Jonglei Leaders have failed our citizens to sustain peace and reconciliation
BY: Miyar De’Nyok, Calgary, Canada AUG. 26/2011, SSN; Dear Jonglei Leaders, I would love to open my letter to Jonglei leaders by quoting the late Jack Layton who says “my friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.” With this regard, I would like to offer my personal sincere and heartfelt condolences to the innocent families who have lost their dear ones since 2005. May God blessing rest upon their souls. It has been the saddest days in our State since 2005. There have been cycles of revenge without further improvement on the insecurity of our citizens. Thus, I would like to write this letter to members of Jonglei Legislative Assembly and MPs in the State capital, Juba. It is of no doubt that these cycle of conflicts and retaliatory events are fueled by so many problems such as poverty, lack of paved routes, lack of social and economic engagement with the local population, lack of youth engagement in education and the lists goes on but not limited. The worst of all is lack of leaders’ engagement in reconciliation in our respective communities; therefore, this has exacerbated and increased insecurity and lack development initiatives. The communities in Jonglei state have not been in peace while they don’t lack leaders. The question I would like to ask is: Why have the leaders failed to stand up and address these conflicts responsibly while they were elected to lead and solve problem for their citizens? The situation in the state will not be normalized unless the state finds a common ground to be fully engaged in a productive and peaceful sentiment and normalization. The participation of community leaders, state and national MPs in the state affairs will pave ways to a reconciliatory and peaceful negotiation in the state; hence, failure to do so will further widen the conflicts and the cycles of retaliatory will continue. The disadvantages created by these routinely attacks have so far resulted in the worst humanitarian crisis in the state. It has ingrained mistrust and ingratitude among fellow citizens and leaders themselves. The ramifications have now resulted in severe hunger, lack of development and have prevented non-governmental agencies as well as state government basic services to the most underprivileged areas in the state; thus, leaving development to be centered in Bor town only. Compassionately, it is mistakable for our people to die at this juncture when we have obtained our newest nation. We have functional parliaments both at state and national levels – where our elected MPs represent us. Do our leaders feel better by staying off the conflict? Or do they feel they are part of the problem facing citizens? Certainly, our leaders’ silence and reluctant engagement in solving the conflicts facing Jonglei citizens rest squarely at their disposal of responsibilities and accountabilities. The failure of Jonglei leadership is vividly surfaced by lack of proactive initiative to encourage peace, trust and reconciliation among state communities. Jonglei community conflicts have been instigated and driven by hunger-stricken and unemployment-opportunities to youths. The youths lack preoccupation, hence, they resort to the last alternative –which is cattle rustling. It is not even a viable activity since it is associated with theft and death. Addressing these pertaining issues require collective responsibilities and responsible leadership to guide and pivot the communities to a sustainable and productive peace. Our leaders must take the lead in leading our citizens to negotiable peace settlement. The leaders should educate local people especially youths –that cattle raiding are not viable nor vibrant source of income. But the alternative is peace and being responsible citizens –that is when they will have abundant opportunities such as development, education, health, clean drinking water and employment opportunities. I am also calling upon youths to refrain from these harmful engagements because these harmful engagements add no values to the needy and vulnerable members of our respective communities. We have caused intolerable suffering to ourselves by choosing the wrong paths instead of the right paths. We have refused to be responsible citizens; instead we turn to ourselves. These engagements on unproductive activities such as cattle theft and retaliation for the lost ones have become situational fears that will continue while we will continue to live as citizens of the same state. Is that not a shame to us and our leaders who share the same parliaments? The call for a state of emergency issued by the parliament of South Sudan is the beginning of taking responsibilities, but not sustainable solution. The Jonglei leaders need to formulate resolutions that will bring calm, hope and optimism to our citizens by ensuring that peace is in the midst of their communities. Finally, if love is better than anger, hope is better than fear, optimism is better than despair, why can we not love one another, be hopeful and optimistic to ourselves? It is better to be good citizens by doing the good than the bad. Our leaders must encourage productive leadership that will bring integrity and continuity of social justice, economic development and stability in our state. Normalizing state of conflict among our communities has now remained as the daunting task for our leaders to work on so that integrity and governance for all are secured. Most importantly, the inclusivity of all parties in conflict resolutions will be invaluable way to attain peace in the state. Thank you very much; Miyar De’Nyok: He is a concerned Jonglei citizen; you can reach him at [email protected] COMMENTS, PLEASE CLICK HERE Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author(s) and do not represent those of the website. -- 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.
