S. Sudanese peace advocate opposes revenge in conflict resolution
November 6, 2015 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese peace advocate has opposed any form of conflict resolution, which promotes retaliatory actions as a way of resolving disputes.
“It is better for all of us to be coward and have a country, than to be brave without country”, Riing wrote his Friday message to all South Sudanese. “No more eye for an eye, no hate speeches or messages. Before you responsd to anybody, ask yourself will my action add to the suffering of my people or to the betterment of South Sudan, if for the betterment response if not don’t response”.
He admitted that it may seem difficult to swallow bitterness resulting from country’s war, but it would be better to save orphans, motherless and fatherless who still live.
The activist said it was time to put acts together after peace efforts by different categories during the regional and internationally-backed backed peace agreement.
“IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] envoy, international communities, faith based organizations, youth, women, CSOs, traditional leaders, academia and thousands of individuals had worked passionately and tirelessly to bring Peace to 12 million South Sudanese. Now we have a fragile peace, to make it a sustainable once is our work”, Riing stressed.
He however said the international communities and South Sudan’s neighboring countries had done their part, through this fragile peace and that in most part, guns were silent in many places as millions of lives were saved through humanitarian aid.
“Somehow, fragile peace is saving lives, looking at it from an eyes of vulnerable South Sudanese, worse peace is better than no peace”, explained the South Sudanese peace envoy, adding, ” In real sense there is no prefect peace, for any peace agreement signing it is not an issue; implementation is where rubber meets the road”.
South Sudan’s information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth has threatened to take disciplinary measures against people would continue to spread negative messages in the media, regardless of whether they are pro government or opposition supporters.
“As of now, let us change the language: if you are supporter of the government, don’t write any other unhealthy language. We don’t want any further hostile propaganda, we don’t want hate speech on radios”, Lueth told reporters in the capital Juba, Thursday.
The minister’s remarks came in reference to several FM radios that allow citizens call and comment on developments and current affairs as a way of public participation.
“What you are doing in direct calls and everybody will say nonsense must stop. Because it is these contacts which you make directly in air by telephones in your radios that cause us problems,” said Lueth.
“We don’t want such program to continue unless you are sure of the person you talk to. If you continue to allow those who use that language, we will be on your neck. Yes, let us be clear, we have accepted peace, we are for peace and we don’t want anybody to say whatever against the other but let us talk the language of peace”, he stressed.
(ST)