Fwd: [sudans-john-ashworth] Vatican Envoy Urges South Sudan Peace

[Elisabeth Janaina]

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From: John Ashworth <ashwor...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jul 20, 2016 at 7:59 AM
Subject: [sudans-john-ashworth] Vatican Envoy Urges South Sudan Peace
To: Group <sudans-joh...@googlegroups.com>


1. Vatican Envoy Urges South Sudan Peace

July 19, 2016 VOA
Tito Justin
JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN —

A top Vatican envoy is urging South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and
First Vice President Riek Machar to peacefully end the wave of
violence that gripped the capital, Juba, for four days last week,
leaving hundreds of people dead and thousands of others displaced.

Cardinal Peter Kodwo Turkson met Tuesday with Kiir and delivered a
message directly from Pope Francis. Turkson, who is from Ghana, said
he discussed with Kiir the need to peacefully end the recent conflict
in South Sudan. He said Kiir assured him that he remains committed to
restoring peace in the country.

The cardinal says he wanted to meet with Machar, but the former rebel
leader fled Juba shortly after the fighting broke out and is staying
at an undisclosed location in South Sudan, according to a spokesman.

Kiir strongly opposes a proposal by the Intergovernmental Authority on
Development, a regional body, and the African Union to deploy regional
troops to Juba to stabilize the capital and act as a buffer between
forces loyal to the president and those loyal to Machar. Turkson says
the president conveyed that he is receptive to a meeting with Machar.

Turkson said Kiir is not opposed to a third-party security force to
ensure Machar's safety, but refuses to allow any foreign troops to
stay in South Sudan for any other reason.

The cardinal said he urged Kiir to share the content of Pope Francis'
letter with officials in the Transitional Government of National
Unity.

Victims of fighting

During his four-day visit, Turkson also met with hundreds of
internally displaced people sheltering at a United Nations camp in
Juba, and witnessed firsthand how they were suffering.

"How can we ensure safety and security for the people so that they can
be able to live in their houses and be able to provide development in
the area … so that they can find their way in helping South Sudan to
develop and grow?" he said.

Turkson also met the SPLA Chief of Staff Paul Malong, who briefed him
on the latest casualty figures. Turkson called it unacceptable that
such a huge number of civilians and soldiers were killed.

"The chief of defense has said 300 people-plus lost their lives,” he
said. “It's a very sad thing. When I told the pope, he also expressed
the desire someday to visit South Sudan. You know, to lose 300 people
of your population, whether they are soldiers or not, it's not a
comfortable thing."

Turkson passed messages of condolence to the families who lost loved
ones, and spoke to Malong about the need to quickly end the conflict
and restore peace.

Turkson urged the South Sudanese people not to lose hope, adding that
he believes the country will be able to overcome its hardships.

http://m.voanews.com/a/vatican-envoy-urges-south-sudan-peace/3426134.html

END1

2. From a reliable source who attended Cardinal Turkson's Mass on
Sunday 17th July 2016 at St Teresa's Catholic Cathedral, Kator, in
Juba

This morning we attended mass at the Cathedral presided over by Peter
Cardinal Kodwo Turkson of the Pontifical Council for Peace and
Justice. In his message and homily he conveyed greetings from Pope
Francis, that the Pope gave him two letters one for the President and
another for the Vice President (1st) which hope to give during the
week. In the homily, I picked two main points; (a) the glory of God in
us which must manifest itself in peace, and (b) the diversity of God's
creation as manifested in the tribes we belong to, which should be
celebrated and not source of divisions and war.  He prayed for the
Government and people of South Sudan. That the Pope told him that he
(Pope) too, one day would want to visit South Sudan.

END2
______________________
John Ashworth

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