Inclusive Constitution Body’s Roadmap For Stability "...let it be an inclusive constitution which will reflect our values as one nation." 10 March 2011 By Peter Chuol Gatluak, Juba South Sudan March, 2011-03-10
(Gurtong edited and posted) -My fellow’s South Sudanese, let us all hope and pray the new born nation voice shall have a contemplative tranquillity, peace and inclusive constitution. Let these voices provide a sanctuary of the spirit where every South Sudanese can find strength to face anew conflicts and confrontations that are part of our human predicament. For me, democracy in South Sudan is like a flower, beautiful to behold, but at the same time fragile and in need of protection from our government mandate. After the referendum, South Sudan stands at a defining moment in its history. The road map to formulate our new and inclusive constitution review shall be through constituent representation not through political representation. We are confused, disillusioned by the current political power struggle amongst our political leaders. South Sudan presents a complex scenario of tensions between constraints and liberty and the imperatives of a modern nation and the aspirations of a free citizenry. The new constitution will be a document and a vision that holds the promise of equality, justice, and opportunity. The new democratic political culture should be a sure harbinger of a new era of the new statehood. But this new culture has to be inclusive. New norms and values have to be created, articulated honestly and adopted. When a one party system dreams alone, it is only a dream; but when we dream together as a Southerners, it is the beginning of a new reality with great enjoyment. Let us all work and participate together to start a beginning of a new country building based on trust, freedom, equality, pluralism transparency and prosperity. For a new and inclusive South Sudan, let us all make this historical journey a pledge to have peace, unity, security, freedom and prosperity. A complete vision of the whole can perhaps be achieved by building an inclusive state – one that places our peoples at the centre so that our citizens can become the active builders and shapers of a new democratic South Sudan. Every citizen of the South Sudan nation must feel allegiance to the constitution and own it as guarantor of his or her basic needs and rights. In a country of immense diversity like South Sudan, the constitution should be a national symbol of unity in diversity. The diversity shall be well reflected in the sovereign Constituent representation. All the challenges we are facing today during the first draft deliberation have shown that constitution-making in a country, which has suffered the trauma of armed conflicts, is not an easy task. However, we have been trying our best to accomplish the job of drafting a new democratic constitution but let it be an inclusive constitution which will reflect our values as one nation. During the fifty years plus of struggle, our history has entrusted military and political leaders with a big responsibility to create a strong foundation for the transformation of the country to ensure a bright future of its peoples. My countrymen, this can be achieved only through an inclusive constitution that guarantees human rights, practical democracy system for all citizens. The author is a civil servant in Government of Southern Sudan and member of public service reform coordinators as change agent. Posted in: Opinions -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
