Fwd: [sudans-john-ashworth] Churcn mobilises for peace in Lakes State
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Elisabeth Janaina
Dec 31, 2014, 10:34:13 AM12/31/14
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From: "John Ashworth" <ashwor...@gmail.com>
Date: 31 Dec 2014 16:59
Subject: [sudans-john-ashworth] Churcn mobilises for peace in Lakes State
To: "Group" <sudans-joh...@googlegroups.com>
Cc:
Church mobilises two Hundred Peace Campaigners for Lakes State
December 29, 2014
Written by John C. Daau
Christian Times
The Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan is rallying 200 Youth
Peace Mobilisers and Campaigners to storm 8 counties and 15 cattle
camps on January 7-21, 2015, in Lakes State, targeting youth with
messages urging them to consider living in peace and stop revenge
killings among themselves.
The Christian Youth Ministry (commonly known among the Dinka
Christians as Jol-Wo-Liec or God Look Back On Us) from three clusters
of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan including Upper Nile, Torit
Missionary Cluster and Bhar el Gazal, under the leadership and
guidance of the Archbishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church of
South Sudan and Sudan Dr. Daniel Deng Bul has initiated a massive
peace mobilization and campaign process in Lakes State targeting
youths from troubled counties and cattle camps.
Stressing the importance of this peace campaign, the Primate noted
with great concern that the church is distressed about instability
among the communities in South Sudan in general and specially with the
current ongoing situation in Lakes States.
"We are troubled by the vicious revenge killings habitually rising
among the communities of Lakes State. This has raised a gross concern
to the church," says the Primate in a letter to local leaders calling
for support.
The Most Reverend Daniel Deng Bul who also chairs South Sudan National
Committee for Peace, Healing and Reconciliation, recently had a
pastoral visit to the people of Lakes State and he was confronted with
concern of growing revenge killing in the communities of Dinka Agaar
and others.
"The leaders brought this concern to my attention. I am responding
with this effort and appreciating the youths for having done greatly
to consider extending their efforts to their peer group in Lakes
State" he explained.
Speaking to parishioners of Emmanuel Parish in Juba on Christmas Day,
the Primate declared 2015 as year of peace "We trust God that the year
2015 will be a year of PEACE and Prosperity."
In his letter (a copy of which has been obtained by TCT),addressed to
local leaders in various capacities requesting support to the process,
the Primate stressed that "...for a nation to realize any meaningful
development, peace and security are paramount. Peace is vital,
although the attainment of total peace is not an easy task. It is
because of such toughness in achieving peace that the Youth of the
Episcopal Church of South Sudan is proposing this important peace
campaign which I believe will have impact on addressing the insecurity
in the Lakes State using proactive, preventive, engaging, and
involving strategies."
Rev. Bartholomew Bol Deng, the Interim Chairperson of the Provisional
Executive Committee of Jol-Wo-Lieec explained that 200 Christian
youthshave mobilized themselves and he called for a massive peace
mobilization and campaign to take place in Lakes State in the month of
January 2015. Rev. Deng emphasized that this is "part of the church's
practical response and initiative to bring about dialogue, peace and
reconciliation in the troubled Lakes State."
The Primate has appealed to the local churches around Juba calling for
their support, requesting Christians to give special gifts on
25/12/2014 (Christmas Day) and 4th January 2015 (Sunday) towards the
support of this mission.
"To achieve this process, it requires massive resources," he stressed
According to Rev. Deng, the requested donation, in addition to other
support, will cover food items and transportation of the 200 peace
campaigners during the two weeks of campaign and mobilization starting
January 7-21, 2015. The estimated budget for the whole exercise starts
a little above South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) 400,000 or USD 100,000.
The church youths in cooperation with stakeholders in Lakes State will
take the peace campaign to selected 8 counties and 15 cattle camps
reaching out to over 5000 youths in the state. Youths in the Rumbek
East and some cattle camps have been noted notoriously engaged in the
practice of assaulting and revenge killing.
