Fwd: [sudans-john-ashworth] Bishop Hiiboro: the role of the Church in finding a lasting solution
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Elisabeth Janaina
Jan 20, 2017, 9:46:14 AM1/20/17
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From: "John Ashworth" <ashwor...@gmail.com>
Date: 20 Jan 2017 09:59
Subject: [sudans-john-ashworth] Bishop Hiiboro: the role of the Church in finding a lasting solution
To: "Group" <sudans-joh...@googlegroups.com>
Cc:
Help South Sudan Despite “too much bureaucracy,” SCBC President
Appeals to International Community: Interview Part 2
CANAA || By Father Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 19 January 2017
The new President of Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC), Bishop
Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kusala of the Catholic diocese of
Tombura-Yambio in South Sudan, has called on the international
community to come to the aid of the citizens of his country despite
“too much bureaucracy.”
He made the appeal in an interview with CANAA on Monday, January 16.
Making reference to countries that have accepted to host those who
have fled the conflict in South Sudan, Bishop Barani said, “we know
there is too much bureaucracy, but let them help our country; let them
help us as they did help us to get the CPA (Comprehensive Peace
Agreement), let them help us to get these problems solved.”
He extended the appeal to the wide international community members
saying, “Let them not wait to come and count how many people have
died, no!”
Below is the full text of the 2nd part of interview with Bishop
Barani. Part 1 interview is availablehere.
CANAA: The conflict in South Sudan has gone on for a long time now,
putting the world’s newest nation in the news for the wrong reason.
What is the situation now?
Bishop Barani: I would call the situation now as conflict at
standstill, where we have not resolved the problems of the country.
They (the problems) are there before us; people are looking at them
and looking at ways of making their ways through them, but the
problems are still there. We still have armed men in the bush. And
they are known gunmen. These armed men are the ones controlling the
country. The safety of the people to be free to move, to do things is
not there. So, with these arms in the hands of those who are holding
them, they are holding the country hostage, making it difficult for
the country to do what it should do, and people who want to do the
right thing, it is difficult for them; anyone who wants to come into
the country to join hands with us is afraid to come in. It is in a way
covering the (entire) country to make it almost unable to work,
because economically, we are in a very big fix. There is not enough
money to run services (including) hospitals, schools, and other
services; humanitarian (assistance) is a big issue. There are a lot of
people now who have no food, like where I come from, a lot of people
who have left their own homes because of this conflict and in the
refugee camps you still hear bad stories. And there is huge mistrust
that is among people, divisions, hatred, and a breakdown of law and
order. So, this situation is complex.
CANAA: In the face of this complex situation of conflict, which you
are describing, especially the protracted nature it seems to be
taking, where would you locate the role of the Church in finding a
lasting solution?
Bishop Barani: For me as a Churchman, I see within this (that) our
role is till viable. We are there with the people, we stay with the
people, we pray with the people, and we still have hope that in spite
of all this, if people want, they can be converted to believe in God
and in the fact that the country of South Sudan is ours, and it has
been given to us by God and it is we to build it, it is we to serve
it, it is we provide the necessary security, then this will happen.
And we are praying for this miracle that we get converted to believe
that the country of South Sudan is ours, given to us by God, and we
are children of God, and we must live together. So, this could help us
to go beyond ethnicity, people dividing along the lines of their
tribes, their regions, and it is not going to take us anywhere.
That is why as a Church we have a program. We have decided to work, to
gather all the Churches in the country through our Council and now we
are going to push this through our Conference (of Catholic Bishops) on
this whole issue of (an) open forum. The president (of the Republic of
South Sudan) recently talked about national dialogue. This is what we
have been talking about: (an) open forum where people should tell
their stories, people should tell their stories and be safe at the end
of it; so that when I tell my story, then I don’t meet somebody going
to hunt (after) me on why did I say that? This open forum will allow
people to bring their grievances within themselves, and there must be
listening ears that will receive this information; and then the law to
protect and be able to find a remedy for this.
