PHASE I and II GOGRIAL STATE GRASSROOTS
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Peace is in our hands in Jesus names ‐ AMEN PHASE I and II GOGRIAL STATE GRASSROOTS PEACE INITIATIVE [GPI] ATTENDED BY: State Government Officials, Parliamentarians intellectuals, elders, community leaders, chiefs, sons and daughters of Gogrial State PURPOSE: To soul search and find a lasting solution to the conflict in Gogrial State. Mediated and funded by the Evangelical Presbyterian church under the leadership of Bishop Elias Taban and their partner His Voice Global USA under the leadership of Dr. Vernon Burger ------------------------------------------------ Prepared by: Hon. Denis LaSuba Paul Yei River County Commissioner& Secretary of the EPC Peace Desk Signed in Yei River State, South Sudan on August 4th2017 Gogrial State Grassroots Peace Initiative Page 1 Peace is in our hands in Jesus names - AMEN Background: Driven by the Church divine mandate 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, the Most Rev. Bishop Elias Taban Parangi and members of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC)-South Sudan left Yei for Juba in the early morning hour of July 7th, 2017 and spent the day with intellectuals, elders, community leaders, chiefs, sons and daughters of greater Gogrial at Home and Away to discuss and share the grievances and the continued conflict in Gogrial State. Introduction: The Most Rev Bishop Elias Taban Parangi was alerted by Major James Alor Majok, the Director of National Security in Yei River State on the urgent need to find a lasting peaceful solution to the community of greater Gogrial. Upon reflection on the matter, Bishop Elias Taban deemed the conflict in Gogrial State necessary for action, adding that it warrant an immediate Major James Alor Majok in red tie and urgent attention to avoid further disaster. The Bishop cautioned the sons and daughters of Gogrial State Grassroots Peace Initiative Page 2 Peace is in our hands in Jesus names ‐ AMEN greater Gogrial not to allow the enemies of South Sudan to say “it is the Dinka tribe killing each other”; while on the other hand the enemies of South Sudan would use the insecurity in Gogrial to create chaos out of it. It is based on this note that Bishop dispatched two elders of the Jeng community in Yei to Juba to extend his invitation to prominent leaders of greater Gogrial community for a consultative meeting. The invitation was extended to Hon. Machok Majong and Lieutenant General Salva Matok Geng. The two leaders did not waste time and immediately responded to the call on July 1st 2017 and were flown to Yei for the consultative meeting. In attendance of the consultative meeting were: Most Rev Bishop Elias Taban Parangi Chairman Elder Simon Lasuba, Evangelical Presbyterian Secretary Church Lieutenant General Salva Matok Geng Member Hon. Machok Majong Member James Alor Majok, Director of National Security Member Chief Dut Konping – Jeng Community Member Elder Santos Geng Matiang – Jeng Community Member Elder James Matur Machok – Jeng Community Member Gogrial State Grassroots Peace Initiative Page 3 Peace is in our hands in Jesus names ‐ AMEN The Gogrial community leaders who participated in the Consultative meeting were so thankful to Bishop Elias Taban for the timely intervention and resolved that: I. Bishop Elias Taban should call the sons and daughters of greater Gogrial to stop fighting each other immediately. II. Bishop Elias Taban to meet the intellectuals and leaders of greater Gogrial State to soul search and forge ways and means of ending the conflict. III. Bishop Elias Taban to invite the Governor of GogrialState for a consultative meeting on ending the conflict. IV. Bishop Elias Taban to meet the President of the Republic and share possibilities of ending the conflict. On July 7th 2017, 50 participants, mainly intellectuals, elders and leaders of greater Gogrial communities congregated at Home and Away in Juba to listen to the message of Bishop Elias Taban Parangi in line with resolutions number I and II of the consultative meeting. The eight (8) hour meeting was officially opened by a word of prayer by Elder Simon Lasuba. This was followed by some narratives from Lieutenant Gen. Salva Matok regarding previous peace efforts that were exerted by himself, the President of the Republic and other actors that yielded fruit but the peace didn’t last. The Bishop took the stage and thanked Gen. Salva Matok and Hon Machok Majong for expediting the road map for a sustainable lasting peace in Gogrial State. Gogrial State Grassroots Peace Initiative Page 4 Peace is in our hands in Jesus names ‐ AMEN The Bishop went onto say that the issue of greater Gogrial is a painful one at a personal level because many sons and daughters of Gogrial State sacrificed their lives during the liberation struggle and continue to sacrifice to serve