Sudanese Australians Commemorate 24th Anniversary of SPLM/A
[Gurtong News] – Deng M. Koch
Scattered in the distant and foreign lands they are, but their roots, the just cause and sacrifices of their people and motherland they have not been forgotten nor will they be forgetten. The Sudanese Communities in Australia celebrated the twenty fourth anniversary of the start of the dignified struggle by the Sudan People Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) over the weekend in their respective states. Some celebrated on Saturday while others did so on Sunday; the delay in celebrating the important event is understandable given the fact that they people here follows the official calendar of the host nation; hence it is not always possible to give up work or study to celebrate the day, a milestone to the marginalised Sudanese people.
In Western Australia, the day was marked on Saturday 19 May by the community under the banner of the youth. The newly elected youth leadership committee led by Mr. Thuc Mapior organized the day in collaboration with the SPLM Chapter, the South Sudanese Community Association of Western Australia and other stakeholders. The community was honoured to have a visiting SPLA officer, Lt. Colonel Monyjok Kong Monyjok as their guest of honour.
The Secretary General of the Bhar El Ghazal and Upper Nile Youth Association, Mr. Martin Garang Aher Arol, assisted by his deputy Miss Aluel Majok Maper and the Organising Secretary of the Youth, Mr. Majok Jawan, steered the event. Welcoming the people to the function was Mr. Abraham Dhuol Makuong, the deputy Chairman of the BUYA. There were a number of speakers including some Veterans, led by Lt. Col. Abraham Jok Mabok. The dignitaries included the Deputy President and Secretary General of the South Sudanese Community Association in W.A., Abraham Dec and Jada Yengopiong, respectively. The President of the SSCAWA, Chaplain Kara Yokoju, attended the function. Also present was Rev. Michael Anyang Reng of the Anglican Church, among others.
The day was characterized by the mass singing of some revolutionary songs particularly those which were composed by the fallen heroes: Sergeant Magir and Mangok of SPLA Muormuor Division, the late Captain Luol Chol of Bilpam Battalion and songs by Red Army’s Terab. Col. Ring Akuei’s moving “Madirdan Wau” song was not forgotten either. Nevertheless, the SPLM Representative in Western Australia, Mr. Thomas Thok officially opened the occasion, by outlining SPLM policies. He briefed the community on his recent meeting in Melbourne with the visiting SPLM Secretary General, Hon. Pagan Amum. Many other people spoke including the chairperson of Women, Teresa Akuc, Denis Lugor on behalf of greater Equatoria and many more. Another speaker, James Brown emphasized the need for solid support to SPLM/A under what he called the determined leadership of President, General Salva Kiir Mayardit while the former officer in charge of radio signals expressed his admiration and satisfaction with President Kiir’s performance.
The community was delighted by the speech of the SPLA Lt. Col. Monyjok Kong Monyjok - a member of the delegation that visited Australia under Dr. Luka Biong Deng and Maj. General James Hoth Mai in April. He explained the reasons why the delegation did not reach Western Australia during April, stating only that there were some urgent issues to be attended to by the Honourable Minister Dr. Luka Biong and the Maj. General, Hoth Mai, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and Supplies of SPLA. Without going into details, the officer assured the members of the community that all was well under the leadership of SPLM/A. The Government of South Sudan was doing all it could to improve both the development and security of Southern Sudanese and other constituent regions; noting that the “Zero Tolerance” policy on corruption by President Kiir Mayardit. Lt. Col. Monyjok pointed out that corruption was “an animal” that< |
.....
