{"id":969,"date":"2014-01-24T12:09:00","date_gmt":"2014-01-24T12:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/2014\/01\/24\/amecea-statement-from-amecea-on-curren\/"},"modified":"2016-05-03T09:41:06","modified_gmt":"2016-05-03T09:41:06","slug":"amecea-statement-from-amecea-on-curren","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/2014\/01\/24\/amecea-statement-from-amecea-on-curren\/","title":{"rendered":"AMECEA: A STATEMENT FROM AMECEA ON THE CURRENT CRISIS IN SOUTH SUDAN"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\u201cI HAVE WITNESSED THE AFFLICTION OF MY PEOPLE AND HAVE
\nHEARD THEIR CRY\u201d (Exodus 3:7):  An Appeal for Immediate Cessation of
\nHostilities and a Rediscovery of the sense of Nationhood in South Sudan <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

STATEMENT OF ASSOCIATION OF MEMBER
\nEPISCOPAL CONFERENCES IN EASTERN AFRICA ON THE CURRENT CRISIS IN SOUTH SUDAN<\/b><\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n Preamble<\/b><\/div>\n
\nWe,
\nthe Catholic leaders in the Eastern Africa Region, under the umbrella body of
\nthe Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa, AMECEA,
\n(with membership of the national Episcopal Conferences of: Ethiopia, Eritrea,
\nKenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia), have listened
\nand watched with a lot of pain and grief the current happenings in the young nation
\nof South Sudan. We wish to condole with all those families who have lost their
\nloved ones in the current crisis. We pray for the repose of the souls of those
\nwho have lost their lives. Our prayers are also very close to those who have
\nbeen injured, displaced and lost their properties.<\/p>\n

Inspired
\nby the words that Almighty God used when He addressed Moses after seeing the
\nafflictions of the Israelites, and conscious of our mandate as religious
\nleaders, we wish to express our solidarity with the people of South Sudan and speak
\nto all those who are involved in any way in the current situation by using
\nthese words of St. Paul: \u201cWe are ambassadors for Christ; it is as
\nthough God were appealing through us, and the appeal that we make in Christ\u2019s
\nname is\u2026\u201d <\/i>(2 Cor. 5:20):<\/i><\/b> <\/i>let
\nthere be an immediate cessation of hostilities and let the people of South
\nSudan rediscover the sense of nationhood.<\/b><\/p>\n

As
\nwe make this appeal, we must appreciate a number of historical facts that are
\nin the hearts of the people of South Sudan.<\/p>\n

1.      That the South Sudanese are a people whose history has
\nbeen marked with a long protracted struggle for independence that lasted for
\nnearly sixty years. During these dark years, virtues like courage, perseverance
\nand endurance were witnessed among the South Sudanese. However, we also
\nacknowledge that the liberation wars left wounds and scars that may not have
\nbeen fully healed.<\/p>\n

2.      Throughout the liberation struggles the South Sudanese
\nwere united in fighting for the liberation of a nation, not just for their tribes
\nor ethnic groupings. This unity is a core value that should ring in the minds
\nof all the people of South Sudan and especially the warring parties in the
\non-going political conflict. Indeed South Sudan is bigger than any individual
\nor any ethnic grouping.<\/p>\n

3.      It should also be reemphasized that the struggle
\ninvolved the South Sudanese as a people. Hence the liberation and independence
\nof South Sudan should never be looked at as solely military success! It is the
\nSouth Sudanese as a people who were fighting for liberation. It therefore means
\nthat every effort should be made to avoid the militarization of the management
\nand day to day running of the affairs of South Sudan. At this critical time
\nespecially, it is important to involve all stakeholders in the peace talks that
\nare aimed at finding a lasting solution to the current crisis.<\/p>\n

4.      It is also of paramount importance to recall here
\nthat, in the struggles of the people of South Sudan for their independence, the
\nChurch played a very crucial role. We specifically refer to the contribution of
\nthe Church in bringing about reconciliation between different factions within
\nthe SPLM\/A. The Church also contributed a lot in provision of essential
\nservices and putting up structures for such services. As it stands all these
\nfacilities risk destruction.<\/p>\n

5.      With gratitude to God, we appreciate the fact that
\nSouth Sudan is predominantly Christian; hence the common bond of baptism should
\ncreate a sense of true brotherhood and help the South Sudanese to desist from
\nnegative ethnicity and tribalism. In this spirit of brotherhood, we admire the
\nstrong ecumenical bond that has existed between the different churches in South
\nSudan. It is in the unity of the prophetic voice of the Church leaders that the
\npeople were inspired to find their identity as one united people of South
\nSudan. We liken this prophetic role of the church leaders to the role Moses
\nplayed in the struggles that the people went through. This spiritual
\naccompaniment of any nation is so important that whenever it is overlooked
\nthings are never the same. We therefore ask the people of South Sudan a few
\nquestions: Where is that prophetic voice? Where is the role of religious
\nleaders in the current peace talks and negotiations? Since the voice of the
\nChurch is the voice of God, can the warring parties and all the people of South
\nSudan hearken to this voice which is clear: God wants peace for His people,
\nno more hostilities and bloodshed!<\/i><\/b> And again, God says: \u201cDepart
\nfrom evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it\u201d <\/i><\/b>(Ps. 34:14).<\/p>\n

