Episcopal diocese of Aweil calls for peaceful referendum

By Ngor Arol Garang

January 3, 2011 (ABYEI) – With less than a week before a referendum to go to decide whether southern Sudan will secede or remain part of a united Sudan, the Episcopal church of Sudan in Aweil Diocese on Monday called for the plebiscite to be conducted peacefully.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune from Aweil town, capital of northern Bahr el Ghazal, Bishop Abraham Yel Nhial, said all political players should ensure that the spirit of love and forgiveness displayed during this festive season should be extended to the referendum campaign as the southern Sudanese go to the polls from 9 to 15 January.

The Bishop said 2011 is an important year and urged all Sudanese people particularly southern Sudanese to uphold peace and unity among themselves and reject violence or evil ideas.

Yel, who spoke to Sudan Tribune shortly after opening a three days referendum training organized by his church to 45 pastors drawn from various part of the diocese including Abyei, said there was a need from religious leaders to preach peace and love as the country goes to the poll.

“Every political campaign should be directed towards a better, honorable life for every citizen. Every campaigner should offer voters uplifting plans, goals and objectives,” he said.

The Bishop also commended government of Northern Bahr el Ghazal for creating a peaceful environment for the conduct of the training and added that the state has earned a dignified position internationally because of the peaceful manner it conducted last April’s elections.

“The peace that we all cherish must not be broken. Our Government will jealously protect and preserve the peace of this nation without fear or favor,” he said.

He said the 45 trained pastors will return to their parishes to go and share the knowledge gained at the training with their congregation before the actual voting begins.

“As I have mentioned earlier, we are training 45 pastors who after completion of this training will return to their places to go and share the knowledge which they gain here with their congregation,” said Bishop Yel.

Yel said their training is specifically about voter education.

“The training we are conducting now is about voter education. It is to educate our people particularly those who registered the importance of voting during the voting day, so we are training our pastors procedures involve in the voting. These procedures need to be extended to the grass root people through our churches,” said Bishop Yel.

He said their training focuses on symbols and ballot boxes. “Much of the south Sudan is inhabited by illiterate majority people who do not know how to read and write. They need proper education about symbols and how to vote,” he said

(ST)