Activist urges political leaders to work for peace during independence eve

The Executive director for the Center for Peace and Advocacy, Ter Manyang Gatwech has urged the political leaders to actively work towards ending conflicts, safeguarding and advancing human rights in the country.
Ter Manyang Gatwech, the executive director of CPA

By Benjamin Takpiny

The Executive director for the Center for Peace and Advocacy, Ter Manyang Gatwech has urged the political leaders to actively work towards ending conflicts, safeguarding and advancing human rights in the country.

 “It is high time for South Sudan’s leaders to chart a new course for the country. They must actively work towards ending conflicts, safeguarding and advancing human rights, fulfilling the promises made in the peace agreements they signed, and embarking on the challenging task of nation-building that they envisioned during the decades-long struggle for independence,”  Manyang  said in a statement issued on the eve of the 13th independence anniversary on Tuesday in Juba.

Manyang strongly urged political leaders to translate the gains of  independence into practical realities such as peaceful coexistence, economic prosperity, quality education and healthcare, food security, provision of social services, respect for and promotion of human rights, development of infrastructure, and a stable and secure South Sudan for all.

He noted that without these crucial elements the independence celebrations would remain symbolic and devoid of meaning.

Manyang called upon the transitional government, international community, religious and civil society leaders, journalists, educators, health workers, and activists to come together and collaborate in building an inclusive, equitable, and democratic South Sudan.

He said that on July 9th, 2011 the South Sudanese celebrated with hope and optimism of achieving their long-awaited goal of independence, justice, equality, and the rule of law.

“Unfortunately, after more than a decade of independence, the South Sudanese have little to show for their hard-fought freedom, as millions of people continue to suffer in extreme poverty,” Manyang said.

He noted that the country is worse off than before independence, with political instability, a severe economic crisis, mass displacement, intense communal violence, human rights violations, extreme food insecurity, natural disasters, and widespread corruption among the political elites.

“These challenges have shattered the dream of a peaceful, democratic, just, and equitable South Sudan,” Manyang said.

He said that the transitional unity government has shown neither the capability nor the commitment to address the significant challenges faced by the South Sudanese.

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