Hon. Ateny Wek Ateny Responding to Garang John Criticism against the President Kiir

By: Ateny Wek Ateny

I read your ‘Just in’ article yesterday, November 6th, 2024, entitled “Man in Baby Pumpers appoints uneducated concubine as Ambassador to Kenya” and it was exceedingly shocking.

I am not sure, if the Press Unit, in the Office of the President is waiting for the sky to come down in order to respond to you — at least about what is touching the President’s health.

Nevertheless, I am not writing to seek any favor from anyone, including the persons so affected by that demeaning article of yours. I am not also interested as to who is the concubine to whom, or how Ambassador Monica Achol Abel Aguek got appointed as Ambassador in the first place – leave alone how she got posted to Kenya. I bet she (Amb. Achol) has her own way to defend her credentials.

I had been following your writings at your Facebook Wall, but seldom, if, ever, did I dare to correct you. I have since ceased to be part of the Office of the President for more than 2 years now. I am also not communicating with the office of the President either directly or indirectly. But the reason of my not interfering with your writings, however unfounded they maybe, is that my principles always dictate me not to interfere with people expressing their grievances against injustice inflicted on them in anyway. Each of us, whether we were part of staff in the Office of the President before, or as ordinary citizens have stories to tell one day one time.

Yet, I still believe the Office of the President is still having its Press Unit, and so it is incumbent upon the Press Secretary or the person of her choice to address any criticism against the President. Otherwise, their silence is not what I am addressing here.

I understand your bitterness was a result of your incarceration for two months without charges and subsequent release without any apology given to you directly or indirectly. Thus, your writings are mostly of bitterness. Nonetheless, your criticism against President Salva Kiir Mayardit has gone so disproportionate. Writing about the President’s health doesn’t fall within anyone right to freedom of expression or genuine criticism. As journalist, you have gone too low to be speaking disparagingly not only against the person of the President, but also against an elder.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit is 70 plus years old man, which according to all societies’ norms, even in the Western world should have deserves much respect. The criticism against the President mustn’t go personal. It is not true the President is on child pumpers. This is fault to say the least. No one has made the President’s health records public so you could have access to it. This is utopian and lacking truth. It is shameful to talk of the President private matters.

Finally, my advice to you is to please stop attacking the President on his person. You are too young to be one of his children. I don’t think you are getting anywhere with personal attacks against the President. You have already been criticizing his administration which the Press Unit has failed to respond to even one, which I believe is giving you untouchable leverage. But leave the person of the President alone. You know, those who takes arms to fight, often negotiate peace and come back, but insulting the President may not get any remedy. My brotherly advice to you.

Best regards.