The sacking of the two senior SPLM cadres brings music to the ears!
At last Salva Kiir is seeing sense and acting the leader he should have been long time ago. By sacking two senior members of the SPLM from their positions and membership sends a clear signal to all those who are trying to take the movement in the wrong direction.
Ever since the death of Dr John Garang and the appointment of Salva as successor, the top leadership has seen lots of changes. Salva sidelined all those who came to be called the "Garang Boys" from senior posts and bringing aroun himself people of dubious characters. Telar Deng is one of them.
How can you even dream of a coup at this time when the South is still in ruins. It is only the craving for power that can bring such unthinkable thoughts. Telar made sure that many people who could expose him were kept away from Salva Kiir with stories of disloyalty etc. What a shame. It turns out now they were the ones scheming against Kiir right in the presidential palace.
The likes of Alieu and others are not wanted in the movement. They have their own agenda which are contrary to the needs of South Sudan.
It is time Salva see sense and forget these labels of "Garang Boys" etc and bring closer to him people who could help him deliver the South peacefully.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Monday, December 03, 2007
Teddy bear teacher to be freed
It is being announced that President Bashir has pardoned the school teacher involved in the teddy bear crisis.
I for one believe that it is the only sane way to end the crisis. After letting the courts practice their laws without interference (it would have been termed meddling in internal affairs of a sovereign state!) a presidential pardon is the only way to save face.
She had already served out half her time. Atleast, she had not seen the inside of the women prison. (she was kept in a secret location and fed lots of apples!) I had hoped she does even for a day so that she can tell the world the conditions as an eye withness!
Go well, Mrs Gibbons. I hope you dont bear grudges against the Sudanese people. The ragtag group into whose hands you fell are a minority and does not represent us at all. I wish you well.
I for one believe that it is the only sane way to end the crisis. After letting the courts practice their laws without interference (it would have been termed meddling in internal affairs of a sovereign state!) a presidential pardon is the only way to save face.
She had already served out half her time. Atleast, she had not seen the inside of the women prison. (she was kept in a secret location and fed lots of apples!) I had hoped she does even for a day so that she can tell the world the conditions as an eye withness!
Go well, Mrs Gibbons. I hope you dont bear grudges against the Sudanese people. The ragtag group into whose hands you fell are a minority and does not represent us at all. I wish you well.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Teddy bear case and sanity
Sudan is behaving like the bad boys and girls in hollywood who make headline news for the wrong reasons. I will change that to notoriety status.
The sensationalization of the teddy bear case of the British school teacher is just one of them. Yesterday's protest in Khartoum was organized by people who who don't care about the image of Sudan (or what is left of it) when calling for the death of the poor teacher. It is not un-imaginable knowing the track record, though.
The whole issue could have been handled more sanely.
Now two Muslim British members of parliament are in Khartoum to help with her release. I think the fact that she had already spent more than five days of her 15 days sentence leaves few margin for maneuvre. It looks more likely that poor Mrs Gibbons will serve her sentence before the appeal gets heard. Typical Sudanese justice.
I think it is only the president who can safe her the torment of the women prison in Omdurman. Now Sudan is in the headlines.
The sensationalization of the teddy bear case of the British school teacher is just one of them. Yesterday's protest in Khartoum was organized by people who who don't care about the image of Sudan (or what is left of it) when calling for the death of the poor teacher. It is not un-imaginable knowing the track record, though.
The whole issue could have been handled more sanely.
Now two Muslim British members of parliament are in Khartoum to help with her release. I think the fact that she had already spent more than five days of her 15 days sentence leaves few margin for maneuvre. It looks more likely that poor Mrs Gibbons will serve her sentence before the appeal gets heard. Typical Sudanese justice.
I think it is only the president who can safe her the torment of the women prison in Omdurman. Now Sudan is in the headlines.
Friday, November 30, 2007
End the blame game, SPLM and NCP
When the SPLM pulled out its ministers from the Government of National Unity, everyone expects the worse to happen. When the blame game and name calling subsided, we are yet to see how it is all going to end.
It is unbelievably pathetic for the NCP to think that hey can get away with stalling and playing down the CPA. It is obvious from day one that the CPA will be in trouble. Where is the good faith everyone was singing in Naivasha?
The late John Garang said the CPA is a new born babe whose growth and development is the responsibility of the whole Sudanese people. It seems some people want this child dead before its fourth Birthday. It will fit with the general under five mortality rate for Sudan!
