---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: John Ashworth <[email protected]> Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2011 11:47:56 +0300 Subject: [sudan-john-ashworth] Bishops Appeal for Peace in Eastern Equatoria To: Group <[email protected]>
1. Catholic Bishop Appeals for Peace in Magwi TORIT, October 28, 2011 (CISA) -Bishop Johnson Akio of Catholic Diocese of Torit, South Sudan has appealed for a peaceful resolution to the Madi and Acholi conflict in Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State. According to Fr Lounoi Santino Stephen, Communication Coordinator and Director of Radio Emmanuel, Bishop Akio urged the two communities to stop hostility and killing each other. He announced that he is sending a team of clerics to meet the two communities in a bid to resolve the land ownership issue peacefully. Bishop Akio urged the people to return to their homesteads and focus on peaceful co-existence as they have lived together for decades. He reminded the people of the recent end of two decades civil war where many lives were lost, saying it is time to mourn loved ones who died in the liberation struggle than creating another conflict. Bishop Akio cites harmonious relationship through inter-marriages and good neighbourhood in the past, as points for peaceful arbitration of differences between the two communities. Fr Santino said in a statement sent to CISA that so far four people have been killed in the long time land disputes between the Ma’di and Acholi communities. END1 2. Appeal by Bishop Emeritus Paride Taban 28th October 2011 Fighting has broken out between groups of the Acholi and Madi communities. This is a misunderstanding between cousins. The communities of Madi and Acholi who are fighting are cousins. They are neighbours who have lived side by side for centuries. Their ancestors were related. They shared hunting grounds. They drank from the same rivers. They shared the same market places. They married among themselves. Now they have nephews, cousins, uncles, grandmothers and grandfathers among themslesves. We, the people from Opari, are sometimes called by the Acholi Madi and the Madi call us Acholi. This is the same for people from Panyikwara. Because of the famine of 1945 the Madi communities have relatives beyond the Acholi of Sudan. We are related even with the Acholi of Uganda in Palabek, Parachele and Attiak. Our ancestors shared land and property, they danced together, they celebrated together and they married among themselves. My father called the Chief of Obbo, Aburi, a brother and till today we are related to families of Aburi. It is said that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Now we have greater relationships beyond natural relationships. We are Christians, brothers and sisters in Christ, children of God. We have greater reason for being peaceful. Respect and love one another. Share whatever God gave us. Let politics not disturb us. I look at this fight as twins fighting over the breast of their mother. They should not kill one another. The Sudan Catholic Bishops' Conference, meeting in Wau from 19th - 28th October 2011, has taken note of this conflict and wrote: "Even as we meet, a fresh conflict has broken out in Eastern Equatoria amongst the Madi and Acholi people. We call for restraint from all concerned to allow their problems to be resolved peacefully. We are aware of tensions over land and boundaries in many parts of South Sudan, and we call on government, traditional leaders, youth and all stakeholders to use peaceful and legal means to resolve these issues." [email protected] +249 955 094 202 +88 216 4333 2421 END2 ______________________ John Ashworth Sudan Advisor [email protected] +254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile) +249 919 695 362 (Sudan mobile) +27 82 853 3556 (South Africa mobile) +44 750 304 1790 (UK/international) +88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone) 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 [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.za/group/sudan-john-ashworth -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" 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/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