6.    
\n<\/b>With
\nthe inauguration of South Sudan as the youngest nation in the world and the
\ncelebrations that marked its independence in July 2011, there was jubilation
\nand hope. These celebrations offered a greater challenge and responsibility
\ntowards nation building. Indeed after attaining their independence, the South
\nSudanese embarked on a common journey as one nation and one people united by a
\ncommon destiny and hope regardless of their diverse backgrounds.<\/p>\n

Our Anguish<\/b><\/div>\n

\nIn
\nfulfilling our mandate as religious leaders in Eastern Africa, we have always
\nprayed to Almighty God that South Sudan which is part of the membership of our
\nAssociation becomes a cradle of peace, unity and prosperity. Above all our
\nprayer is that South Sudan remains a God fearing nation. As we learned of the
\nsad and painful events that started on 15th December 2013, we felt sorry for
\nthe people of South Sudan. We are deeply aggrieved to watch the violence, the
\nkillings, displacements and other injustices that are reported! We are
\nconcerned with the fact that what started as a political crisis is quickly
\nturning into an ethnic crisis.<\/p>\n

We
\nhave read statements from Church leaders in South Sudan \u2013 we feel with them and
\njoin them in their sorrow; we join hands with them in the struggle to give
\nconcrete humanitarian assistance to many of the displaced people who have
\nflocked to church premises seeking refuge. We acknowledge and appreciate all
\nthe organizations which have already partnered with the local Church in South
\nSudan in offering humanitarian assistance to those who have been hit hard by
\nthe current crisis.<\/p>\n

Now
\nit is more than a month since this crisis started! While appreciating the
\nefforts being made by the regional stakeholders and the wider international
\ncommunity in bringing peace, we are saddened by the slow pace which the peace
\ntalks in Addis Ababa are taking. We are further saddened by the fact that the
\nwarring parties are still holding firm to their conditions. In all these we
\nurge the parties concerned to realise one bitter fact: innocent people are
\nbeing killed, people are being displaced, the rights of the people are being
\nabused, property is being destroyed; South Sudan is bleeding! All these have a
\nbearing on the social, economic, political and religious spheres of South
\nSudan.<\/p>\n

Our Appeal<\/b><\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n1.      As Church leaders concerned about the peoples of South
\nSudan we appeal for immediate and
\nunconditional cessation of all hostilities<\/b> in the entire country of South
\nSudan. We believe in the fact that peace is a value that all must seek and a
\nuniversal duty founded on a rational moral order of society.<\/p>\n

2.    
\n<\/b>We
\nalso appeal to the concerned parties, the regional stakeholders and the
\ninternational community to ensure that corridors
\nfor humanitarian access to the displaced populations are opened and security
\nprovided for those offering emergency services. Let the international community
\nknow that there is a moral obligation to intervene on behalf of the many people
\nin South Sudan whose very survival is threatened and whose basic human rights
\nare seriously violated. <\/b>This situation demands for an immediate response.<\/p>\n

3.    
\n<\/b>We
\nappeal for the expansion of the table of
\nnegotiations<\/b>. It is our belief that this process should not be politicised.
\nRather, all the stakeholders should be involved so that the underlying issues
\nto the South Sudan crisis can be addressed for a lasting peace.<\/p>\n

4.    
\n<\/b>We
\nappeal to the warring parties in the
\ncurrent crisis and all the politicians to soften their positions in the
\ninterest of saving lives. <\/b>We strongly advocate for the protection of the
\nright to life and the dignity of the human person. Human life is sacred and
\ntherefore no one has the right to take it (Ex. 20:13). As Church leaders, we
\nbelieve that true peace can only be made
\npossible through dialogue, forgiveness and reconciliation<\/b>. At the same time
\nwe are aware that these three do not eliminate the need for justice and as well
\nthey do not block the path to truth. Hence we encourage that the solution to
\nthe crisis should also lead to a roadmap that will bring about truth and
\njustice and healing in South Sudan.<\/p>\n

5.    
\n<\/b>We
\nurge the nations of the world to support the initiative of Caritas Internationalis <\/i>and all other organizations involved in
\nproviding humanitarian and relief services.<\/p>\n

6.    
\n<\/b>Finally,
\nwe urge all Christians around the world to pray for a lasting solution to the
\ncrisis in South Sudan and the fruit of lasting peace and unity in South Sudan.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/b><\/div>\n

\nWe,
\nthe Catholic Church leaders in Eastern Africa, make this statement as a sign of
\nsolidarity with the people of South Sudan. We urge all people who are involved
\nin the current crisis to listen to this message. Let all remember that true
\npeace is a gift from God. <\/p>\n

We
\nentrust the people of South Sudan to the intercession of Mary, Our Lady Queen
\nof Peace and Queen of Africa.<\/p><\/div>\n

\n<\/b> <\/div>\n
\n<\/b> <\/div>\n
\n<\/b> <\/div>\n
\nSigned: Most Rev Tarcisio G. ZIYAYE                             Date 23 January
\n2014<\/b><\/div>\n
\n                  CHAIRMAN -AMECEA<\/b><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n <\/b><\/div>\n
\n<\/em>
\nSOURCE: AMECEA Social Communications Office<\/em><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n <\/b><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n            <\/b><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cI HAVE WITNESSED THE AFFLICTION OF MY PEOPLE AND HAVE HEARD THEIR CRY\u201d (Exodus 3:7): …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/969","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=969"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/969\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3484,"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/969\/revisions\/3484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}