From: ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News
BY JOSEPH ADERO NGALA
NAIROBI-KENYA
FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011
As the world welcomed the birth of South Sudan, we should not forget people and heroes who played a critical role in bringing peace and stability between the north and south. In particular we want to pay tribute to some of the silent voices such as Father Carroll Houle MM, Renato Kizito, Comboni missionary, Michael Schultheise, Jesuit priest, emeritus Bishop Taban Paride, and late father Bill Knipe MM.
Others are Father Tom Tesconia MM, who spent a night in my house tying to negotiate with one war Lord from South Sudan, Rev Sam Kobia, former secretary General of World Council of Churches who was my co-chairman during the negations when the two faction split. We also pay tribute to Father Tom Mantica, MM.
As Father Carroll Houle once said “Peace is a process- it is something you cannot see its results immediately. It requires resources, commitment and cooperation between churches, religious communities and the government”.
Among Sudanese church personnel who contributed much to the liberation by shedding their blood include Father Lino Sebit from Torit Catholic Diocese. Lino was ordained priest on 20th April 1997,and just a little more than a year after being ordained to the priesthood, he was arrested in Khartoum along with Father Hillary Boma and 23 others, and falsely accused of having participated in series of bombing in the capital a month earlier.
He was held with Father Boma for a year, beaten and tortured before being released. The case was reported as clear violation of human rights by the UN, the US department both priests were taken to Germany for recuperation.
Father Hillary has never been able to return to Sudan. Lino returned 2000 to take on the role ass vocation director and Vice rector of Kocoa minor seminary, Prior to his appointment as Vice Rector he served at Narus in the parish of St Joseph the worker.
Although he was physically and psychologically health, he had been permanently affected by the experience of torture and imprisonment. He died on September 29, 2008, apparently from complications related to malaria from suffering he had experienced ten years earlier.
This makes his death a form of martyrdom, since his captivity and torture were motivated by the Khartoum government’s antipathy to the church and desire to silence her objections to its oppressive policies and activities.
Earlier in 1960 Father Santurino Lohure a diocesan priest of Torit diocese shed his blood for the liberation of the people of south Sudan. After his death Father Lepoldo Anyua took his place but was later killed and all their remains have been returned back to the diocese for formal burial. Father Saturino Lohure who was to be made bishop but he preferred to support the Sudanese rebels to assist them spiritually and give them courage and guidance, he later became a member of parliament of Khartoum before dictatorship and later escape in exile.
The journey to south Sudan war was long and treacherous one, one that saw millions of Sudanese loose their lives and properties. Organizations that worked tirelessly towards peace in South Sudan include People for Peace in Africa, a voluntary organization that does not have full time staff all staff but has good will.
Since Father Joachim Omolo Ouko, a member of the Apostles of Jesus joined People for Peace in Africa in June 2000-within that short period he has done a lot towards peace in South Sudan. His heart is more in South Sudan than his country Kenya. Many people have been confusing him as a Sudanese. He has reported about Sudan since then and participated in peace negotiations and healing, both in Kenya and inside Sudan.
The joy however, is that after decades of brutal and marginalization, the people of South Sudan have finally gained their independence. The historic event during the formal declaration of independence in Juba was culmination of bigger struggle saw-by some estimates-up to two million people consigned to early graves as thousands of others fled to exiles in neighboring countries including Uganda, Kenya Tanzania, Zaire, Ethiopia.
After People for peace in Africa started the process as other organization got involved, headed by Father Carroll Houle, native of Minnesota who felt that there was an need to star t organizing workshop for Sudanese Women and the youths, he felt at that time that the only way to have dialogue he influenced a number of religious congregations to start assisting both the wearing factions of Sudanese people liberation movements.
While Father Houle is one of the silence voices in our mist, we should not forget those people who contribute like Father Edward Dougherty MM, the current Maryknoll Superior general, Father Tom McDonald who inspired many Sudanese by giving trauma and healing workshop in Torit diocese on Palm Sunday together with Father Joachim Omolo Ouko AJ a courageous Kenyan priest who has ventured into many dangerous spots of Africa.
