Learning From the Survivors

Julia Aker Duany

The stories of women’s lives in the war zone of southern Sudan are full of fears and feelings of losing control over their lives. A few weeks ago I spoke with a southern Sudanese woman who lived in the war zone before making her way to a refugee camp in Kenya and, later, to the United States. I want to thank this brave lady for sharing her story with our readers. I’ve changed names to conceal her identity.

Regina’s Story

One evening I answered the telephone and heard the voice of Regina Marino Akol, a single mother in her late twenties living in the mid-western United States. We talked for a while and then I asked how she she came to this country.

"This is how it happened," Regina said. "I was married to Peter Majak Aleu, an SPLA [Sudan Peoples Liberation Army] soldier. Majak and I had a happy marriage. We had three children–two girls and one boy. My younger sister, who then was about thirteen years old, lived with us. We were living in an SPLA camp. Many of the commanders there liked my sister and wanted to marry her, but my husband told them that she was still young. He kept an eye on her wherever she went, so that nobody would harm her. Her protection did not last long. My husband began having trouble with his commander. Really it was because someone wanted my sister. There was another, it turned out, who also wanted me.

"Majak was ordered to go for a three-months trip. He did not know what the trip was all about, but as a soldier he had to obey. He was told that he had to go to Pibor to take over the post. Pibor was where the prisoners of war and some SPLA Dinka commanders who were accused of betraying the movement were kept.

"Soon after Majak left for Pibor my sister was taken by a commander. There were no letters from Majak, but during the three or four months he was gone I would ask about him. Occasionally I received messages from commanders telling me that he was fine and would be back at the camp when his turn was over. I believed them. I didn’t know that Majak was already dead. Finally I learned the truth. A friend told me this story of how Majak was killed:

At an SPLA camp I saw Majak–his hands tied behind. I turned my face away from him so the commander would not see me looking and discover that we knew each other. There was a meeting that night. They had all of us sit down in a line. In SPLA meetings you don’t talk, you don’t cry, you don’t even cough. They brought four prisoners. Majak was one of them. If someone betrays SPLA he will be executed. They want everybody to know that these are bad examples. They don’t want other people to be like this.

Two of the commanders walked the prisoners to the middle, which was in front of us. They told everyone to come closer so we could see those who had betrayed SPLA. They must die. They deserved this. Everyone in the camp, including children and old people, were forced by the leader to attend the killing. If anybody showed empathy or compassion for the prisoners, they would be punished by receiving the same treatment.

The prisoners were told to get down on their knees. Suddenly one of the soldiers hit Majak from behind, pushed him, and he fell face to the ground because he was very weak. He had been kept for months without enough to eat. His eyes were so deep and dry. He was hit with a shovel and then he went to unconscious and began to have a seizure. They took a sharp knife and cut him from the breastbone all the way down across his stomach.

When I saw this I was shocked, like I was blind. I felt like they were hitting me just as they hit the prisoners. The soldier who cut Majak open took a sharp piece of wire and stuck it in what I think was the liver and also the bowels. They tied the organs to a long stick and raised it up so that everyone could see. His blood was everywhere. Then we were ordered to carry the bodies to the holes, already dug by the prisoners themselves before they were executed.

I could hear Regina sobbing. "Life was hard after Majak left me with the children. I didn’t think I could go on without him. At the SPLA camp where we lived when I last saw Majak, I was not allowed by the commanders to mourn for my husband. They harassed me and told me, ‘This is not the end of the world. Many are dying and many are being born. Forget about Majak. You will continue to give birth to more children.’

"One evening I was sitting near my hut cooking some beans for my children. A man dressed in an army uniform and carrying a gun and a long curved knife came up behind me. He was a body-guard of the Commander-in-Chief. He said, ‘Sister, what are you doing? Are you feeling lonely?’

"‘No I’m not,’ I replied. ‘I’m only cooking some food for the children.’ I was frightened. He grabbed me and began dragging me into the hut. ‘Please don’t hurt me,’ I begged. He didn’t say anything but kept dragging me, pulling me by the arm. I was crying and telling him that I was not lonely. He said, ‘You need a man and here I am.’ He yanked me and threw me onto a mat on the floor. ‘I am ready for you, Sister.’

