SOUTH SUDAN: Archbishop of Juba Calls For Government Action on Murderers in Kaji-kaji
Archbishop of Juba Archdiocese Stephen Ameyu Martin
Ginaba Lino
Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin has called on the government of South Sudan to apprehend the culprits killed about 21 people in Kaji-Kaji County last week.
The Archbishop of Juba says the government of South Sudan to take serious steps to apprehend the killers and put them to law.
“We send our message of sympathy and condolences to the families, relatives and friends of the diseased. We the Catholic Bishops ask the government of South Sudan to take serious steps to apprehend the killers and put them to law because no killing is justifiable.”
Archbishop Ameyu adds that the national government should respond to the killing because the responsibility of security is on government.
“We are saddened when people are killed and people keep silent because the responsibility of security is on the government, the protection of the people is on the government so the government should be the first to come out and see what had happen.
Most Rev. Ameyu regrets the killing in Kaji-kaji when the South Sudanese were in preparation of welcoming the Holy Father Pope Francis.
“While we were waiting for the arrival of the Holy Father Pope Francis from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), we were saddened to hear about the brutal murder of twenty people or so in Kaji-Kaji town, we deeply regret the killing of the innocent people in their locality and condemn the act.”
Since 2017, the question of friction between cattle keepers and famers has been going on until President made a decree for the cattle keepers to take their animals to their locality, but still there is no step taken, Archbishop Ameyu adds.”
He also calls on Government to quickly respond to the ongoing conflict at the border of South Sudan and Kenya and recommends that cattle keepers be stationed in a specific place to avoid conflict across South Sudan.
I know the visit of the Holy Father has an impact in community, at least in attitude, we hope that the community of South Sudan should change by the great historic event, he adds.
He appeals to South Sudanese to changes their attitude toward peace and reconciliation.
On Sunday 04 February 2023 calls for laying down weapons of hatred and take up prayer and charity.
His Holiness Pope Francis who have spent three (3) days in South Sudan made the call in his homily to South Sudanese at John Garang Mausoleum in Juba.
“Let us lay down the weapons of hatred and revenge, in order to take up those of prayer and charity.”
He appealed to the South Sudanese to overcome hatred, pitting tribes and ethnic groups against each other.
“Let us overcome the dislikes and that over time have become chronic and risk pitting tribes and ethnic groups against one another.”
He advised South Sudanese to learn how to apply the salt of forgiveness to their wounds.
“Let us learn to apply the salt of forgiveness to our wounds; salt burns but it also heals. Even if our hearts bleed for the wrongs we have suffered, let us refuse, once and for all, to repay evil with evil, and we will grow healthy within.”
He said, salt has been a symbol of wisdom and the people of South Sudan should be the salt that gives good test.
“Dear brothers and sisters, I pray that you will be salt that spreads, dissolves and seasons South Sudan with the fraternal taste of the Gospel.”
His Holiness quoted a reading from the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 5:13-14) describing how important is salt to human life.
