The Catholic Bishops from the Republic of South Sudan have said that Peace will not come without respect for human rights, and these rights are based on the concept of the dignity of each human person, created in the image and likeness of God.
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| Archbishop Paulino Lukudu |
The Bishops present during the meeting included Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro-Metropolitan of Juba, Bishop Erkolano Ludo Tombe of Yei, Bishop Rudolf Deng Majak of Wau, Bishop Edwardo Hiiboro Kussala of Tambura-Yambio, Msgr. Roko Taban Mousa Apostolic Administrator of Malakal, Msgr. Thomas Oliha Apostolic Administrator of Torit, Bishop Santo Loku Pio Auxiliary of Juba, Bishop Paride Taban Emeritus of Torit and Bishop Vincent Mojwok Emeritus of Malakal.
They said that there is much to celebrate in the new Republic of South Sudan; however they cautioned that building a new nation is not a quick or an easy task. They noted that many people of South Sudan are living in peace and democracy for the first time in decades. There is religious freedom, with Muslims, Christians and followers of African traditional religion able to practice their faith without obstacles. They said that the ecumenical spirit which led the churches through the war is still strong and they are happy to see the involvement of our South Sudanese Muslim brothers and sisters in so many initiatives.
They Bishops pointed out that while delivery of social services, infrastructure and other basic needs is proceeding more slowly than many would wish, the people of South Sudan, broadly speaking, are better off than they have been in living memory.
The Bishops however said that there are causes for concern, for the people of South Sudan because there is peace in the sense of absence of widespread violence, but not in the sense of right relationship and abundance of life.
While welcoming the new leaner government which came about as the result of a reshuffle in July 2013, the bishops said they remain concerned about governance issues, including corruption and nepotism and said that only an open and transparent government in which the people have a chance to participate can bring lasting peace and justice to our nation.
They said that transparency is particularly important as people can easily misunderstand actions by the government. They cautioned that innocent decisions may be wrongly construed if not carried out consultatively and if not explained properly to the citizens.
The bishops also said that they are conscious of the conflicting priorities which leaders are forced to deal with. There are so many pressing needs when building a nation from scratch, and all of them are indeed priorities and advised the government to choose a small number of priorities and then ensure that they are actually implemented, rather than trying to do everything at once and running the risk of doing nothing effectively.
Concerning tension in some parts of the country, the Bishop in their statement said that they are encouraged by the many initiatives of the churches, civil society and the government to reduce tension. They noted that the number of armed rebellions has reduced considerably as many rebel leaders have come out of the bush with their followers.
However they are concerned that inter-communal tension and conflict continues in many parts of the country, particularly in Jonglei State. They called on South Sudanese to be proud of their tribal heritage, culture and traditions, but not to be drawn into tribalism which sets one group against another.
The Bishops congratulated the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan on their recent agreement to resume oil exports saying that move should bring some economic relief to the people of both nations. “We pray that it also signals an improvement of relationships and may lead to further progress.”
They also expressed concern at the lack of progress in other areas, including border demarcation. “We feel sadness and pain for our brothers and sisters in Sudan who still experience civil war and humanitarian tragedy in Darfur, the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile, and we call on all parties to implement an immediate cease-fire, to allow independent humanitarian access to all areas, and to seek a negotiated solution to all conflicts,” the statement said.
The Bishops said that after decades of conflict the new country needs national reconciliation and healing. “We believe both must be a priority for the Government of South Sudan. Faith communities and civil society must be at the very centre of the process, but government must also take responsibility.”
The Bishops welcome the Committee for National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation, set up by President of the Republic of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit. They pledged their support for the reconciliation process, and offer the resources of their Justice and Peace Commission to help make it a success.