Dear All, Please find attached a statement from the Citizens for Peace and Justice a group formed in January 2014 of concerned citizens from civil society, academia, churches, national NGOs and think tanks on the current situation in South Sudan. When the shooting started in Juba on the night of December 15 2013 and as we all huddled in our homes or under our beds, hearing the whizzing sound of bullets, I truly understood just how totally dis-empowered we all really were and what an illusion South Sudan actually was. Everyone I have talked to was shocked and heartbroken but none were surprised and I know too many people who are now gone forever. Everything was leading to this and we must all be very honest with ourselves and ask where we all went wrong and say NEVER AGAIN. We must take responsibility to ensure that the same old structures, approaches and solutions are not put back together and expect a different outcome. Power is for the people, never to be concentrated in the hands of a few and that is what we must all work for. .. All the best, STATEMENT ON THE CRISIS IN SOUTH SUDAN BY CITIZENS FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE 15 January 2014 Expressing our alarm and concern with the ongoing violence, continued killing, loss of innocent lives and destruction of property in South Sudan since 15 December 2013, Affirming our moral responsibility to take a stance and be a positive force for peace and justice, Offering our deepest sympathies to those who have lost loved ones in the violence, Recognizing that what started as a political dispute within the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has now become a crisis engulfing the whole country, We, concerned citizens of South Sudan, drawn from civil society, churches, academia, think tanks and national NGOs, hereby agree to the following statement: The violence has brought into question the legitimacy of current institutions of governance in South Sudan and has undermined any claims that the parties to the conflict have to being the custodians of the peoples interest. There is no military solution. The failure of key institutions, including the executive, legislature, judiciary and army, has contributed to the crisis. Since 2005, fundamental issues of governance and civil rights have been neglected. These include the national constitution, elections, freedom of expression, accountability, justice, reconciliation and security sector reform. We therefore resolve that: 1. The peace process should be expanded to include voices from all sectors of South Sudanese society and to address the fundamental governance issues that allowed the conflict to proliferate so quickly. 2. All parties must commit to an immediate ceasefire and guarantee humanitarian access. 3. All parties must abide by international humanitarian and human rights law. 4. All parties must ensure the safety of civilians in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and areas under their control. 5. All parties must be held accountable for their actions and justice must be delivered for the victims and survivors of the violence. 6. A citizen-driven national dialogue should be initiated to address the critical challenges facing the South Sudanese people in their efforts to develop a democratic state and to promote reconciliation and healing. 7. The indefinite detention without charge of South Sudanese political figures is a violation of South Sudanese and international law. Political detainees must either be charged and provided with legal representation or released. 8. The current mediations being brokered by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and states involved in the mediations should remain neutral to all parties. 9. Foreign governments should refrain from providing military assistance to any of the parties involved in the conflict as this will only contribute to the suffering of our people and should not be allowed. In recognition of the above findings and resolutions, we the Citizens for Peace and Justice commit ourselves to extending and continuing the dialogue with our fellow South Sudanese in the pursuit of a peaceful and just resolution to the conflict in our country. SIGNED Agyedho Adwok, Citizen John Apuruot Akec, Academics and Researchers Forum for Development Zacharia Diing Akol, The Sudd Institute Anyieth D’Awol, The Roots Project David Kwol Deng, South Sudan Law Society (SSLS) Robert Deng, University of Juba Bol Gatkuoth, Citizen Samuel Lony Geng, Citizen Rev. Both Reath Luong, Nuer Peace Council Jok Madut Jok, The Sudd Institute Lona James Elia Luduro, Voices for Change (VFC) Machien Luoi, Citizen Athiaan Majak Malou, Citizen Don Bosco Malish, Citizen Lorna Merekaje, South Sudan Domestic Elections Monitoring Program (SSuDEMoP) Leben Nelson Moro, Citizen Chuol Gew Nhial, Citizen Abuor Gordon Nhial, Citizen Rev. James Ninrew, Nuer Peace Council Rev. George Riek, Citizen Rev. Peter Tibi, Reconcile Angelo Ugwaag, Citizen Samson Wassara, Citizen
Posted on: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 09:54:52 +0000
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