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 Re: فى ذمة آلله الرفيق كمريد جورج ماكير بنجام� (Re: فقيرى جاويش طه)
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On Wednesday April 21, 2021, South Sudan lost an outstanding, highly intelligent and patriotic son, Hon. George Maker Benjamin. Born in Akot, near Rumbek in 1950, George Maker was a bright student who completed his rudimentary education and proceeded to graduate from Rumbek Secondary School. As a young student, he became an active member of the Sudan Communist Party. This led him to participate in activism and politics which resulted in him leading a demonstration in support of the Communist party.
George Maker enrolled at the Faculty of Economics and Social Studies at the University of Khartoum. While at the university, he was a member of the Democratic Front, politically conscious socialist student organization. In 1974, George Maker graduated with a degree in political science. Later on, alongside other Southern Sudanese, they formed a political organization specifically for Southerners. He worked in the Ministry of Culture and Information and also Radio Juba.
From 1981 to 1982, he was the assistant commissioner for culture and information in Rumbek, Lakes Province. As conflict was brewing between Pres. Gaafar Nimeiri and the Southern population, George Maker served as the deputy chairman of the NAM organization in Wau. George Maker also helped recruit military personnel, politicians and revolutionary minded individuals to join the movement alongside people like Lam Akol, Edward Abyei Lino and others. He then officially joined the SPLA revolutionary movement in 1984. In the SPLA, he trained at Bonga military camp and was commissioned a captain. He joined the SPLA battalion under the command of William Nyuon. Later on George Maker became the assistant to Commander John Kulang in Southern Blue Nile. He also played an instrumental role in disseminating information to the public when he became deputy head of Radio SPLA and ensured news and information about events taking place in the movement were broadcasted widely.
From October 1987 to 1992, George Maker was imprisoned by the SPLA on fabricated charges of conducting secret meetings in Itang to undermine the leadership of the movement. He was placed under arrest by the commander in Itang, Chagai Atem. According to George Maker, “In the SPLA, there was a lot of misunderstanding which ended up in the arrest of the second man in command, Kerubino Kuanyin Bol at that time and a number of officers were arrested. We were asked now to report to Bilpam, the general headquarters. We went there, we executed the order and then later on William Nyuon and Arok Thon Arok came to Bilpam met with the officers and talked about the developments in the movement. And that Kerubino Kuanyin Bol was already under arrest, it was clear that there would be a number of arrests to follow. We were expecting that things would not go well in the movement.” For 5 years, George Maker was imprisoned with Martin Kajibura, Martin Majier, Martin Makur Aleiu, Abul Kasim, Malath Joseph Lueth, Dr. Amon Wantok and others.
In 1992, after being released, George Maker moved to Nairobi where he maintained his patriotic spirit for Southern Sudan. According to Dr. Kuyok Abol Kuyok, George Maker, “became an enthusiastic proponent of the unification of the movement as a subsequent development of the Abuja I SPLM/A (Mainstream) and SPLM/A (United) delegations rapprochement. This stance apparently brought him into difficulties with the leadership of the SPLM/A (Mainstream) and consequently he defected to the SPLM/A (United) in 1992. In SPLM/A (United) he held two senior positions, director for political affairs in Akobo in 1994, and later SSIMA’s director for internal security in 1994.”
George Maker disapproved of the close ties between SSIM/A and Khartoum government, he understood it was undermining the reunification of the movement. He wanted to see the reunification of the movement and thus played a key role in the Lafon Declaration held in 1996. He was also the deputy secretary for culture and information for SPLM/A’s NEC. In 2006, Pres. Salva Kiir appointed George Maker as the press secretary in the People’s Palace in Khartoum.
Hon. George Maker Benjamin was sought after by intellectuals, historians, and writers for his immense wealth of information and brilliant ability to recall specific details of events that took place during the periods of Arab administration in the South, events during the regional government in the South and also what unfolded during the liberation struggle. Hon. George Maker was a beloved son of South Sudan and will be dearly missed. May you finally rest well, dear Uncle after going through so much hardship in this world. We shall never forget you…
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فقيرى جاويش طه
فيس بوك
تويتر
انستقرام
يوتيوب
بنتيريست