Peace with Justice is Imperative for South Sudan

By Garang David Bol, Lira, Uganda

March 26, 2015 (SSB)  —  The South Sudanese people want peace as well as justice. This is the answer to those who are reluctant to allow the release of the African Union Commission of equiry report into the atrocities committed in South Sudan from 15th December 2013.

The commission headed by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo completed its  assignment Months ago and has been ready to publicize the report.

Nevertheless some politicians, probably those guilty of committing the heinous crimes against the people of this nation have been urging for a delay in making the report public, on grounds that, the politicians adversely depicted in the report would refuse to cooperate in the peace talks scuffling effort to bring peace.

Such politicians want justice to be  a hostage to the peace process. Without justice, peace will remain elusive, without accountability and reconciliation, peace will continue to evade us. A peace agreement must take into account the Obasanjo findings.

The people of South Sudan do not  want people who participate in killing them to be given any role to misgovern their country again. They have suffered too much at the hands of these murderers they are asking for abreak. They
deserve it.

This fear that the participants in the peace talks will not sign the agreement if they are found with mud in their faces is baseless. In the Arusha deal which brought about the re-unification of the ruling SPLM, all sides agreed that whoever took part in human right violation or abuses must be held accountable.

Who then is this one who will disengage himself or herself from the peace process when justice is being sought? let Obasanjo allow all Sudanese to learn who has done what Southerners are merciful  people.

Perhaps they will forgive the human right violators. But that should come from them after they have received apologise and pleas for mercy from the perpetrators.

The author, can be reach on the following E-mail:  garangdavid@hotmail.com, Lira District, Uganda

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PaanLuel Wël

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PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.

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