Dr. Riek Machar got it right with a visit to Emmanuel Jieng Parish
By Amol Mabior, Liverpool, UK
May 31, 2016 (SSB) —- Indeed, the intellectual contributions of the proponents of Dr. Riek Machar’s decision to attend prayers at Emmanuel Anglican Parish in Juba on Sunday 22 May 2016, make sense and in conformity with the universally recognized Reconciliation & Healing process in any post-war situation. A big thank you to the comrades.
Certainly, experiences show that there is no specific framework for reconciliation. And more importantly, there is no any straight forward prescription for healing the wounds and torn social fabrics of a society in the aftermath of sustained violence. So, in such a volatile
Situation, it is always difficult to create trust and confidence between the former foes. But it is doable if the parties involved commit themselves in examining the painful past, acknowledge, understand it, and make sure that it does not occur again. Having stated the above, I think we should appreciate the step taken by Dr. Riek Machar, because this is in a right direction and jump-started in the right place -which is the church.
In fact, what the first Vice president has just started should be seen as a long and painful journey which will definitely address the pain and suffering of the victims. And to make this process a success it requires the stakeholders to bring the antagonized communities together, in an attempt to find a way to justice, truth and everlasting peace. It is a long process which cannot be achieved overnight, but it is a must option for us to correct the bygone and move on, regardless of the ugliest past we went through.
As for my brothers and sisters who are still being dragged down by the horrific past events and related bitterness, I do equally and sincerely acknowledge the agony behind your skepticism on the approach taken by the first vice president, Dr. Riek Machar.
However, one factual thing is certain and it will remain so: there is no peace without precious price to pay. So, let us shallow a bitter pill and accept the reality..
Having said that, it is high time for us to regain our strengths, acknowledge the worst things we did to ourselves, repent, forgive ourselves, reconcile and move on in building the future for ourselves and the generation to come.
Remember, it is the same wisdom and spirit which helped our founder father, Dr. John Garang De Mabior to bring us to where we are today. And as matter of fact, we should remind ourselves that great nations are built on strong coexistence among their people, and this needs us to forgive each other and reconcile. After all, there is no country or a society that is built in the absence of political history faults .We have to coexistence.
The author is a South Sudanese residing in Liverpool, the UK and can be reached at amol_504@hotmail.com.
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