Jonglei Diaspora Forum for Peace and Reconciliation held in Australia:
Recommendations
Written by John Adoor Deng, The New Sudan Vision (NSV),
www.newsudanvision.com
Friday, 03 February 2012 23:10
Jonglei Diaspora Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in Australia (JDPR)
BRISBANE, Australia - Moved and tormented by the continuing conflicts
in Jonglei state, South Sudan, members of Jonglei Communities in the
diaspora held a peace forum on 27th January 2012 in Brisbane,
Australia. This forum (JDPR) was attended by a considerable number of
ethnic leaders, representatives, priests and intellectuals of Jonglei
state. As first of its kind, the aims of the forum were well
articulated as follows:
1- To bring people of Jonglei in the Diaspora around the table
and urge them to add their voices in the call for peace, harmony,
unity and reconciliation in the state.
2- To gather ideas gearing to the whole notion of stopping
conflicts in the highly populated state of Jonglei in South Sudan
3- To cement and consolidate effort for peace within the Diaspora
Jonglei State Communities such that the conflicts taking place at home
are not in away transferred to local living in Australia
4- To mobilise resources and connections, expertise and create
relationships with organisations that are working for peace efforts in
Jonglei State.
The members of the forum were privileged to receive two visiting
sons of Jonglei state as guests during the proceedings. These were
Ambassador Dhano Obongo, current Director of National Resources, in
the Ministry of Foreign affairs, Republic of South Sudan and Mr
Gatkuoth Simon, current Director General of Education, Ministry of
Education, Jonglei State. The context of discussion was centred on
defining the role of the Diaspora members to the conflict and
providing suggestions for a solution to current conflicts. This
intellectually intensive discussion gave birth to the following
recommendations:
Short terms
1.There is need to integrate cattle raiding communities through
sharing of pastures, living in proximity with each other and,
encouraging the notion of coming together to celebrate common national
events.
2.Conduct alternative disarmament in form of exchanging guns with some
thing else such as money or kind. It is noted that guns are used by
these communities for multiple functions. It is therefore a big loss
to them for the gun to go uncompensated.
3.Assemble ethnic leaders, cattle camps leaders, religion leaders and
leaders of young youths of Nuer, Dinka Bor and Murle to a peace forum
that are facilitated by peace and conflict professionals
4.Jonglei State government to create meaningful activities and
programmes that would engage loitering and workless youths in the
state.
5.Both Jonglei State and Federal governments to build camps of
security forces at strategic places so as to deter unwanted or
suspected movement of people between these current conflicting
communities .
Long term
6.Churches to embark on evangelism and spread the word of God to these
communities so that the love of God is brought to the lives of these
communities.
7.The Republic of South Sudan to invest in health infrastructure in
infertility societies such as the Murle. If parents don't have
children of their own it is believed that they will want other
people’s children to be abducted to them.
8.The governments of both the State and Federal to integrate workers
such that employees are posted to other communities as this will
create harmony, and suppress the fear of unknown
9.The Media is to be diversified into local languages such that all
members from the grass root have access to the information.
In conclusion, the forum believe that these recommendations if well
followed , can bring about peace, harmony, reconciliation and unity
that we are thirsty for in Jonglei State. As members of the Diaspora,
we shall play our part in acting on some of these recommendations.
Attendees at the forum were: Community
Mr. John Deng Yakuach Nuer
Mr. Chol Aleu Angok Dinka Bor
Mr. Francis Ajow Dinka Atar
Mr. Omot Ojwado Anyuak
Mr. Malual Aleer Deng Dinka Bor
Mr. Majok Akech Keer Dinka Bor
Mr. Jacob Aboui Garang Dinka Bor
Mr. Nagua Phonia Anyuak
Mrs. Regina N Jueny Dinka Atar
Mr. Samuel Ndwanga Anyuak
Mrs. Sabir Younis Anyuak
Mrs. Awar Omanomot Anyuak
Mrs. Nyanchuol Ruben Nuer
Mr. Gakeer Dut Ajak Dinka Bor
Mr. Monytowg Chol Dinka Atar
Mr. Garang Arok Adol Dinka Bor
Mr. Samuel Agolory Anyuak
Mr. Orik Obonno Anyuak
Mrs. Rachel Abuk Maker Dinka Bor
Mr. David Anyang Reng Dinka Bor
Mr. Amb: Dhano Obongo Anyuak
Mr. Gatkuoth Simon Nuer
Mr.Bior Bul Dinka
Mr. Kuir Bior Dinka Bor
Mr. Moses Mayan Nuer
Mr. John Adoor Deng Dinka Bor
This forum was moderated by John Adoor Deng, member of Jonglei
Community Brisbane Australia and initiator of Jonglei Diaspora Forum
for Peace and Reconciliation (JDPR). He can be reached at email:
[email protected] e-mail address is being protected from
spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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