“We have prepared the ground, the site, and we are just awaiting a team from Juba, the office of the president, to come and build the place. Then a flag will be raised here, in Imatong, the flag of the Republic of South Sudan.” – Governor lobong
“[In the Freedom Square] we have pillars on which we are going to write the names of all our heroes right from the time of Anya-nya 1 to the SPLA. Those who have given their lives for the freedom of Southern Sudan, must all be written there. A committee is now collecting the names of all our fallen heroes, tribe by tribe, county by county”
MABIOR PHILIP MACH
Q. Eastern Equatoria, where the first southern uprising started in 1955, is an historic state in the liberation struggle. How did you celebrate?
Several committees were formed. There was delay in writing invitations because we had not gotten final communication from the Government of Southern Sudan, as to whether the celebrations at state level would be on the same day, as to whether governors would attend the Juba celebrations. On the last hour it was communicated that the governors were to attend the celebrations in their own state capitals.
Q. Did the state accord Independence Day the weight it deserves?
For the first time in history of EES or Torit, built a Freedom Square.
We, in that structure, have pillars on which we are going to write the names of all our heroes right from the time of Anyanya one to the SPLA. Those who have given their lives for the freedom of Southern Sudan, all must be written there. A committee is now collecting the names of all our fallen heroes, tribe by tribe, county by county.
And they will be written on all those polls in the freedom square. We are going to rename that square as the Matyrs’ square. This is one unique thing we did. All the tribes in EES participated. It was the first time that the ethnic groups in EES came together for the celebration. Some had never been to Torit before.
Q. The flag of the new republic will be hoisted at Imatong Mountains, what is the significance?
This was an initiative and a plan from the office of the president. You know Imatong is a historical hill. It is the highest mountain in southern Sudan. And so the office of the president decided that the longest flag in the world is going to be raised in Imatong. We have prepared the ground, the site, and we are just awaiting a team from Juba, the office of the president, to come and build the place and then the flag will be raised here, in Imatong, the flag of the Republic of South Sudan.
Q. Why is the state exhuming remains of dead fighters and repatriating them to the south?
We are keen to ensure that our heroes, our martyrs who have given their lives for the independence of Southern Sudan. We have prepared the ground, the mausoleum has been built, a beautiful one and we people are here waiting to receive the remains. We are trying to receive more remains of the people that died during the war. We will continue to identify them even after the ninth.
Q. What do you feel about Independence Day?
I am very much excited. I am happy that we have succeeded. But I am not surprised because it was a determination of the SPLM. When we were fighting we were saying we are going to fight until the last person.
Q. How is the state riding through security challenges to celebrate the day?
The security situation is okay. People of EE know that this is what they were fighting—independence, free. The rest of the other small problems, especially cattle rustling here, we will be able to solve them. The Khartoum regime was not keen to help us to address our own problems; since we will be alone we will be able to address our own problem.
Q. What message would you wish to send out so that the other states to pick up from yours?
Let us prepare ourselves and let us clean our hearts. Let there be no grudges between us and our brothers. We need to open our hearts and we need to reconcile so that we enter the newly born nation with happiness, with clean heart.
MILESTONES
MAY 13, 1983 – KERUBINO KUANYIN
“Garang, the son of my mother, you have come? Take over the Command from here. Chagai, my work is finished; give me something to drink and let us celebrate the start of the revolution.” Major Kerubino Kuanyin Bol, Commander SAF Battalion 105, Bor. MAY 13, 1983
MAY 15, 2005 – JOHN GARANG
“I and those who joined me in the bush for more than 20 years have brought to you CPA in a golden plate. Our mission is accomplished. It is now your turn, especially those who did not have a chance to experience bush-life. When time comes to vote at referendum, it is your choice to determine your fate. Would you like to vote to be a second class citizen in your own country? It is absolutely your choice.”
Dr John Garang de Mabior, Chairman SPPLM/SPLA, Commander-in-Chief, Rumbek May 15 2005.
FEBRUARY 8, 2011 – SALVA KIIR
“You voted for freedom, equality, justice and democracy; you have voted for the fulfillment of the ideals that inspired our struggle from its inception in 1983. As a people, you have chosen the path to permanent peace. You have chosen the path of human dignity. And you have chosen the path to nationhood.” HE: General Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, Juba, February 8 2011