the Country to date. Participants of Gogrial Community at Home and Away in Jubab The Bishop cautioned the sons and daughters of Gogrial State to watch out the enemies of South Sudan who want to use the conflict in Gogrial to create chaos in the Country. The Bishop and the church team further emphasized the need to leave the problems in Gogrial State to God because God alone can help us out of it and then underscored the grassroots approach to finding a viable solution to the problem facing the communities of Gogrial. Among other things the Bishop talked of service provision to the local communities if sustainable peace is to be achieved as well as Gogrial State Grassroots Peace Initiative Page 5 Peace is in our hands in Jesus names ‐ AMEN strategies that need to be employed to address challenges faced by retired army generals. Leaders of Gogrial State at EPC – Yei listening to presentation The Bishop cited an example of how the Church in partnership with Water is Basic – USA drilled boreholes to Awiel Communities so that there was enough water for home and animal consumption which was a solution to conflicts created due to storage of such a service. Finally, the Bishop declared the Church’s commitment to work with the communities of Gogrial State to bring a sustainable and lasting peace. The floor was opened to the sons and daughters of greater Gogrial where common ground to resolve the current crises, security issues, immediate need for relief assistance, and the need to address the conflict in Gogrial State was discussed. The sons and daughters of Gogrial State further expressed commitment to achieve lasting Gogrial State Grassroots Peace Initiative Page 6 Peace is in our hands in Jesus names ‐ AMEN peace in Gogrial State and agreed to the immediate need to end the conflict by adoption of the following resolutions: i. Sons and daughters of greater Gogrial want a sustainable and lasting peace in Gogrial State. ii. Sons and daughters of greater Gogrial: the intellectuals, elders and leaders came forward in confession to the almighty God to speak nothing but the truth and the Bishop prayed over them. iii. Bishop Elias Taban to find time and urgently meet with the Governor of Gogrial State to discuss possibilities of ending the conflict. iv. Chief Nhial Chan Nhial and others resolved that Bishop Elias Taban should take all sons and daughters of greater Gogrial intellectuals who are in Juba to Kwajok to solve the conflict of greater Gogrial there. v. Security arrangements need to be established in Gogrial State before Bishop and the community of greater Gogrial could go to Kwajok. vi. Army division is required at the border between the community of greater Gogrial and the Community of Bentiu before any disarmament could take place. The meeting was officially closed with Prayer and an execution of resolution number II by Bishop Elia Taban Parangi at 3:00 PM. The participants who attended the meeting were recorded as follows: Gogrial State Grassroots Peace Initiative Page 7 Peace is in our hands in Jesus names ‐ AMEN S/No NAME TITLE COUNTY SIGNATURE 1. Gen Achuil Tito Madut Kuac North 0956828888 2. Gen Henry Kuany Aguar Awan Pajok 0920055880 3. Thiik Thiik Mayardit Apuk 0922226605 4. Bona Bak Nyang Apuk 0915716703 5. Gen Kuot Deng Apuk 0913121273 6. Chol Agoth Deng Awan Rian 0955213333 7. Dut Baak Wol Awan Rian 0959002560 8. Kuan Joseph Nyong Awan Pajok 0956111159 9. Hon Akoon Ding Athian MP TNLA Apuk 0914891810 10. Wol Maya Ariec Ambassador Kuac South 0954126685 11. Baak Nalentio Akol Wol Ambassador Awan Rian 0957107028 12. Hon Machek Majong Kuac North 0955609800 13. Hakir Hai Thiep Alek Centre 0912222666 14. Nyal Chan Nayal Akon South 0911111448 15. Achol Cyier Rechan Akon South 0954666931 16. Marko Deng Wal Kuac South 0955538664 17. Jackson Akot Majok Kuac South 0956616111 18. Akol Ayii Madut Kuac South 0955505854 19. Aken Akok Mawen Aguok South 0955743388 20. Atong Ayii Madut Kuac South 0956085095 21. Tong Majok Daall Auok Centre 0955405200 22. William Wol Mayuol Aguok Akon South 0958888924 23. Debg Debg Duor Apuk South 0955757575 24. Madut Achil Atre 25. Mavac Kuot Apuk East 0926433334 26. Bona Bok Malith Apuk 0922237811 Gogrial State Grassroots Peace Initiative Page 8 Peace is in our hands in Jesus names ‐ AMEN 27. James Aluak Malong Awan 0928670009 28. Deng Akech Deng Aguok 0955166428 29. Peter Ngor Mou Aguok South 0956033748 30. Bol Deng Akeen Apeck east 0956237440 31. Bak Anyan Apuk 0955349071 32. Makuc Makuc Kuoe South 0955313941 33. Bona Bak Nyang MP 34. Gen Achuil Tito Maduk D/Co-Idr 35. Rachel Nyadk Paul Advisor 36. Kuot Deng Kuot MP 37. Chol Agoth Deng Member 38. Gen Agasio Akol Tong Advisor Awank Pajok 0954538834 39. James Alor Majok YRS D NSS Turalei/Twic 0955222233 40. Hon Machok Majong 41. Gev Salva Matok Geng 42. Elder Santos Geng Matiang 43. James Matur Machok 44. Elder Simon Lasuba EPC 45.