The second thing is advocacy. We need to keep on talking about the
reality and the situation happening within the area, selling the
stories among ourselves, our neighboring countries, which are in the
region to be able to listen and to be able to come to our aid, and to
the international community. And this has to continue as much as
possible to reach to everyone who can help us.
The third thing is reconciliation. The process of reconciliation is
not a quick thing. We have to go slowly. It need instruments (of
reconciliation) to be there because reconciliation never comes if
people are still scared, afraid, and have not been able to tell their
stories. So, reconciliation must be there, and a duty counting on all
of us: from the Church and to whoever we must get to talk to person to
person, community to community, village to village, county to county,
state to state, so that we get rid of all those problems, and if we
acknowledge them, then eventually healing will be coming. And healing
will follow that process that takes us long time and the result of
peace, and then people will be able to enjoy their country (of South
Sudan). So, this is where we are going.
We insist that South Sudan, I’m telling you, has the highest number of
Church goers. The paradox is that all these people going to the Church
but then you find majority of whom still go back to kill each other,
to fight, and you ask yourself: why do these people go to Church? So,
we are praying for this miracle that we get converted truly to God and
by that conversion we can be able to forgive, and be able to stay with
one another.
CANAA: Indeed, through your message of hope for the miracle of true
conversion to God, you are showing a spirit of optimism for a better
future for the people of South Sudan. What message do you have for the
citizens of the African continent as a Church leader in South Sudan?
Bishop Barani: My message is: As the Holy Father says, violence can
never solve the problems that we have; the guns would never do that.
It is our country, it is our place, people have got to dialogue;
people have got to talk to each other; and people have got to listen
to each other. And that is the only way we can be able to solve our
problems.
The other thing is that those who are actually in power, who can make
things change, have got to be serious, that they are carrying and
implementing a program that can save life and protect life. It is
funny in Africa where someone is killed (and) no one is taking action;
no one loses power or his position because human beings have been lost
or have been killed. In some countries, (human life) is a value; that
I put my hand to defend the constitution and the life of the people of
my country. And if anybody is lost, if somebody is taken (away), then
the whole country is in need.
(For instance), I am here today in Nairobi. If anything happens now
that Bishop Eduardo (who was) in Nairobi is lost, we don’t know where
he is, do you think my country will be in panic? They may not. It’s
just, oh what happened to the bishop, finished; the story will end up
there. But if I were a British or any country in Europe, the whole
country will be looking for this one single human being. So, my appeal
is that let us value life in Africa. In our constitution, it should be
enshrined and we have to protect whoever is there as a human being, he
needs to be protected.
Finally, I would like to appeal to neighboring countries. We thank
Kenya, we thank Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, for the support they give to
all these people who are running there for refuge. But, we also need
their support to heal the wounds in South Sudan. We need their effort
to make sure that right things are done in South Sudan. If they are
happy to receive refugees, then let them be onlookers to the problems
in South Sudan. But I think my appeal should be, we know there is too
much bureaucracy, but let them help our country; let them help us as
they did help us to get the CPA (Comprehensive Peace Agreement), let
them help us to get these problems solved. The communities in Africa,
the neighboring countries, let them have an impact on our system, the
government in South Sudan and all the structures.
Then the international community, let them not wait to come and count
how many people have died, no! I think prevention is better than cure.
I would appeal, let the people of South Sudan feel that they have
individuals who are there to support them.
And I finally ask all the Christians, all our Catholics to continue to
pray for us. Please, pray, and pray for us. I think that will be the
best gift because we know God is going to give us the peace we need.
