Brief Analysis on Dr Machar Unreserved Apology

  By John Adoor Deng

While weekend in the South Sudanese tradition is meant for family gathering, socialization, and attending functions of importance. The Sunday the 7^th August 2011 was well spent by Dr Machar Teny, although his family members were not with him, Machar took a historic, brilliant peculiar step to release his long awaited apology to the people of greater Bor Community. Greater Bor community was severely devastated particularly as a result of the split in the movement in 1991-1992, hundreds of thousands were massacred, and over 70% of the population was dispersed, some are still in IDP camps across the country and presumably now returning homes. As usual, rebellion produces rebels; Riek Machar defected from the SPLM/SPLA on what is sighted by many analysts as conflict of ideologies over the whole notion of New Sudan. Garang’s vision of New Sudan was seen by some Southern elites as unattainable and this might have precipitated the split in the movement. Whether it was bad or good depending on the perspective that one sees it, the event amounted to a loss of lives of innocent civilian, children, women and elderly. Of course, somebody somewhere must take responsibility, last Sunday the great son of the land Hon Dr Riek Machar Teny, took the blame upon his shoulder by releasing his very heartfelt apology to the people of greater Bor. The few Bor intellectuals and elders who attended the event on Sunday were moved in tears and they all together hold each other with Dr Machar. This apology fall in two schools of thought:

1-      Such move will cement our relationship, restore our unity and bring about national healing and reconciliation. Dr Machar has done the best and only thing that wise people do in such situation. Frankly, it could be argue that personally Riek Machar never turn his guns towards Bor people but however, his subordinates went beyond his orders as this is always a common practice with a rebel movement.

2-      Some members are taking it differently; they believe that Dr Machar has provided materials for ICC. He has confirmed the evidence that he was actually behind the massacre. The International Criminal Court is well situated for such materials.

Finally, I am personally convinced that we must forgive our brother Machar Teny and all people that participated in this act. If Jesus was able to forgive the people who nailed him on the cross, why not us?  I would urge all great Bor members to forgive Riek Machar teny and put this dark story aside forever.

The Author is John Adoor Deng, studying Masters in Public Relations at the University of Southern Queensland; He can be reach at revadoor@yahoo.com