Sr. Anne Henriette Owino, FSSA
“It is encouraging to know that the Swedish authorities have decided to hold the oil company Lundin Energy to account for its role during the civil war,” the church leaders said in their collective statement signed by, among others, the Council’s Vice Chairman Archbishop Stephen Ameyu of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba and the General Secretary Fr. James Oyet Latansio.
They affirmed their stand with the prosecutors for the action taken over the oil exploitation that took place two decades ago saying, “We hold the Swedish court system in high esteem and trust its wisdom.”
According to a report published in 2010, three oil companies including Lundin signed a contract to extract oil and the commencement of oil exploitation “set off a vicious war in the area” leading to crimes including indiscriminate attacks on civilians, pillage, rape, torture and the abduction of children. Thousands of people died and others were violently displaced from their homes.
In their statement dated Thursday, November 18, the SSCC representatives noted that, “There is no peace without justice, no reconciliation outside truth, no forgiveness without repentance,” as they acknowledged that “many crimes have been committed against our people in South Sudan and peace remains elusive without justice, truth and repentance.”
They assured the people of South Sudan that churches will continue to stand firm with victims of oil exploitation as the “victims of abuses in villages and homes around the oil fields have the right to access to remedy and reputation.”
“We pray that the trial will help to heal the wounds of our brothers and sisters in Unity State and pave the road for forgiveness and reconciliation,” referencing Prophet Isaiah’s message, that people should “learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and please the window’s cause.”