South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has held a dialogue between the military and civilians in Liwolo Payam, Kajo-Keji County of Central Equatorial State.
The Three- day dialogue which brought together 50 participants from civilian and military aimed at strengthening the relationship between the two groups.
The dialogue was mediated by the Bishop of Liwowo Episcopal Church of South Sudan and the Director of Peace Building Kajokeji.
Bishop Joseph Aba of Liwowo Episcopal Church of South Sudan said the dialogue discussed grievances and broke 7 years gap of misunderstanding and lack of trust between the civilians and soldiers in Liwolo payam.
“This has brought a lot of hope that finally there is a bridge being built, a bridge between civilians and soldiers and they are able to shake hands and I was able to hear joyful songs that finally the peace and water have met together,” said Aba.
Aba who was the lead mediator of the dialogue said the dialogue enabled civilians and soldiers to shake hands, build confidence, trust and agreed to work together for peaceful co-existence.
“I am so humble that we are able to reach this fare today and that we are able to bring hope to our people and me honestly CEPO for making this possible,” he said.
Amos Peri, Director of peace building in kajo-keji said the dialogue will have positive impact among civilians and military, adding that both will work to develop resolution to break gaps and differences.
“In the dialogue, we had already discussed all the gaps that exist between civilians of Liwolo and the military and we are going to work together to bridge the gap through the resolutions which we are soon going to sign together,” Peri said.
Peri said one of the important mechanisms is to have one commander in the area as he called on peace partners CEPO and RTFS to continue supporting peace dialogues.
“The resolution is going to become a working tool that will help people of Liwolo of Kajo-Keji and Central Equatoria State in general and one of the resolutions that I feel and I think will really help us is the mechanism to bring the two forces of the SSPDF and SPLA-IO together,” he said.
Rejina Itta Gordon, Women Association leader said women of Liwolo are peaceful people and they need peaceful environment.
“I believed after the dialogue soldiers will not forcefully take or rap women in the area.Hope this peaceful dialogue will bring positive impact towards peaceful co-existence between women and military,” said Rejina.
The peace dialogue initiative is being implemented by CEPO, RSRTC PROJECT, and the United Nations Multi-partners Trust Fund.