And when (we have) a peaceful South Sudan, it will be a peaceful
Kenya, a peaceful Uganda, a peaceful Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, and
all our neighboring countries. Thank you and God bless you.
http://www.canaafrica.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=828:help-south-sudan-despite-too-much-bureaucracy-scbc-president-appeals-to-international-community-interview-part-2&catid=16:latestnews&Itemid=103&lang=en
END
______________________
John Ashworth
ashwor...@gmail.com
+254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile)
+211 919 695 362 (South Sudan mobile)
+44 787 976 8030 (UK mobile)
+88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone)
Skype: jashworth1
PO Box 52002 - 00200, 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: 20 Jan 2017 09:59
Subject: [sudans-john-ashworth] Bishop Hiiboro: the role of the Church in finding a lasting solution
To: "Group" <sudans-joh...@googlegroups.com>
Cc:
Help South Sudan Despite “too much bureaucracy,” SCBC President
Appeals to International Community: Interview Part 2
CANAA || By Father Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 19 January 2017
The new President of Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC), Bishop
Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kusala of the Catholic diocese of
Tombura-Yambio in South Sudan, has called on the international
community to come to the aid of the citizens of his country despite
“too much bureaucracy.”
He made the appeal in an interview with CANAA on Monday, January 16.
Making reference to countries that have accepted to host those who
have fled the conflict in South Sudan, Bishop Barani said, “we know
there is too much bureaucracy, but let them help our country; let them
help us as they did help us to get the CPA (Comprehensive Peace
Agreement), let them help us to get these problems solved.”
He extended the appeal to the wide international community members
saying, “Let them not wait to come and count how many people have
died, no!”
Below is the full text of the 2nd part of interview with Bishop
Barani. Part 1 interview is availablehere.
CANAA: The conflict in South Sudan has gone on for a long time now,
putting the world’s newest nation in the news for the wrong reason.
What is the situation now?
Bishop Barani: I would call the situation now as conflict at
standstill, where we have not resolved the problems of the country.
They (the problems) are there before us; people are looking at them
and looking at ways of making their ways through them, but the
problems are still there. We still have armed men in the bush. And
they are known gunmen. These armed men are the ones controlling the
country. The safety of the people to be free to move, to do things is
not there. So, with these arms in the hands of those who are holding
them, they are holding the country hostage, making it difficult for
the country to do what it should do, and people who want to do the
right thing, it is difficult for them; anyone who wants to come into
the country to join hands with us is afraid to come in. It is in a way
covering the (entire) country to make it almost unable to work,
because economically, we are in a very big fix. There is not enough
money to run services (including) hospitals, schools, and other
services; humanitarian (assistance) is a big issue. There are a lot of
people now who have no food, like where I come from, a lot of people
who have left their own homes because of this conflict and in the
refugee camps you still hear bad stories. And there is huge mistrust
that is among people, divisions, hatred, and a breakdown of law and
order. So, this situation is complex.
CANAA: In the face of this complex situation of conflict, which you
are describing, especially the protracted nature it seems to be
taking, where would you locate the role of the Church in finding a
lasting solution?
Bishop Barani: For me as a Churchman, I see within this (that) our
role is till viable. We are there with the people, we stay with the
people, we pray with the people, and we still have hope that in spite
of all this, if people want, they can be converted to believe in God
and in the fact that the country of South Sudan is ours, and it has
been given to us by God and it is we to build it, it is we to serve
it, it is we provide the necessary security, then this will happen.
And we are praying for this miracle that we get converted to believe
that the country of South Sudan is ours, given to us by God, and we
are children of God, and we must live together. So, this could help us
to go beyond ethnicity, people dividing along the lines of their
tribes, their regions, and it is not going to take us anywhere.
That is why as a Church we have a program. We have decided to work, to
gather all the Churches in the country through our Council and now we
are going to push this through our Conference (of Catholic Bishops) on
this whole issue of (an) open forum. The president (of the Republic of
South Sudan) recently talked about national dialogue. This is what we
have been talking about: (an) open forum where people should tell
their stories, people should tell their stories and be safe at the end
of it; so that when I tell my story, then I don’t meet somebody going
to hunt (after) me on why did I say that? This open forum will allow
people to bring their grievances within themselves, and there must be
listening ears that will receive this information; and then the law to
protect and be able to find a remedy for this.
The second thing is advocacy. We need to keep on talking about the
reality and the situation happening within the area, selling the
stories among ourselves, our neighboring countries, which are in the
region to be able to listen and to be able to come to our aid, and to
the international community. And this has to continue as much as
possible to reach to everyone who can help us.
