April 2007

So says this Southern Sudanese guy. He makes a lot of good points! And here is a bit of something considered common knowledge in Sudan for all ya non-Sudanese readers:

The power struggle in Khartoum is being confined in the very tiny circle of religious clerics and military generals or tribes. And that was or is what apparently happening within the Sudanese political arena, and if we could recall, the former President Jaafar Mohamed Numeri was in profound differences with Dr. Hassan Turabi who was the most critical of Numeri government and the primary advocate of sharia implementation in Sudan, and said that whether Southerners like it or not, the sharia or Islamic law will be implemented even in south Sudan (*Drima jumping happily and cheering for Turabi*. Yaaaay, hurraaay!). And it was same Turabi who masterminded or led a military coup against his brother-in-law Sadiq El-Mahdi in 1989 in collaboration with Bashir and Taha with intention to disrupt peace process or agreement between Sadiq El-Mahdi and SPLM/SPLA which was about to be concluded. Thus, the power concentration in the hands of few in Khartoum is to save the purpose of those religious clerics, generals and tribes, as they were all bond together with family ties.

How sweet. I personally know some of “them” who now actually refer to themselves as part of the “royal family”.

And despite the lousy fall of Turabi with Bashir-Taha in 1999 and the current sharp and hammering criticism which we were seeing from Sadiq and Turabi against the NCP led-government of national unity, yet they have same strategy and aspiration of power monopoly in Sudan, and if we look back Sadiq El-Mahdi had presided over the wedding ceremony of Taha and his bride, Turabi’s cousin.

Ya, and I’m Turabi’s cousin’s step-brother’s adopted uncle. We’re one big happy family! Whatever. Anyways…

Thus, when the NIF overthrew the elected Sadiq El-Mahdi’s government in 1989 with Turabi as the chief mentor of Inqaz or salvation government, the sharia or Islamic law was fully implemented in Sudan, and Jihad or Holy war was declared against south or pagans as it was termed by Khartoum. Mujahideen, popular defense forces (PDF) and militias were mobilized to fight the holy war in south. And it was Turabi as a religious cleric who rallied the Muslims in the name of Islam and Jihad, and proclaimed that any Muslim dyeing in south is a sacrifice in the course of Allah (God), country and a martyr and will have a great reward in heaven.

I like to call it the “brainwashing period”. Those were wonderful days I tell ya. I still remember them vividly until now but guess what? I don’t ever remember them sending their kids to die and go to heaven. I do however remember how our family would never let me or my cousins go out and play in the street since they were afraid of the kashat. I do however remember how they dragged kids infront of their mothers, gave them “adequate” training and shipped them off for “jihad”. I do however remember them visiting various funeral homes, comforting grieving families and congratulating them of their sons’ martydom only to cause some mothers to cry and shout back “what martydom? What martydom? WHAT MARTYDOM? You took him away from me. You killed him! Shahada? SHAHADA? WHAT SHAHADA? This is MURDER!”. And you know what’s the best part about all of this? Turabi announcing recently that the former “jihad” he initiated doesn’t qualify as true jihad after all! Thanks Turabi. I appreciate it but it’s a little too late, don’t you think? On a less depressing note though, Sudan Tribune is in dire need of good editors. And yes, Drima is back blogging after being away for a few days.