According to Rev. Deng, activities planned to be undertaken include
holding planning workshop in Juba with key influential leaders from
Lakes State, preparation and disseminate peace messages, through print
and radio media outlets, holding youth rallies and focus group
meeting, and setting up or strengthening of 23 county and cattle camp
youth peace mobilization committees. Rev. Deng said the emphasis for
this process is to alert and aware the youths of Rumbek that they must
observe peace. "This process will help in creating a sense of urgency
to construct sustainable peace among themselves."
Rev. James Maker Achiek, Priest in Charge of Juba Emmanuel's Church
and from the Diocese of Awelriel, speaks of how hopeful members of his
Church are of the process.
"My church members have high hopes on this process. They were able to
raise SSP 8044 to support the initiative," he stated.
"We are appealing to our youths both Christians and non-Christians in
Lakes State to consider peacemaking in their communities and refrain
from taking law in to their hands but to work hard with the aim to
bring peace and unity in the State." He stressed.
Lakes state has been devastated by violence related to cattle raiding
and cycle of revenge killings, practices which may date back before
South Sudan voted for referendum of succession from the North Sudan.
In August this year, paramount chief Apareer Chut Dhuol, a brother to
the current caretaker governor of Lakes State, was gunned down by
unknown assailant in Rumbek East County, in what Police authorities at
Criminal Investigation Department in Rumbek linked to retaliation for
the death of late paramount chief Maker Mabor who was killed in 2002.
Early October this year, the Rt. Rev. Joseph Maker Atot, bishop of the
Anglican Diocese of Pachong was attacked and threatened with death as
part of the ongoing revenge killing in the state. He could not return
in to his diocese to celebrate Christmas.
While preparing his congregation for Christmas celebration, Rev.
Mading Awolnyang was reported last week to have run away from the
village in East Rumbek fearing for his dear life after he was
attacked, beaten and threatened to lose his life. He remains in hiding
and his situation is a concern to the church.
Just after Christmas day, Sudan Tribune reported an incident of "at
least 44 people killed and 31 others wounded in fresh inter-clan
clashes in Rumbek East County."
According to Rev. Ben Waigo of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan
in Juba, many learned people including church leaders in Rumbek areas
constantly experience intimidation and threats to get kill in revenge
attacks. Rev.
Waigo who has worked in the area for more than three years directing
Aluakluak Women Vocational Training Center few miles away from Rumbek
said,
"The situation in Lakes State is a threat to national security. People
cannot travel or farm freely. This may lead to national food shortage
and ineffectiveness to provide basic service to the needy people in
this area," he stressed.
Rev. Waigo also said that from his experiences working in the area,
many educated natives from Lakes State fear to serve among the
communities due to intimidation and threat for revenge killing in the
state.
"This situation requires urgent intervention from government, churches
and civil societies to address issues which have repeatedly led to
cycles of revenge killings." He affirmed
Following the killing of paramount chiefs, series of deliberate and
indiscriminate revenge killings have taken place but the government
authorities remained unsuccessful to arrest the situation. Church and
government leaders have continually made calls for the people of
Rumbek to refrain from revenge killing but there has never any change
noted.
On the other hand, youth activists and traditional authorities in the
area have repeatedly called for the removal of the caretaker governor
Matur Chut Dhuol amid claims he has failed to help stop the violence.
With experiences as military commander, Dhuol was appointed in January
2013 after President Salva Kiir sacked former governor Eng. Chol Tong.
http://thechristiantimes.net/index.php/headline-news/item/1572-church-mobilises-two-hundred-peace-campaigners-for-lakes-statehttp:/thechristiantimes.net/index.php/headline-news/item/1572-church-mobilises-two-hundred-peace-campaigners-for-lakes-state
END
______________________
John Ashworth
Sudan, South Sudan Advisor
ashwor...@gmail.com
+254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile)
+211 919 695 362 (South Sudan mobile)
+27 79 832 8834 (South Africa mobile)
+44 750 364 2508 (UK/international)
+88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone)
PO Box 52662 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
This is a personal e-mail address and the contents do not necessarily
reflect the views of any organisation
--
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From: "John Ashworth" <ashwor...@gmail.com>
Date: 31 Dec 2014 16:59
Subject: [sudans-john-ashworth] Churcn mobilises for peace in Lakes State
To: "Group" <sudans-joh...@googlegroups.com>
Cc:
Church mobilises two Hundred Peace Campaigners for Lakes State
December 29, 2014
Written by John C. Daau
Christian Times
The Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan is rallying 200 Youth
Peace Mobilisers and Campaigners to storm 8 counties and 15 cattle
camps on January 7-21, 2015, in Lakes State, targeting youth with
messages urging them to consider living in peace and stop revenge
killings among themselves.
