Religious leaders push south Sudan government for peace with rebel leader
By Ngor Arol Garang
December 31, 2010- (ABYEI) — Religious leaders representing different denominations on Friday commended commitment by the South Sudan president to undertake peaceful dialogue and reconciliation initiatives which could boost ongoing peace talks with General George Athor.
Athor was one of the senior members of the Sudan people’s Liberation Army who became rebel after losing a race to become governor for Jonglei state in the last April elections.
He accused the regional government predominantly members of the SPLM, of intimidating his agents at the polling centers during elections and vote riggings in favor of his main rival, the incumbent Jonglei State Governor, Kuol Manyang Juuk, who went to the poll with him as official nominee of the Southern Sudan ruling party.
Since launching his rebellion in on 30th April following an attack on the SPLA post at Doleib Hill located at the extreme North West Jonglei State to the border of Upper Nile, armed elements loyal to Athor clashed several times with SPLA forces. The last attack occurred on 18 and 19 December 2010.
These clashes occured after the president of south Sudan General Salva Kiir Mayardit issued an executive order pardoning General Athor and members of his group. The order also covered leaders of the some other armed groups. The president also issued another decree appointing a committee comprising Arch bishop of the Episcopal church of Sudan, Daniel Deng Bul and Roman catholic Bishop of Wau Diocese, Rudolf Deng Majak.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune from Rumbek, Isaac Dhieu, the Episcopal Bishop of Pacong in Rumbek East County, Lakes State, said he very much commended decision taken by the president of south Sudan to appoint arch bishop Daniel Deng Bul and Bishop Deng Majak to negotiate ways to end hostilities between the two forces.
“The president has taken right decision. The people he has appointed, especially Arch bishop Daniel Deng Bul and Bishop Deng Majak are right religious leaders. They will help him negotiate any honest settlement to problem,” said Bishop Dhieu.
On his part, Bishop Deng Majak from the Roman Catholic Church of Sudan who is part of the ongoing talks said hopeful of peaceful come from the talks.
“The talks have started well. We met General Athor early this month in his base and forwarded his reservations to the president. Members of his negotiating team were also with us during our meeting his base and came with us to Juba.”
“We are pushing for peaceful dialogue and settlement. Violence does not solve anything. It is through dialogue that peace with different views comes to understand themselves when there are opened discussions. Therefore, it is important that people holding different views and grudges talk,” said Bishop Majak.
Reverend William Mou Deng of Episcopal Church of Sudan also commended appointment of two bishops to negotiate way forward to end violence in Jonglei.
“The decision taken by the president is the right choice and best alternative to settling post election disputes. We need peace in south Sudan so that our referendum is conducted in a violence free environment. We also do not need our innocent civilians in Jonglei to be subjected to displacement and fear of attack and killing in the cross fire. There needs to be peace before, during and after referendum,” said reverend William.
(ST)
Deng Ateny Lueth
Religious leaders push south Sudan government for peace with rebel leader
Well, i can’t agree more with you dear Reverent William, you are really religious man. whoever create mess has to clean it.kiir seletion of his friends and his loyalist to be governors say wani konga, kuol manyang, and malong awan was totally a ticket to conflict in south sudan first election and indeed more need to be done before next election otherwise international prophetic prediction of SOUTH SUDAN as next fall state after somalia is indeed looming nearer to us. some people are developing low pinions about the credibility of SPLM as party. SPLM should device more inclusive mechanism in post referendom era. it has legal obligation to make SPLM an “attractive and inclusive party” otherwise we will be tempted to seek an alternative party which will accept all sooner than later.
Paul Ongee
Religious leaders push south Sudan government for peace with rebel leader
Deng Ateny Lueth,
You have no idea about what you’re talking about because you don’t read the circumstances clearly. The elections that were supposed to be held after three years (in 2008) meant for power shift in which SPLM was confident that it would win and rule Sudan during the remaining period of CPA not only to make unity attractive but for effective democratic transformation based on freedom, equality, justice and the rule of law.
But unfortunately, things didn’t work out that way. NCP as usual has been playing delaying tactics so that SPLM loose. The last elections were not seen by SPLM as a violent game but NCP did so. I don’t know if you’re getting me here. Our peace partner, NCP was developing a competitive attitude at any cost which would have thrown Sudan into abyss. NCP didn’t and still does not care at all about the peaceful implementation of CPA. How would true democracy be exercised in that kind of competitive environment?
SPLM did its best to withdraw its presidential candidate, Yasir Arman for the sake of peace, partnership and vision of New Sudan based on equality since the upcoming referendum is one of the main objectives of the SPLM that is slated to set marginalized Southerners free on January 9, 2011. And George Ator is one the marginalized people who pretend to see that he will not have another chance of running in the future elections to be a governor of the greater Jonglei State.
Even Carter Center for Democracy and other international observers commented that the elections were free and fair but did not meet international standards. It was better to maintain status quo until the time is suitable for holding democratic elections. The last April elections of 2010 were held because they were already part of the process of implementation of the CPA although the results didn’t reflect such expected democratic change particularly in Khartoum where national decision-making is crucial.
Regarding the governors who won the elections, we should all know that some of the SPLM candidates won not because they were popular and backed by the leadership of the SPLM as your comment suggests but because of the “star symbol.” The star symbol alone represents freedom, one of the true objectives of the SPLM/A which essentially appeals to marginalized people of Southern Sudan in particular and Sudan in general.
Independent candidates who won or lost never thought twice about correct reading of the political climate in the country. That is why after winning or losing elections they decided on their own to write individual letter of reinstatement of their membership to the SPLM. Was there no any registered independent party fighting Khartoum before the liberation boat rowed by SPLM cross to the other side of the river? Since any human being can consciously or unconsciously make a mistake, SPLM is a party of forgiveness who cares a lot about the unity of Southerners so that no one left behind when the time comes for reaching the “Promised Land” on January 9, 2011.
The commanders you mentioned in your comment are Southerners and dedicated freedom fighters like George Ator but had they lost elections I personally don’t think they would have rebelled against the SPLM. The elections were, of course, the first of their kind but not the last as deemed by George Ator. Thank you for reading and understanding my points. Please, copy and send it to George Ator.
Paul Ongee
Khartoum, Sudan