weapon or guns. This must alert you that you can change your mind from that unintelligent politics. It is just a con from the Arab.
To draw your attention readers, what I’m trying to say is not, because I don’t like Shilluk? It is because they are going into the wrong direction by supporting SPLM/ DC into tribal ruling; this is what Lam Akol wants to do which is repulsive to me, it is not acceptable, because it is a brainless party. They are against Southerners and no one will agree with it only few Shilluk who will; these people think that they are all educated and have people in SPLA/M who have power in the South and Lam Akol in the North. This is why they are creating fight against Padang Dinkas and claim Dinka areas. Because Lam Akol know what he was doing by telling Shilluk people to come back in and go to school and let Dinkas fight to die, so that they will rule the South. Well it could happen for Shilluk to rule but not in that manner of occupying other people land.
On the other hand, not all Shilluks are trusted to rule only two people who could, namely Oyai Deng Ajak and Pagan Amum but not SPLM/DC who is full of nepotism and tribalism. So my friends don’t feel bad when Dinkas are leaders, they should be the ones because they have fought for it but most of you went back to Arabs which didn’t help us if we all did, better stay strong and fight for our own freedom. And that is why there is Southern Sudan government and its SPLA/M but not SPLM/ DC.
I actually stand up for democracy, which is run smoothly by smart people but not like what you are supporting. As an intellectual person, why can you stop supporting SPLM-DC and be independent, therefore we can join hand and work for the good of our nation and correct those leaders instead of following their foot step. As a matter of fact, all Dinkas know how to stay with their neighbours as others tribes are, and according to any law in the world, who ever attack first is guilty and the attackers from Shilluk were/are. That is why the SPLA/M intervenes. So let’s respect our dignity, since we are the leaders.
From: Ms Abok Dau