Subject : Gaguang Community | Duoptang@yahoo.com

Fictional thinking cannot be possible to realise: Acritique of uncle John Jock Kang's letter addressed to Guang community.

In his recent letter that is addressed to Guang community, uncle John Jock discussed other things, one a claim that "if Nyang Kiir wants to go back to his step-brother Thiang Kiir(Gajaak in his general language) who was of course, his father by Nuer traditions, then Kuan Jiok( ciee-nyegiy a sub-clan of Gaguang) would go back to Jiok and jion his brother Bulbeeck. He boldly concluded his remarks. The second point our uncle mentioned in his letter is what he again called "Gaguang in dilemma about their creation". What does our uncle mean when he comes up with this horrific view? Third, our uncle used a metaphorical language saying that talking about Gaguang community we seem to play ball without a goalkeeper. And then rushed on to cite an example on Gajaak as of the largest Kirr's son in "population wide" indicating that it is impossible for Gaguang to exist without their counterparts Jiok.

Four, our uncle has mentioned that Gaguang are found in two countries namely(Ethiopia & the Sudan)that if Gaguang on Ethiopian side of the border talk about their unity, that is entire their matter of concern and not those on the Sudanese side of the border he remarked. Fifth, he said that talking about Gaguang "departing" from their brother Jiok would mean an aggravation of the conflict Between Jiok and Guang Kiir. And lastly , uncle elaborated a relationship between Jiok and Guang with specific reference to Gaguang being always side by side with Yoal Khena. Based on the article he posted on website, I have nevertheless managed to critically analyze and interpret the theme of the very delicate entire story he presented as follows:

First of all, as I read the letter, it really gave me a hectic time to grasp and understand the intentions and the motives behind our uncle to come up with thisissue putting a green light between his communities(Guang & Jiok communities). After quite a while I managed to understand his intention. That is, he is an advocate of Pal GatKuoth's straight-jacket philosophy. His articale told us that he is among those very few individuals who hand-pciked Pal to lead NCA with the objective of undermining of Gaguang's one of. In addition to, I may say that he did not fully internaliz the reason why all Gaguang sons and duaghter either in Diaspora and in Africa are against their fellow kinsman Pal and his leadership and the subsequent of review their bloodrelation with their brother Jiok as Duany's sons. If at all he understands this very basic point, then we can categorically say that he intentionally wants to divede Gaguang community. A point which a majority of educated elites in NCA's both in the so called "main stream" led by Pal and the broke faction could hardly bear to support.

I wonder why our uncle is moved up to that extent. He is one of the few pioneers in education in the entire Nuer Land and who of course, had made a tremendous contribution in helping Nuer and their counterparts Anuaks during the heydays when he worked as an assistant veterinarian in Itang and Gambella. The article he wrote has negatively potrayed his reputation in our communties. Now let me be specific on the analysis of points one by one. Before that, I would like to apologize to my readers who may think that I am using a taboo language against our respected uncle. However the point is, I feel, I should hit the nail on its head by being open and frank to the point needed the most.

Referring to what he called Nyang " going back to his step-brother and father Thiang, and Kuan going back to his brother Bulbeeck or Jiok in general. This I would personally say is the main objective of Pal's campaign in our community and that predisposition, I hope and indeed believe would not be tolerated by both Jiok and Guang communities who want to discuss their differences in a round table dialogue. Second, referring to historical back ground, past cannot have any ground on the present sitautions. Well, let us suppose that it be traced back; can this analogy be applied here in our context? I regretted, if our uncle is in a position that Kuan Jiok should go back to Bulbeeck as his brother, what about Chiak(Gaatciika, sub-clan of Gaguang) who is step-brother of Kuan, where he is going to place him? Because both are brothers forming what is now called Cie-Nyewany or Nyewany family line. If he says so, then our uncle is creating a division between Cie-Nyewany themselves as brothers. In addition to this, during historical, political, and geographical move which was made in 1981, or so, by D.K Matthews, which led to formation of Maiwut as one of the districts in Upper Nile, why Bulbeeck did not claim his brother Kuan Jiok to remain with him? meanwhile, all Gaguaang along with Yoal khena were taken to Maiwut. I want to tell our uncle that no Kuan sons and daughters who can advocate this idea; if any few, are those whom I can term as "misled ones" by Pal him himself.

Why our uncle did not present this claim of Kuan going back to Bulbeck by then? I think our uncle is making mere and wild speculations. Moreover, is that idea paused by our uncle shared by all Cie-Nyegiy sons and daughters(descendeants of Kuan)? I do no really think that it is a common view. It is only Pal Gatkuoth and a few individuals from community whom I may termed as the misled ones by Pal that may have damaging sentiment.

