Opposition SSDF advocate for unity after South Sudan independence
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July 01, 2011 (JUBA) - Opposition party the South Sudan Democratic
Forum (SSDF) has lauded the able leadership of South Sudan’s
president, Salva Kiir but urged him to champion unity with the region,
which becomes independent in a week.
“To be a nation, we must be united; to be united, we must espouse
justice, equality, peace and freedom to all our people regardless of
their tribe, clan, gender, region, religion or political affiliation”,
SSDF’s statement on June 28 said.
While giving a historical perspective of South Sudan’s political
struggle prior to South Sudan’s long-awaited independence, the
southern opposition party also congratulated the people of the
semi-autonomous region for this historic achievement attained after
decades of war.
The people of South Sudan, the SSDF statement says, struggled for
self-determination to extricate themselves from the “yolk of foreign
oppression, brutal exploitation, racial and religious persecutions,
massacres and ultimately genocide” with the intention to remain in
peace and stability."
“The Democratic Forum sincerely congratulates our people and the
nation for the success of their 56-year (1955 -2011) old struggle to
collectively achieve their cherished independence and freedom,” the
statement reads.
South Sudan’s conflicts with Khartoum began before independence in
1956 and only stopped for just over a decade before conflict resumed
in 1983 after the Addis Ababa peace broke down.
The war finally ended in 2005 when the Sudan People’s Liberation
Movement signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement with Sudan’s ruling
National Congress Party.
The deal allowed the South to secede in a referendum, which the region
voted for almost unanimously in January this year.
SSDF further appealed to the Southern leadership and the entire
population not to forget the great role played by those who died in
the conflict saying they deserve special recognition as the south
celebrates independence on July 9.
“These heroes and heroines have not died for nothing: they have
delivered us forever from our enemy’s exploitation, oppression and
slavery. We pray for their souls that the Almighty God rest their
souls in eternal life,” the statement further says.
The opposition party specifically cited Any-nya-I fighters who
pioneered the 1963 armed struggle reportedly in defence of South Sudan
land, the Any-nya-II for laying the foundation of the Sudan Peoples
Liberation Army (SPLA) in 1975 and later the SPLA for fighting for
over two decades until the 2005 peace deal.
(ST)
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