Father Ouko who gets his courage from Jesus Christ who suffered in liberating God’s people is convinced that such challenges are for the glory of God. Like Father Ouko, Father Ken Thesing MM, who worked with refugees in South Sudan after signing of the comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) courageously, prepared many for resettlement.
Also not to be forgotten is Ambassador Bethwel Kiplagat, a friend of People for Peace in Africa who actually approached us to start the faction negation a man many people hailed as a really ambassador for peace if there is anything to go with he is the man that could claim a lot mileage on Sudan. He brought the issue on Sudan to be known beyond the boundaries.
With prayers things became rather very easy tension was reducing as fate would have it, was here in Kenya that at last the war-wearing Sudanese people agreed to sign the CPA that finally brought about a semblance of peace to that war-ravage country, the political divorce that saw the birth of the 54th Africa country.
Despite Euphoria, security and the ‘Curse of oil’ will continue to hang over the worlds 193rd state like the Sword of Democle as it learns to take the first baby steps of nationhood.
A Kenya writer puts it that-a plethora of unfinished business will almost certainly continue to plague the new state. The difficulties birth of the new state following the inevitable split between the Arabanised and Islamist north and the largely Christian and animist south, was mixture of sadness and joy that the south was finally free from oppression and trauma of splitting Africans erstwhile largest nation. The midwives will certainly have to be wakeful to ensure they don’t throw away the baby with the bath water before giving it back to the mother.
In many meetings and interview with Dr John Garang in the bush and before he died l don’t believe he would like to see Sudan divided however he kept that as his personal weapon until he died. But the split come in because the south always had demanded for the separation even when l co chaired the factions split with Rev Sam Kobi already here were some sign in our negotiation that most of the factions were queued for separation.
During our negotiation with factions the history of the SPLA was brought on the table by both faction both main SPLA and the Nassir faction for us to understand the dynamics one of the them was to learn how the SPLA was formed- in 1972 when there was ceasefire after the President Gaffar Muhammed Numeriry agreed to grant conditional autonomy to the south.
Many of the current Minsters including President Salva Kiir was there when the agreement was repeatedly flouted, and war at Dr John Garang’s side when they told their people that time had come to go back to the bush to make one last heave for freedom.
The Commander of the south forces was passed from Major Kerubino Kuanyin Bol to Dr John Garang with the word uttered on May 13, 1983 that is well known to all member of the SPLA. ‘’Garang the son of my mother have you come?’” Major Kerubino posed.
“Take over the command from here Chagain my work is finished give me something to drink and let’s celebrate the start of the revolution. Kerubino was one of the war veterans whose fighting record stretches back to the 1950s were not fortunate enough to live to witness the achievement of the dream.
With my experiences of reporting Africa what Salva Kiir should now do is not to antagonize the north even as he builds bridges with other neighbors. He should be careful not to go the way of Eritrea after it split with Ethiopia, nor follow the example of East Timor.
South should use its independence to nurture mutual ties based on respect with the north as soon as possible. For starters, Kiir should not chase away northerners who wish to remain in the south and vise verse.
He should also borrow a leaf from Rwanda’s book and seriously consider joining the East African Community to create an even bigger trading bloc for the benefit of the entire region. No doubt the Sudanese have learnt their lesson and seen the futility of war. And, therefore, pending disputes like that of Nuba Mountains whose inhabitants fought a bush war alongside SPLA for secession but who are now remaining in the north, must be solved amicably.
South Kordofan, Darfur and Blue Nile conflict hotspots and oil rich enclave of Abyei must not be used by enemies of Sudan to re-ignite animosity and fresh fighting. North and south should exploit diversity for the common good.
Peace in Sudan will definitely benefit the entire region immensely. And to give the devil his due, US should consider lifting sanctions against Khartoum whose leader agreed to let go the south albeit unwillingly.
People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya
Tel 254-20-4441372
Website: www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org