It is unbelievably pathetic for the NCP to think that hey can get away with stalling and playing down the CPA. It is obvious from day one that the CPA will be in trouble. Where is the good faith everyone was singing in Naivasha?
The late John Garang said the CPA is a new born babe whose growth and development is the responsibility of the whole Sudanese people. It seems some people want this child dead before its fourth Birthday. It will fit with the general under five mortality rate for Sudan!
Thursday, November 29, 2007
BK is coming back soon . . .
A lot of water has passed under the bridge since BK was last here. SPLM and NCP were in crisis, the Darfur UNAMID force still in limbo and a teddy bear call Mohammed causing a storm . . .
Well, just another day for a fresh look. See you soon.
Well, just another day for a fresh look. See you soon.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
SPLM vs NCP: the standoff
Is the Sudan government really serious about peace in the country? Events happening these days in Khartoum cast a lot of doubt. Am not talking about Darfur. Not yet. Am referring to the CPA with the SPLM.
It seems the junior partner in the so called Government of National Unity is being ignored and harrased at will. The NCP government plays as if they don't care whether the CPA survives or not. Otherwise, what does their action mean?
The NCP security raided the offices of the SPLM in Khartoum in search of what they call illegal weapons. Whatever their motives, it will surely backfire oneday and war will come to Khartoum. It is an unfortunate incident and breach of trust, the little that was their.
It casts a lot of doubt on a lot of things. I think it is time the SPLM stand their ground as partners in the government, not just being accommodated for the sake of peace. Salva Kiir should show the leadership the South Sudanese want at this time.
No one wants to go back to war in Sudan these days but it seems the NCP wants to drag people of South Sudan back into one. Too bad.
It seems the junior partner in the so called Government of National Unity is being ignored and harrased at will. The NCP government plays as if they don't care whether the CPA survives or not. Otherwise, what does their action mean?
The NCP security raided the offices of the SPLM in Khartoum in search of what they call illegal weapons. Whatever their motives, it will surely backfire oneday and war will come to Khartoum. It is an unfortunate incident and breach of trust, the little that was their.
It casts a lot of doubt on a lot of things. I think it is time the SPLM stand their ground as partners in the government, not just being accommodated for the sake of peace. Salva Kiir should show the leadership the South Sudanese want at this time.
No one wants to go back to war in Sudan these days but it seems the NCP wants to drag people of South Sudan back into one. Too bad.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
A minute in remembrance . . .
I pause one minute for the victims of September 11. Six years on, the tragedy still fresh. And the world is not any more safer than it was before.
No killing is justifiable. I add another minute for all the viictims of injustice around the world, in Africa and Sudan: a minute for victims of the genocide in Rwanda, Darfur. A minute for the innocent dying in Iraq. A minute for the Israelis dying under Palestinian rocket fire. A minute for the Palestinians suffering the brunt of Israeli repression.
A minute for the victims of apatheid in South Africa. A minute for the Zimbabweans dying while fleeing in search of food. A minute for the Somalis being killed everyday in Mogadishu. A minute for the thousands of Africans who died trying to cross the oceans and seas to reach Europe. A minute for the Afghanis dying to safe their country. A minute for those who died in Guantanamo prison.
A minute for those who disappeared in Sudan, South Sudan without trace. A minute for the fallen heroes of the struggle for freedom.
And ofcourse, a minute for Dr. John Garang de Mabior, founder and leader of the SPLM/A and Vice President of the Republic of the Sudan, liberator, hero and freedom fighter.
Do you have a minute you want to share? Feel free to add in the comments.
No killing is justifiable. I add another minute for all the viictims of injustice around the world, in Africa and Sudan: a minute for victims of the genocide in Rwanda, Darfur. A minute for the innocent dying in Iraq. A minute for the Israelis dying under Palestinian rocket fire. A minute for the Palestinians suffering the brunt of Israeli repression.
A minute for the victims of apatheid in South Africa. A minute for the Zimbabweans dying while fleeing in search of food. A minute for the Somalis being killed everyday in Mogadishu. A minute for the thousands of Africans who died trying to cross the oceans and seas to reach Europe. A minute for the Afghanis dying to safe their country. A minute for those who died in Guantanamo prison.
A minute for those who disappeared in Sudan, South Sudan without trace. A minute for the fallen heroes of the struggle for freedom.
And ofcourse, a minute for Dr. John Garang de Mabior, founder and leader of the SPLM/A and Vice President of the Republic of the Sudan, liberator, hero and freedom fighter.
Do you have a minute you want to share? Feel free to add in the comments.
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