Jonglei state governor reiterates call for peace
June 17, 2015 (BOR) – The governor of Jonglei state, John Kong has urged lawmakers and stakeholders to strengthen efforts to restore unconditional peace among citizens.
“Let us not wait for peace which will come through IGAD [Inter-governmental Authority on Development] and the Troika. Let us engage our people on peace at grassroots,” he said.
Earlier this year, a state-wide peace conference that was planned to bring all the chiefs and elders both opposition and government areas in Jonglei, did not succeed partly due to logistical challenges.
Duk county, which currently hosts over 20,000 displaced people from Lou Nuer and Garwar areas, was chosen as the conference venue.
The governor urged citizens to support government efforts to bring to an end the ongoing conflict between South Sudan’s warring factions.
“It is our responsibility to preach peace to them. I know our people’s mind. If they say yes, they mean it. If they say no, they mean to say no. But for us, it is the opposite, you say yes when you don’t mean it,” stressed Kong, further adding, “We in the government, we are united so if we don’t tell them to live in peace, then we are the problem”.
Meanwhile, the governor appealed to the population to provide facts to a United Nations investigation team in currently in Jonglei state to investigate allegations that some individuals and entities should face sanctions for obstructing the peace process.
The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon appointed the five-member sanctions committee, whose findings, officials hinted, are expected within 60 days.
The probe team is led by arms experts, Vladimir Zhagora from Belarus. Other members include, Lucas Van de Vondervoort from Holland, humanitarian affairs expert, Anna Oosterlinck from Belgium, Payton Knopf for regional issues from United States as well as natural resources and finance expert, Andrew Atta Asamoah from Ghana.
(ST)