If our uncle thinks that way, can Cie-Nyegiy(Kuan descents) down at the grass root level of the community accept that opinion? Let alone CIAK. Who is it among Gaguaang sub-clans always becoming the victims of the conflicts between them and their brother Jiok? Is it not Kuan whom our uncle claims to repossess? I am quite optimistic that this cannot happen and will not happen in some times to come under any circumstances. We believe that this is one of the evil seeds, which our uncle is trying to sow among his communities, and that I think our uncle wishes may give a room to Pal who is relentlessly fighting to blind fool some of our brothers to dark side of the room where he is in. That is next to impossible, Guang has an indomitable spirit that majority of them cannot be easily blown up by directionless and unfiltered winds; I would like to remind our uncle. Is our uncle aware of how sitautions down at the grass root lvel of the communities between two brothers are going on? If he wants to take Kuan, let him come to Africa and convince Kuan's sons and daughters that they should go back to their brother Bulbeck. Let him not waste his precious time by talking to those who went to seek greener pasture in the West and even who care a little for the plights of their brothers and sisters. As they have forgotten their background(intentionally repudiating to trace their past). Now to make the story too sort, I would like to focus the attention of our uncle on the following key points: Our intention is not far, some of us to go and form a coalition with our brother Jack Kiir as uncle may think. The point is, if both communities are becoming capable,(in term of human resources as seen by legitimate authorities and meeting the critetia required) and the differences between them at the grass root level are increasing from time to time, then the two communities can be separated administravely, in development wise and possibly in politically arenas. Other point is to tell some of you who were misled by Pal during the election that Pal has to be corrected from his negative attitude of putting himself above every one else and indeed even above the community itself. And because of that he called our community "Taliban" government in Afghanistan toppled by U.S led strike, after September 11, 2001 in New York and Washington, he did it to win your support. In addition to this, he did not fulfill the pledges he made during election and therfore, he lied to the communities under the oath.

To tell you that Pal is the one who sows the hatred seeds among Guang and Jiok communities. For example, he said that Gaguang should appreciate him because he divided Gajiok into two opposing camps. A point he said has never been done by any NUER in the history; and our communities have beev in series of communal conflict from day one until today. What Pal's leadership has done to stop such needless conflicts as a leader in both communities? I think none of us can claim any contribution made by that leadership, rather Pal himself has contributed a big sum of money " THOOR-JIKANY" a movement working for the destruction in our areas that that money goes to the movement's leader.

The second point, our uncle himself was educated, worked in Ethiopia and having Ethiopian citizenship by birth and as an assistant veterinarian let alone other Nasirians. Should he change his citizenship to a Sudanese because of his being to the New World? I personally completed my Primary and Secondary School in Sudan and now I am working in Ethiopia. I think a few among the Southerners educated elites can deny Ethiopia. Therefore; I would say that, the point our uncle has raised has no legitimate ground in his article to back up his claim. The third point our uncle has mentioned in his letter was what he called "special relationship between Yoal Khena and Guang". The fact that Guang was allied with Yoal during thar move of the time does not in any way signify a blood relationship between the two. It was just a political marriage to win political drama at the stage and that is not a commandment and thus does not have "teeth" to smoothen the rough surface. It can be altered any time given the changes in political and administrative arena. We would prefer being allies with the JUR as in Nuer language than to always witness, harassments, killings and humiliation from our brother. Horever, that is not our intention to have a gloomy separation with our brothers.If any thing to happen as such, that should be done by the communities who are affected by the crisis and not those who claim to "keep alive" the unity of Duany sons neither those who claim that "Enough is Enough" we should determine our fate. That also needs an assesment of the needs of those communities and that should be done by the legitimate authorities using relevant criteria and not population arena as our uncle foreses. Guang sholud not ugly depart from his brother Jiok because of the conflicts between them as our uncle imagine. If any separation, Gaguang should see it in terms of equivocal distribution of resources, power, political and what you have; which have been the order of the day for ages on the Jiook's side. Once again, I would like to remind our uncle that nothing will happen out of below miraculously. Guang loves to be with brother Jiok and that should not make to be an escape goat of the drama that he does not want to with brother.

Lastly, our uncle in his article talked about " Playing a ball without goal keeper" Does he mean that it is next to impossible for Gaguang to ever depart from Jiok? Or he means that Gaguang are few to determine their fate and live without Gajiook(theirbrothers)? All things can be happen if people want them to be so, but this point should not be the case in our views. I think what our uncle mentioned in the second paragraph of his article is a complete gesture of naivety. There is no political interventions made by Gaguang on the Ethiopian border into the political affairs of their brothers on the Sudanese side. We know the political demakartion, I think our unlce is in political wildness to thinkthat way. Why does he think that Gaguang(those in the Sudanese side) when they are a part and parcel of the entire Southern Sudan should not be in the beneficiaries of that provision because they not with Jiok?

In conclusion, I would say that all what he said not represent the opinion of all Jiook educated elites and as such that is a wish thinking of an individual. Pal is not recognized in our community as a leader of Nasir community, but Koang Gatkuoth who legitimate leader of NCA and who sees that the community is above is every one. This view shared by all Gaguang both in Ethiopia and the Sudan.

Thank you all in advance, Guaang community.