"He did all he wanted and left me crying in the hut. I wondered: why was he so cruel to me? I cried and cried. It was getting late and the children did not have food to eat because the fire went out before the beans were ready. We all spent the night with hunger.

"I kept asking myself, Why? Why would anybody be so cruel to a woman like me who is helpless and struggling to live? I cried and cried out of frustration. I wished to die, but death was not close. I hated this man, but he was so powerful. I could not escape from him. And so I became one of his seven wives. We didn’t live together for long because he was transferred to another place and left me behind. Then I was able to escape with many other women to a refugee camp in Kenya. The joy of escaping was in my heart as I stayed in the refugee camp. We were protected and fed by the UN. I couldn’t believe that I was free from this man. I was his hostage. He could abuse me to the point of killing if he wished to do so. But God is great. He spared my life and I am so grateful to Him.

"That is my story, Julia. From the refugee camp I filed for resettlement. Now I’m in the United States, my children are in schools, and I am learning some English so I can work. When you visit us, many of the Sudanese women here will tell you their stories as well."

We ended our conversation with laughter and with prayer, giving thanks to God.

A Memorial to Sacrifice

Why do I want to write down the stories of people like Majak and Regina? First, I want to share with friends of SSFI the struggle our people have been going through, and are still going through. Second, I’m sharing these stories to let you know that southern Sudan's suffering does not come only from the Muslims. Our own people have their hands full of blood and dirty dealings. Third, I want southern Sudanese survivors to become vocal, to tell the world what has happened to them and to their families while struggling under the liberation movement. Finally, I want the "Comrades" to know that they have not led the people to a higher form of social organization. They have only contributed to the destruction of our families, our culture, and our institutions. They have become an enemy of the people.

I want our people to recall the faces of their loved ones and friends who were killed by their own people. It is the responsibility of the survivors to speak out, so that the genocide, abuse, and torture will never happen again in this world. We must tell our children and our children’s children. The future generation of southern Sudanese must learn about these survivors–these heroes–and then do their part to help make the world a better place. This means teaching repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation, not retaliation.

It so happens that Regina’s story mentions the SPLA/M. Future issues of The Lens will feature stories that mention other of the southern factions. Regina’s story is not printed here to attack the SPLA/M, but to show what happens to the innocent people caught in the crossfire of the armed liberation struggle. They have no place to turn. Today in Bahr el Gazal Region, the civilian population is caught between Kerebino and the SPLA/M on one side and the Government of Sudan on the other. People are threatened with starvation, disease, and even execution.

I hope that the stories you read in The Lens will help you see the war through the eyes of the southern Sudanese survivors. These people have suffered staggering human tragedy in the name of liberation from oppression. In this case the cure is worse than the disease.

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Wal Duany in Sudan for Peace Talks

Following the Political Charter of April 1996, formal negotiations between the Government of Sudan and the various rebel groups were held during April 1997. Talks are scheduled to continue this year, beginning in April.

Wal was not able to go to Africa for the talks last year because he did not have the travelling documents he needed to re-enter the United States. When those documents finally arrived in February of this year, we sent an SOS call to everyone who has given support to South Sudanese Friends International. Wal needed to get to Africa as soon as possible to help lay the groundwork for the peace talks, but the cost of the trip was simply out of our reach. The round-trip plane ticket alone was nearly $2,400. We were deeply moved by the quick and very generous response from our Friends. Thank you all very much.

Wal left for Sudan on April 14. He has already visited refugee camps near Khartoum and made a brief trip into southern Sudan. When the talks between the SPLA and the Government of Sudan begin in Nairobi (possibly May 6), he will be there, encouraging positive efforts toward peaceful resolution from all parties. Please keep these talks—and Wal—in your prayers. Call, write, or e-mail if you would like more details about the peace talks and Wal's role.

Wal plans to remain in Africa for three months. He still needs $1500 to help cover his expenses in Sudan and Kenya.

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Sudanese Green Pepper Steak
makes 4 servings