Gawaar community advocate for peace among its citizens
July 12, 2015 (KAMPALA) – The Gawaar community from South Sudan’s Jonglei state has called on its members to promote peace rather than hatred for the Juba government.
Guet’s wife, Nyochoap Thaing, said unity was vital in efforts to attain peace in the country.
“Coming together does not mean who supported who, but unity of the Nuer, despite ongoing conflicts, is very important,” said Thiang.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced since violence broke out in the country in 2013, pitting president Kiir’s Dinka tribe against his former vice-president, Riek Machar’s Nuer tribe.
Wuor Gatjang Puol, the deputy chairperson of Gawaar community, dismissed as baseless the belief that the Nuers supporting Kiir were bad.
“Let us work for the benefits of our children when we are not there on earth,” he said, urging the Gawaar community to learn how to differentiate between bad and good things during the current crisis.
Nyatuach Top, the chairperson of the Nuer Women Association (NWA), urged students to concentrate on their studies in Uganda, putting aside the complications caused by the country’s conflict.
“Keep always focusing on your books, because the future of Phow, the state newly created by the armed opposition leadership shall be under your control,” she said during the meeting held in Kampala.
However, most intellectuals from the Gawaar community called on president Kiir and Machar to put aside their differences in order to restore peace and stability in the nation.
Mayang Gatwech, head of the Gawaar community in Uganda, said knowledge, ability and experience was what citizens needed most.
“Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of movement and the liberty. Every citizen shall have the right to leave and or return to South Sudan,” he said, citing Article 27 of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan (RSS)
(ST)