Open letter to H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan.
5 min read“To replace the old paradigm of war with a new paradigm of waging peace, we must be pioneers who can push the boundaries of human understanding. We must be doctors who can cure the virus of violence. We must be soldiers of peace who can do more than preach to choir and we must be artists who will make the world our masterpiece” Paul Chappell.
By James Thon Atem, Juba-South Sudan
Your Excellency, the incessant efforts in rejuvenating peace and stability in our country is profoundly meritorious. The recently signed Revitalized agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the republic of South Sudan R-ARCSS, is a new opportunity to resuscitate the lost social fabric among the people and put the country economy back on track for infrastructure development.
With this revitalized agreement, there is a glimpse of hope that the agreement will be implemented in good faith to end the five-year civil war that had devastated the country important installations, peaceful coexistence, economic turmoil, insecurity and a complete social disintegration among the communities. Many attempts have been made to end the conflict but lack of trust among the parties has remained the biggest challenge to reach lasting peace.
Your Excellency, we need peace so that people affected by the war can again live a peaceful and affordable life. We need peace so that the lump sum amount of money spent on war and army can be saved and utilized for other national projects such, roads, bridges, hospitals, schools and mechanized agriculture. As you have planned a peace celebration to take place in Juba at Dr. John Garang Mausoleum on 30th of October 2018, there are few fundamental issues I would like to bring to your attention your Excellency.
The peace celebration should at least bring everyone on board; this is an unbelievable occasion our people have been yearning to see since the eruption of war. It is highly tantamount for all the citizens to turn up in huge numbers and listen to their leaders as they celebrate the occasion. It’s the day awaited with anticipation and hopes to put the painful past behind and start a new spirit in the new chapter. This should be followed with strong messages from the incumbents and oppositions alike to convince the citizens in the UN Protection of Civilians (PoCs) and Refugees to come back home and restart the new life.
The newly breakaway group of Gen. Thomas Cirilo and others Your Excellency, need to be part and parcel of this agreement if possible; we need this peace to be the final once and for all. In my thinking, groups that rejected the Revitalized ARCCSS would be able to cause more tendencies, havoc and insecurities here and there, then render this peace celebration a futile. This group has already violated the agreement of cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and humanitarian access in Yei which has massively displaced and killed number of civilians last week. They will continue to pose a threat to peace if they are left out.
After the celebration, the government should start the dissemination of peace to the people in the rural areas because this peace is not meant for only the urban people. It is for the entire country which needs everyone’s understanding, ownership and responsibility. However, most of the decisions taken by the leadership without grassroots inclusion have repeatedly resulted to confusion and the recurrence of the issue in contention. Now, it is their right to be educated on the Revitalized Agreement, how it would work, how it would benefit them and the guarantee of no return to war by the two leaders.
Free the space for citizens to discuss on the R-ARCSS. Since our country felt into civil war, people were barred from debating on national issues and interests. Despite the attempts made to restore peace and stability in the country, media freedom and freedom of speech to the citizens to debate on critical and fundamental issues has been at stake. This adventure shouldn’t be allowed to continue to derail efforts exerted to end this untold suffering. There are so many compatriots with hearts to help in the dissemination of peace but their efforts are hindered by the lack of freedom of expression.
There is a need to translate the R-ARCSS into local Languages; the document is well articulated in relations to the articles or principles of what was signed therefore, it is necessary for this document to be translated into our local languages for every citizen to read and understand his or her responsibility. As 80% of this county population is predominately illiterate and some of them are intellectuals, chiefs and army officers who have huge influence in promoting peace and stability should be targeted in passing of the message.
Your Excellency, with absolute powers granted to you by our transitional constitution, everything about the management of the country affairs lies in your hands and all what I have mentioned above fall under your jurisdiction. I believe, you can address them positively as our quest to end this suffering from continuation is abated.
Conclusion, self-esteemed commitment is accrued to the end of the day achievement. Your commitment towards this peace is overwhelming and would encourage everyone including the writer of this article to do his part. As per now, everything is in mood of peace, environmental surroundings and the villages are likely to restore hopes, the state cities are rejoicing and the capital city is dancing with anticipation to celebrate the peace day. Nevertheless, 30th October will be another historical day in the history of our nation.
I beg your indulgence once more, for this day to be remembered, our fellow brothers and sisters in the UN PoCs should turn out to come and listen to the leaders by all means and claim being part of the celebration. It will help highlight the reality in partaking the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
“Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures” John F. Kennedy.
The writer is a concerned citizen who would like to see a better South Sudan through advocacy, reach him via thonatemayiei@gmail.com
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