I think you can be forgiven when you do something once but acknowledge it and try not to do it again. But accountability is called into question when what you do becomes your culture and you have no remorse for it. We have now witnessed ourselves what democracy is, particularly the western democracy. A high profile public figure can be brought to their knees making them accountable for their actions. The current KSAA chair acknowledges deep inside him that all the accusations I have brought against him are indeed true because he did them. I, the current KSAA treasurer have been part and parcel of KSAA since its establishment in Adelaide back in 2003. I have first hand knowledge of inside information of this organisation. I know who is who and who has done what so far. I was part of the former KSAA team elected in Adelaide in the 2006 conference. He was a former KSAA chair back in Kakuma. What happened with his leadership? I didn’t mention that because that is the only thing I heard since I was not there. There are former KSAA members here in Australia who experienced Diing’s leadership then and what it was like. You can be adamant to acknowledge your wrongdoings and make a formal apology to the entire KSAA membership. However, know too that your actions have been recorded and made public. Know that there are concerned members in the KSAA like me who can hold you accountable for your actions. I am indeed glad that the record has been set straight. You can attempt to distort and twist your actions but I don’t think it will work. You know it.
Let me remind you once again of all the things you said publicly before you deny or try to justify your actions. Leave all you did and said prior to 2008. In the Brisbane conference, you said the following and I quote, “everything in the KSAA will start and end with me as the chair,” that was clever! “I order all the states to register all people in Kongor community starting with every child born tonight.” You did this before you even sit down with the newly elected team! A self-appointed Kongor leader! That reminded me of the Biblical leader, King Herod who ordered all the children to be brought to him. You did not stop there, your document that I publicised a few weeks ago said this, and I quote, “all the by-laws/rules in the KSAA will be made by the chairperson and the secretary.” These views truly reveal what kind of a person you are! These quotes justify that all the accusations I laid against you are indeed true! What is the difference between KSAA and Kongor Community Mr. chairman? You have fundamentally failed the basic understanding of what KSAA is and what its stands for! The assumed knowledge that we have is that becoming a KSAA chair means to you the Kongor community leader! Is that true Mr. Chairman? I was not surprised because that what you campaigned for in 2006, the so-called “big umbrella.” That why you denied the existence of KSAA in 2007 as I mentioned before. That why you unilaterally resigned from ACDN while you were a public officer! I don’t think you understand what KSAA is even as you sit in that chair! You a lame duck!
The former KSAA chairman, Atem Dau, and the former treasurer, Ajak Ajang are men of great integrity. They are men of great humility and trustworthiness among other things. They are devoted public servants who serve mindful of others. They have contributed a lot for the welfare and betterment of KSAA. Since 2003, they have put 100% service into KSAA. Apart from other sacrifices that they have made, they have among others, since 2003 contributed 100% of their annual contributions into the KSAA treasury that has now become the centre of controversy. If we are honest about ourselves, we will never blame the former treasurer or team for all the KSAA finances in debt now. People came to him wanting help from KSAA and KSAA helped them because their problems were justifiable. The right thing we can all do now is to politely ask those with the KSAA money to repay it. Let not forget that this money will be repaid with interest. That was 15% charged on everything borrowed. Let us all politely urge them to make their payment as soon as they can. It is true that some have stayed long with the KSAA money but we can only ask them to do so because they are too valuable KSAA members. It is true too that the treasurer was one person, but that does not mean that KSAA finances had been mismanaged. This man is a man of great integrity and fully understands what accountability means to him and the KSAA. All the KSAA documents that I have as the current treasurer show that all the money that was reported is accounted for, only that most of it has been borrowed. Some people have abused the privilege extended to them, and therefore we will establish a system once we have reclaimed most of it. I would also want us to seriously ask ourselves this honest question. What have I done to the KSAA since I became a member? I have been privileged to become one of the KSAA treasurers and I have learnt from the KSAA treasury records that we would have done better if we were committed so far. In accordance with the treasury records, the KSAA finances since 2003 would now be averaging $300,000. This is really true! What do we have now including all the money lent? Just above $40,000! So they fundamental question we need to ask ourselves as individuals now, is whether we have done enough to make KSAA a better, successful and progressive organisation? This remains to be answered. Don’t mistake me, it is important to recover KSAA money as soon as possible, but what good can that $40,000 do the KSAA and the entire community now?
The current treasury is composed of two people as they were elected last year. I can assure you that Thuc Bior and I, Francis Mabior, will account for everything that belongs to KSAA. That why we demand KSAA treasury to be free from politics and interferences. We too are men of integrity and trustworthiness. People must not question that before they have not seen our work. The treasury now has been handicapped because of cheap politics instigated by the current chair because he wants everything to starts with him and ends with him as he claims. Some people talk of team work, which is great. However, what does team work really mean? Our own treasury definition of team work is that KSAA has seven portfolios namely; the chair, the secretariat, the treasury, the information, the welfare, the public office and the organising. Each of these positions has a team elected into it. Each portfolio will prepare its work and report it. That is team work but not one team crossing over to the other team work, this is interference. That does not make work being done well. They say, too many cooks spoil the broth!
Finally, I would compare Atem Athian with the teacher in my former high school called Kizito. He used to call the school head teacher lord. He would tell students to stand up when the head master come and said the lord has come. He was basically an ass licker, a mouthpiece, a bootlicker and a sycophant. People like these never question other people actions and motives. They can do anything to save whatever they want to save without courage to scrutinize a system. I think Lam Akol is better off to some degree because he has gone ahead to form SPLM-DC. You should have formed KSAA-DB or something to suit your ambition my friend! Francis Mabior