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Roman Catholic bishop of Juba calls for separation of south Sudan

December 25, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The Archbishop of Southern Sudan Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro threw his weight today behind the calls for making the semi-autonomous region fully independent in the vote that will take place in less than two weeks.

Paulino Lukudu Loro, Archbishop of Juba, at Kator Cathedral on Saturday December 25, 2010 (ST)
Paulino Lukudu Loro, Archbishop of Juba, at Kator Cathedral on Saturday December 25, 2010 (ST)
Addressing thousands of Catholics in Juba who attended Christmas Mass at Kator Cathedral on Saturday, Archbishop Loro, who presided over the sermon called on eligible southern voters to opt for separation when they go to the polls on January 9th 2011.

Arch-Bishop Lukudu thanked God for making referendum possible and praised south Sudan police and the security organs for providing adequate security during Christmas at the time of referendum activities.

“We are very proud of our Police and other security organs for providing security during the Christmas and referendum”, said Lukudu.

The bishop asked Christians to pray for successful conduct of referendum.

“As we celebrate Christmas now, let us continue to pray so that we are placed on a better relationship with God when we vote in the referendum,” he said.

“I want to remind you and other believers that this referendum is God’s plan for the Sudan at this very time. We went through a peaceful voter registration, despite our prediction fear and doubts about God’s ability to ensure peace,” the bishop added.

He also urged the voters to exercise their rights when the plebiscite starts.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir kisses a hand of the Roman Catholic Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro during a Christmas mass in St. Teresa's Cathedral in Juba December 25, 2010. (Reuters)
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir kisses a hand of the Roman Catholic Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro during a Christmas mass in St. Teresa’s Cathedral in Juba December 25, 2010. (Reuters)
On his part, the president of the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) Salva Kiir Mayardit, in a Christmas message delivered at the same church wished the people of South Sudan “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year”.

He said that he did not expect to reach an agreement with the North on post-referendum issues.

“Our partner to the comprehensive peace agreement did not expect us to reach to this day; we are left with only 14 days for referendum day”.

Kiir urged the people of south Sudan not accept to be provocation at any cost “by enemies of peace”.

“Do not accept to be provoked at any cost by enemies of peace, exercise patience and be vigilant because enemies of peace are not sleeping” he said.

“They do not want peaceful referendum to take place on January 9, 2011,” said president Kiir. He accused pro-unity of using all type tricks to undermine peaceful conduct of referendum.

“Unionists know that the option of unity in the referendum is not possible but they have not given up, they are using all types of tricks to undermined peaceful, transparent, free and fair referendum,” he said.

The Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) leader also added that groups he termed as enemies of peace are trying their best to find mistakes in order to have the outcome of the referendum rejected.

“The enemies of peace are not only trying to find any mistake to use to reject the outcome of the referendum but they are using tricks to provoke situation so that they our response as tool to reject result of the referendum,” said Kiir

The South Sudan President who holds another position as First Vice President in central government, also appealed to the People of South Sudan to report any one found selling voter card to undermine the referendum processes.

He instructed the police to take necessary measures against those who are selling their voter cards including non-Sudanese (Ugandans and Kenyans) who are being used by the enemies of peace.

He thanked the South Sudanese voters for electing him with over 93% in the last elections and stressed that the referendum is very important; thus he appealed to South Sudanese to turn up and vote to over 98% vote so that no one can doubt the choice of the people of South Sudan.

The Southern leader also warned against making wrong choice in the voting; that they will regret forever for the mistake they have committed.

“The upcoming January 9th is the only day on which our people would be expected to cast their votes to decide their destiny. It will be you and area vote. Nobody with there to tell what to do, it is you and vote. If you do not make right decision, it is up to you to regret it if you have taken wrong choice,” said President Kiir.

The referendum on independence for south Sudan was promised in a 2005 peace deal that ended a civil war between the mainly Muslim north and the south, where most follow traditional beliefs and Christianity.

A successful referendum could bring a conclusion to one of Africa’s most bitter conflicts, which has rumbled on since around the time of Sudan’s independence in the 1950s.

