New state governors advocate for peace and unity in Bor
January 4, 2016 (BOR) – Western Bieh state governor, James Kok Ruai, Eastern Bieh’s Bol Kong and Jonglei’s Philip Aguer have called for peaceful co-existence among the Nuer and Dinka communities.
“We need peace and unity. Don’t think about that, since the state is divided, you will never need anybody next to you. This division is not the division of the people, and it shouldn’t be translated wrongly”, said Kong.
“My advice is this, let us stand for the unity of greater Jonglei state. Continue to share your ideas and experiences about life. There must be peace at the borders, and if we give chance to wrong elements, there will be lots of problems”, he added.
The state, ex-governor Kong stressed, would be meaningless in the absence of peace.
“If you hear that SPLM-IO members are coming, don’t reject them to visit your states. If they were allowed to come to Juba, where the president stay, who are you to reject them? You must preach peace and not hatred”, he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Kok said the late Dr. John Garang and president Salva Kiir were the ones sharing the vision South Sudan’s ruling party (SPLM), which always emphasised on taking towns closer to the people based on the divisions of states.
“Dr. John and president Kiir are one, sharing the vision of taking towns to people. That was the vision of the SPLM. The idea did not come to divide people according to tribes. If that was the case, Dinka people shouldn’t have moved up to Gambela, the place of Nuer and very far in deed”, he said.
Bol Kong, a retired former general in South Sudan army (SPLA), now the governor of Eastern Bieh state, vowed to work for peace between Lou Nuer and Dinka people.
“There are people who say peace has not come, but it doesn’t come like the rain. It comes when people agreed on somethings, so let us work for it”, Bol advised.
Governor Aguer, on the other hand, said mixing up political and social issues among people was one way through which peace could easily be derailed.
“What bring problems is failure to distinguish between political and social issues. We must maintain our social understanding and love between Dinka and Nuer, Nuer and Murle, and Dinka and Murel”, said Aguer.
“We must go back to our social way of living where Murle cattle used to come to Bor and drink from Nile River”, added the newly-appointed governor of Jonglei.
Attacks and counter attacks, will not bring any remedy to our living conditions, he said.
The development of roads, schools and health centers would help reduce the conflict, and increase household incomes to the rural communities, further added Aguer.
(ST)