The third thing is reconciliation. The process of reconciliation is
not a quick thing. We have to go slowly. It need instruments (of
reconciliation) to be there because reconciliation never comes if
people are still scared, afraid, and have not been able to tell their
stories. So, reconciliation must be there, and a duty counting on all
of us: from the Church and to whoever we must get to talk to person to
person, community to community, village to village, county to county,
state to state, so that we get rid of all those problems, and if we
acknowledge them, then eventually healing will be coming. And healing
will follow that process that takes us long time and the result of
peace, and then people will be able to enjoy their country (of South
Sudan). So, this is where we are going.
We insist that South Sudan, I’m telling you, has the highest number of
Church goers. The paradox is that all these people going to the Church
but then you find majority of whom still go back to kill each other,
to fight, and you ask yourself: why do these people go to Church? So,
we are praying for this miracle that we get converted truly to God and
by that conversion we can be able to forgive, and be able to stay with
one another.
CANAA: Indeed, through your message of hope for the miracle of true
conversion to God, you are showing a spirit of optimism for a better
future for the people of South Sudan. What message do you have for the
citizens of the African continent as a Church leader in South Sudan?
Bishop Barani: My message is: As the Holy Father says, violence can
never solve the problems that we have; the guns would never do that.
It is our country, it is our place, people have got to dialogue;
people have got to talk to each other; and people have got to listen
to each other. And that is the only way we can be able to solve our
problems.
The other thing is that those who are actually in power, who can make
things change, have got to be serious, that they are carrying and
implementing a program that can save life and protect life. It is
funny in Africa where someone is killed (and) no one is taking action;
no one loses power or his position because human beings have been lost
or have been killed. In some countries, (human life) is a value; that
I put my hand to defend the constitution and the life of the people of
my country. And if anybody is lost, if somebody is taken (away), then
the whole country is in need.
(For instance), I am here today in Nairobi. If anything happens now
that Bishop Eduardo (who was) in Nairobi is lost, we don’t know where
he is, do you think my country will be in panic? They may not. It’s
just, oh what happened to the bishop, finished; the story will end up
there. But if I were a British or any country in Europe, the whole
country will be looking for this one single human being. So, my appeal
is that let us value life in Africa. In our constitution, it should be
enshrined and we have to protect whoever is there as a human being, he
needs to be protected.
Finally, I would like to appeal to neighboring countries. We thank
Kenya, we thank Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, for the support they give to
all these people who are running there for refuge. But, we also need
their support to heal the wounds in South Sudan. We need their effort
to make sure that right things are done in South Sudan. If they are
happy to receive refugees, then let them be onlookers to the problems
in South Sudan. But I think my appeal should be, we know there is too
much bureaucracy, but let them help our country; let them help us as
they did help us to get the CPA (Comprehensive Peace Agreement), let
them help us to get these problems solved. The communities in Africa,
the neighboring countries, let them have an impact on our system, the
government in South Sudan and all the structures.
Then the international community, let them not wait to come and count
how many people have died, no! I think prevention is better than cure.
I would appeal, let the people of South Sudan feel that they have
individuals who are there to support them.
And I finally ask all the Christians, all our Catholics to continue to
pray for us. Please, pray, and pray for us. I think that will be the
best gift because we know God is going to give us the peace we need.
And when (we have) a peaceful South Sudan, it will be a peaceful
Kenya, a peaceful Uganda, a peaceful Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, and
all our neighboring countries. Thank you and God bless you.
http://www.canaafrica.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=828:help-south-sudan-despite-too-much-bureaucracy-scbc-president-appeals-to-international-community-interview-part-2&catid=16:latestnews&Itemid=103&lang=en
END
______________________
John Ashworth
ashwor...@gmail.com
+254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile)
+211 919 695 362 (South Sudan mobile)
+44 787 976 8030 (UK mobile)
+88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone)
Skype: jashworth1
PO Box 52002 - 00200, 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-john-ashworth@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to sudan-john-ashworth-unsub...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.za/group/sudan-john-ashworth
---
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