The Christian Youth Ministry (commonly known among the Dinka
Christians as Jol-Wo-Liec or God Look Back On Us) from three clusters
of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan including Upper Nile, Torit
Missionary Cluster and Bhar el Gazal, under the leadership and
guidance of the Archbishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church of
South Sudan and Sudan Dr. Daniel Deng Bul has initiated a massive
peace mobilization and campaign process in Lakes State targeting
youths from troubled counties and cattle camps.
Stressing the importance of this peace campaign, the Primate noted
with great concern that the church is distressed about instability
among the communities in South Sudan in general and specially with the
current ongoing situation in Lakes States.
"We are troubled by the vicious revenge killings habitually rising
among the communities of Lakes State. This has raised a gross concern
to the church," says the Primate in a letter to local leaders calling
for support.
The Most Reverend Daniel Deng Bul who also chairs South Sudan National
Committee for Peace, Healing and Reconciliation, recently had a
pastoral visit to the people of Lakes State and he was confronted with
concern of growing revenge killing in the communities of Dinka Agaar
and others.
"The leaders brought this concern to my attention. I am responding
with this effort and appreciating the youths for having done greatly
to consider extending their efforts to their peer group in Lakes
State" he explained.
Speaking to parishioners of Emmanuel Parish in Juba on Christmas Day,
the Primate declared 2015 as year of peace "We trust God that the year
2015 will be a year of PEACE and Prosperity."
In his letter (a copy of which has been obtained by TCT),addressed to
local leaders in various capacities requesting support to the process,
the Primate stressed that "...for a nation to realize any meaningful
development, peace and security are paramount. Peace is vital,
although the attainment of total peace is not an easy task. It is
because of such toughness in achieving peace that the Youth of the
Episcopal Church of South Sudan is proposing this important peace
campaign which I believe will have impact on addressing the insecurity
in the Lakes State using proactive, preventive, engaging, and
involving strategies."
Rev. Bartholomew Bol Deng, the Interim Chairperson of the Provisional
Executive Committee of Jol-Wo-Lieec explained that 200 Christian
youthshave mobilized themselves and he called for a massive peace
mobilization and campaign to take place in Lakes State in the month of
January 2015. Rev. Deng emphasized that this is "part of the church's
practical response and initiative to bring about dialogue, peace and
reconciliation in the troubled Lakes State."
The Primate has appealed to the local churches around Juba calling for
their support, requesting Christians to give special gifts on
25/12/2014 (Christmas Day) and 4th January 2015 (Sunday) towards the
support of this mission.
"To achieve this process, it requires massive resources," he stressed
According to Rev. Deng, the requested donation, in addition to other
support, will cover food items and transportation of the 200 peace
campaigners during the two weeks of campaign and mobilization starting
January 7-21, 2015. The estimated budget for the whole exercise starts
a little above South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) 400,000 or USD 100,000.
The church youths in cooperation with stakeholders in Lakes State will
take the peace campaign to selected 8 counties and 15 cattle camps
reaching out to over 5000 youths in the state. Youths in the Rumbek
East and some cattle camps have been noted notoriously engaged in the
practice of assaulting and revenge killing.
According to Rev. Deng, activities planned to be undertaken include
holding planning workshop in Juba with key influential leaders from
Lakes State, preparation and disseminate peace messages, through print
and radio media outlets, holding youth rallies and focus group
meeting, and setting up or strengthening of 23 county and cattle camp
youth peace mobilization committees. Rev. Deng said the emphasis for
this process is to alert and aware the youths of Rumbek that they must
observe peace. "This process will help in creating a sense of urgency
to construct sustainable peace among themselves."
