March 1st 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – Comments by former South Sudan Deputy Minister of Defense, Dr. Majak de’Agoot Atem on Thursday has caused social media reactions among Yirol residents.
Dr. de’Agot said as a praise to the people of Yirol that they are as strong as Donkeys, a referral that means an insult in the South Sudanese society.
“The people of Yirol have power similar to that of the Donkey,” he said adding: “but [you] don’t know how powerful you are. You are being used like Donkey which don’t know its power.”
Reacting to these comments, Garang John, news anchor for the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporations (SSBC) demanded that Majak explains and issue apology over these comments.
“I advise Dr. Majak Agoot to unreservedly confronts the consequences of his own tongue. Steal the show while in Tonj town to clarify the “outrageous” remarks you made either thro[ugh] writing or verbal, including the alleged hasty generalization, “foolish majority,” causing public outcry,” Garang wrote on his Facebook page adding “I am afraid you are becoming a victim of ‘misunderstandmen’.”
He further urged other leaders to “refrain from negative politics of regionalism, framed by enemies of progress to deter our quest for unity.”
Another social media Facebook page claiming to be representing the people of Yirol said asked: “What is his (Dr. Majak de’Agot) problem with the innocent people of Yirol. What about Bor Donkeys?”
“This guy was desperate to become president of South Sudan, but how on earth a person of this high profile caliber states such stereotypical utterances against group of people?” the page added.
“If this is a way of trapping us to act against the government, it will never happen. Yirol people never rebelled during struggle not even now.”
It reiterated the commitment of the people of Yirol People of Yirol to rye revitalized peace agreement signed in September last year at by the government and opposition groups.
“The people of Yirol are for peace. If we’re donkeys, no problem as long we are not the cause of suffering of South Sudanese,” he added.