(ST)

9 Comments

  • Stephen Gatloth K
    Stephen Gatloth K

    Roman Catholic bishop of Juba calls for separation of south Sudan
    It is the right time to tell trues,Bishop Paul Lukudo broke his silence in crucial time of this referendum because it concern every one whatever position you posses.You can see the contribution from one of your colleague by name bishop Roric in Khartoum,is calling for unity which is not the expectation of entire southerners.Bishop,what you seriously must do,is to pray for our Lord Christ and pour a peace on us while conducting referendum that will likely lead to our independent.
    NB i am calling upon entire southerners to leave suspecting each others of being advocating unity,here in Koch county i have been putting in hassarmenet suspecting of advocating unity when am not. only that am from NCP member to be the only reason.
    those are lairs am the very person to vote for separation. BY GATLOTH GAI THE ADVOCACY OF SEPARATION.

    Reply
  • kaci-banno
    kaci-banno

    Roman Catholic bishop of Juba calls for separation of south Sudan
    President Kiir you are really Joshua for the people of south Sudan. May God will give you wisdom to continue the journey in to the promise land. But I FEEL VERY SORRY FOR SOME OF THE SPLM MILITARY WHO SHOUTED CHURCH CONGREGATION AND KILLED SOME PEOPLE IN MABAAN COUNTY in UPPER NILE WHEN CHRISTIANS WERE IN OVERNIGHT CHRISTMAS ON 24/12/2010. And no one reported the incident to the media so that everyone should no the reasons why SPLm military shouted people in the church during Christmas.

    by Kaci-MA-BANNO

    Reply
  • James Garang
    James Garang

    Roman Catholic bishop of Juba calls for separation of south Sudan
    Thanks you very much our Archbishop Lukudu Loro for your speech we believed a Leader like you. kindly please continue preaching those good news to our brothers and sisters in entire Southern Sudan. and Almighty God will bless all our hearts to choose the right of our future we Southerners and is my pray to God to give us good unity and glue it to our minds and hearts of all Southern Sudanese people to vote for separation.
    that is a right choice of the people of Southern Sudan to vote for independent of South Sudan.
    Also I thanks those who praise the leadership of Salva Kiir Mayardit in other parts of Southern Sudan apart from his home area Awan Chan Nyal in Gogrial West County. I like to tell you that I also belong to that area which I mentioned above. Kiir is a gifted Leader from God to the people of Southern Sudan to lead them into the promise land. through his character he like unity among his people always since he is in Awan. and is a every humble person. you never find Kiir quarrel on the distribution of wealth or food. to make this statement to be reality to you. you can remember if you were there during the war time. The other junior commanders in the movement were have many wealth then Kiir and is just keeping quite and follow the movement faithfully without fighting over food with other brothers in the leadership of the Movement. so now you see for yourselves he is really united Southerners and that is my proud completely whether I am not been employ by the government of Southern Sudan I will survive for my own without employment of the government and I will stay happy as a free citizen because the government seats are very few and we citizens we are more then the seats. so I heard from one of my friends that he went to Juba Capital city of Southern Sudan and when he was there he heard the talking of unemploy people and he hear them talking again Kiir’s leadership but one day he found one of those who talk against Kiir’s leadership was got a job and he left all every things that he said before and starting saying good about Kiir’s leadership so for me I see is not good because you can praise the leadership when you see government is concerning with health, education and other as you know apart from employment of all citizens of the country so for my conclusion brothers and sisters of Southern Sudan let us continue with our unity and let us vote for separation

    Reply
  • Rev. Saturnino
    Rev. Saturnino

    Roman Catholic bishop of Juba calls for separation of south Sudan
    Ah my God, may you bless and empower our leaders both in the GOSS and in the Churches, Leaders like Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro. I was not happy for the whole night when hearing that another posibility could be that Presidency be a rotational activitiy in the country while the south sudan keeps separate army..Ah my God…stop it..stop it..stop it for God’s sake. Do not take us back again. For we are just closed to our full humanity. We were DOGs, never take us back again to mix with Arabs. we want this time to be good neighbours. Enought is enought. Do you know what? If we agree for that unity, the Arabs will begin to kill our top leaders, buying some destroying and mingling our Army in the south till you are back to square ONE i.e slavery. Stop it..Stop that ugly and tricky idea from the North. It’s late to save Umufia. Separation is emminent, clear and distinct.

    Reply
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