tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679369810161873324.post2419154679647005395..comments2024-03-21T18:48:01.999+01:00Comments on StillSUDAN: War War WarMagdi El Gizoulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15761996039834856021noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679369810161873324.post-52153467386889268122010-09-05T08:37:26.443+02:002010-09-05T08:37:26.443+02:00Dear Magdi,
Regarding your distaste for the way I...Dear Magdi,<br /><br />Regarding your distaste for the way I portrayed conflict between the Lou and Jikany Nuer, I can assure you that the purpose of my piece was not to gloss over the complexities inherent in Southern Sudan, nor to disillusion readers into thinking that the south is “confusingly resistant to reconciliation and peace” as you suggested. The meeting I described was arguably a good example of how the so-called “liberation elite of Southern Sudan” (in plain English, traditional leaders and local elites from the Lou and Jikany communities) continue to use ethnicity as a mode of political representation as they assert territorial rights, strategically contest administrative boundaries, and negotiate for the spoils of the semi-autonomous southern state. I do not personally find these contestations to be exotic and this was not the purpose of discussing this meeting. The quote from GoSS Vice President Machar was anecdotal and I accept that it did not contribute to understanding of the complex relations between these two communities. <br />However, I’d argue that I was quite clear that ongoing disputes over administrative boundaries (for example, Wanding) and the necessity of sharing scarce resources—both material and political—between the Jikany and Lou remain at the heart of the persistent tensions between these communities. I defer to you, Magdi, regarding the issue of how to refer to the Lou and Jikany; a friend working in Akobo County told me that “clan” was a more apt term than “section” or “sub-clan”—what do you think is most accurate? I regret that you mistook my interest in presenting some of the specific details of a single interaction between Lou and Jikany elites for an attempt to present a sensationalist, doomsday portrait of Southern Sudan. This was sincerely not my intention. <br /><br />Finally, I apologize for the confusion regarding my past affiliation with the Enough Project. I stopped working for Enough in mid-July, but have continued living in Juba and working as a freelance journalist. However, I failed to close my Twitter account, which I am now attempting to do; thank you for that reminder. There was a mistake in my bio line for a recent ForeignPolicy.com piece, which claimed that I still worked for Enough, which is not true, so I wanted to set the record straight here.<br /><br />I look forward to reading more insightful commentary and critique on this blog.<br /><br />Maggie FickMaggie Fickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18103401741517293324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679369810161873324.post-276211493169690872010-09-04T18:54:45.468+02:002010-09-04T18:54:45.468+02:00Nell,
Thanks, I stand corrected.
At least she he...Nell,<br /><br />Thanks, I stand corrected.<br /><br />At least she herself should have updated her Twitter profile to reflect that, which still refers to her Enough Project job:<br /><br />http://twitter.com/maggie4EnoughUsamahhttp://twitter.com/simsimtnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679369810161873324.post-30438517496140188892010-09-04T17:11:28.589+02:002010-09-04T17:11:28.589+02:00Maggie Fick no longer works for the Enough Project...Maggie Fick no longer works for the Enough Project and did not as of the publication of her Christian Science post referred to here.Nell Okiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00082492719295538918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679369810161873324.post-69018346445597445962010-09-04T11:46:42.029+02:002010-09-04T11:46:42.029+02:00Almost impeccable, Dr.
I just want to draw your g...Almost impeccable, Dr.<br /><br />I just want to draw your good attention to the fact that Maggie Fick is actually a Southern Sudan Field Researcher for the Enough Project, the NGO john Prendergast is co-founder and de facto president of. The Christian Science Monitor article failed to identify her as such and credited her as a blogger for UN Dispatch.<br /><br />Here's her profile on the Enough Project website:<br />http://www.enoughproject.org/content/maggie-fick-special-assistant<br /><br />Best regards,<br />UsamahUsamahhttp://twitter.com/simsimtnoreply@blogger.com