Rev. James Maker Achiek, Priest in Charge of Juba Emmanuel's Church
and from the Diocese of Awelriel, speaks of how hopeful members of his
Church are of the process.
"My church members have high hopes on this process. They were able to
raise SSP 8044 to support the initiative," he stated.
"We are appealing to our youths both Christians and non-Christians in
Lakes State to consider peacemaking in their communities and refrain
from taking law in to their hands but to work hard with the aim to
bring peace and unity in the State." He stressed.
Lakes state has been devastated by violence related to cattle raiding
and cycle of revenge killings, practices which may date back before
South Sudan voted for referendum of succession from the North Sudan.
In August this year, paramount chief Apareer Chut Dhuol, a brother to
the current caretaker governor of Lakes State, was gunned down by
unknown assailant in Rumbek East County, in what Police authorities at
Criminal Investigation Department in Rumbek linked to retaliation for
the death of late paramount chief Maker Mabor who was killed in 2002.
Early October this year, the Rt. Rev. Joseph Maker Atot, bishop of the
Anglican Diocese of Pachong was attacked and threatened with death as
part of the ongoing revenge killing in the state. He could not return
in to his diocese to celebrate Christmas.
While preparing his congregation for Christmas celebration, Rev.
Mading Awolnyang was reported last week to have run away from the
village in East Rumbek fearing for his dear life after he was
attacked, beaten and threatened to lose his life. He remains in hiding
and his situation is a concern to the church.
Just after Christmas day, Sudan Tribune reported an incident of "at
least 44 people killed and 31 others wounded in fresh inter-clan
clashes in Rumbek East County."
According to Rev. Ben Waigo of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan
in Juba, many learned people including church leaders in Rumbek areas
constantly experience intimidation and threats to get kill in revenge
attacks. Rev.
Waigo who has worked in the area for more than three years directing
Aluakluak Women Vocational Training Center few miles away from Rumbek
said,
"The situation in Lakes State is a threat to national security. People
cannot travel or farm freely. This may lead to national food shortage
and ineffectiveness to provide basic service to the needy people in
this area," he stressed.
Rev. Waigo also said that from his experiences working in the area,
many educated natives from Lakes State fear to serve among the
communities due to intimidation and threat for revenge killing in the
state.
"This situation requires urgent intervention from government, churches
and civil societies to address issues which have repeatedly led to
cycles of revenge killings." He affirmed
Following the killing of paramount chiefs, series of deliberate and
indiscriminate revenge killings have taken place but the government
authorities remained unsuccessful to arrest the situation. Church and
government leaders have continually made calls for the people of
Rumbek to refrain from revenge killing but there has never any change
noted.
On the other hand, youth activists and traditional authorities in the
area have repeatedly called for the removal of the caretaker governor
Matur Chut Dhuol amid claims he has failed to help stop the violence.
With experiences as military commander, Dhuol was appointed in January
2013 after President Salva Kiir sacked former governor Eng. Chol Tong.
http://thechristiantimes.net/index.php/headline-news/item/1572-church-mobilises-two-hundred-peace-campaigners-for-lakes-statehttp:/thechristiantimes.net/index.php/headline-news/item/1572-church-mobilises-two-hundred-peace-campaigners-for-lakes-state
END
______________________
John Ashworth
Sudan, South Sudan Advisor
ashwor...@gmail.com
+254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile)
+211 919 695 362 (South Sudan mobile)
+27 79 832 8834 (South Africa mobile)
+44 750 364 2508 (UK/international)
+88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone)
PO Box 52662 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
This is a personal e-mail address and the contents do not necessarily
reflect the views of any organisation
--
--
The content of this message does not necessarily reflect John Ashworth's views. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, John Ashworth is not the author of the content and the source is always cited.
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "sudan-john-ashworth" group.
To post to this group, send email to sudan-joh...@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to sudan-john-ashw...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.za/group/sudan-john-ashworth
---
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