Supporting the call for National Dialogue and Reconciliation is a civic duty for all of us
By William Abur, Melbourne, Australia
January 3, 2017 (SSB) —- The beginning of 2017 comes with many promises for our beloved nation, the republic of South Sudan. I have read few messages on social media about how quiet and peaceful it was in the capital city of South Sudan, Juba. To me, it was a blessing and promise that the year 2017 is a blessing and a year of peace for the South Sudan.
Second, first vice President, Honourable Taban Deng Gai and number of minsters including honourable Kuol Manayang Juuk, the minister of Defence and Dr. Elia lomoro, the minister of cabinet affairs managed to visit a notorious area of Yei State to promote peace to the residence of Yei River. This mission or visit should not be taken lightly if we are all looking for peace and prosperity in our nation.
Thirdly, President Kiir Mayardit has called for the national reconciliation and dialogue for all South Sudanese people. To me, it is an opportunity for all us to bring peace in our country, our communities and families. President has done his job by appointing all well respected elders, in my opinion. It is now left in our hands as people of the South Sudan wherever we are to promote peace and harmony in our communities and in our country.
The aim of this article is to support the “National Dialogue” and to promote peace to the readers, readers will also promote peace in their families and to their friends. Together, we can brings peace and reconciliation to our country, in our communities and in our families.
Let me discuss a bit about reconciliation and what it mean to me as individual. The term reconinilation is about bring it back together, restoration of friendly relations, restoration of harmony and understanding. It is the action of making one view or belief compatible with another. The words restoration and compatible are part of reconciliation.
The word reconciliation come from the word conciliation, which means the action of stopping somebody from being angry, aggressive in our families. It means to accept what went wrong and accept healing. Restoring relationship in community and country can only begin in our families to take action of being compatible and friendly.
The bible teaches us that reconinilation must be a priority in our lives. It is stressed in Matthew 5:21-25 where we are told that if we have an unresolved disagreement with someone that we should resolve it as soon as possible, even before we go to church again.
In other words, we must stop supporting negative political projects. The political projects do brings pain and lose as we have all witnessed all over in our country and in our communities and families. Political projects are for the punitive people and not for people who want to see peace in their communities and in the country like South Sudan. They are for selfish individuals who want to be known through the power and killing of other people.
I cannot be cleared enough here to tell all my friends and family members that I’m supporting the National Dialogue or reconciliation for many reasons. First, I’m sick of seeing children and women being affected by senseless war or senseless political projects.
Second, I’m sick of seeing destruction of developments and waste of times on negative political projects. Thirdly, I’m sick of seeing elders and children dying of hungry, lack of medical services and so forth. I’m also sick to see children begging on street instead of being in school, but war deprived their privileges of happiness as children.
This is should only end with us the “Jesh-Amer” for those who know what the Jesh Amer went through as children can understand what I means here. I’m one of the Jesh Amer of 1989, but serve in SPLA as well as in liberating major towns such as Torit, Kapota as well as smalls towns Equatoria region
In conclusion, when are we going to accept each other? To me, it is now, this year 2017 is a year of peace and reconciliation for all South Sudanese around the world. I wish you all happy New Year and success of peace in 2017. May almighty God bless South Sudan and people of South Sudan in wherever they are, and may spirit of peace be on them in their thinking.
William Abur is a PhD candidate at Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia, finishing his PhD research in areas of social work and sociology. He is also a social worker working in high school in student well-being area. You can reach via his email: William Abur william.abur@gmail.com
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