August 28, 2016(Nyamilepedia) —— JUBA—Auxiliary Bishop Santo Laku Pio, Catholic Archdiocese of Juba said Sunday in his speech at St. Theresa Catholic Cathedral, Kator that telling the truth and speaking about the suffering of the people of South Sudan has become risky. The bishop says people have become afraid to say the truth about atrocities in all parts of South Sudan in day and night hours.
In a message against war, the bishop also slammed warmongers, fighters and criminals, revealing that he had told the Pope on a recent visit to Rome that “the killers are in Juba” – a reference to the seat of government and the place where South Sudan’s civil war began. Most of our problems is telling lies instead of tell truth; there is corruption in this country, raping women, abducting children, molesting children, killing the innocents and constant robbery in South Sudan.
Jebel markets have been robbed by our army in uniform, there are killings on daily basis, properties are looted, many women are raped; burglary and so many atrocities are committed daily. Who has been doing these? Ordinary citizens are being killed every day, we know the people who have been because they are our sisters and brothers. Several women have been raped by government forces, Government says though the army denies when we know the reality because they are our sister, daughters, mothers and grandparents.
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Government has failed, the truth needs to be said. Government announced that court has been opened for those who are involved in raping, looting, killing, molestations of the children. Bishop Laku has asked how a brother can prosecute his brother or his sister in court, when all levels of court in South Sudan are part of the failed government.
“I Bishop will not stop telling this government is failing us and the government is a source of all inhumanity in all parts of South Sudan,” Laku said.
Bishop added that his life has been threatened by government security officials and has been receiving warning text messages.
The bishop pointed out that many South Sudanese have been subjected to imprisonment for speaking up.
“Many people are arrested and they are put inside there for one reason or another, sometimes without reason just because we are afraid of them they said something and you say, ‘No, this man is dangerous,’ you put him inside.”
Bishop Laku stressed that in our situation today no need to speak about the suffering of the people of South Sudan in the hands of their own brothers and sisters. Who is killing in Yambio? Who is killing in Wonduruba? Who is killing Awiel and Bentiu, who is killing in Southern Bari? Who is killing on the road to Raja, who is killing Bor, who is killing?
His Holiness says those who are doing these things be reminded that it is not good, it is not fair, it is not honorable, it is not acceptable because you are my brother and I am supposed to speak about you whether good or bad and you are supposed to hear and tell me that you have not spoken well I will say sorry but when you kill me, where will you find me again?”
He points out that it is not those you put in prison who are in prison, it is you who is in prison because you arrested them for nothing… It is not those who die that you have killed, it is you who is dead, and you are a moving corpse because you have killed your brother. You’re already guilty, you’re already condemned, you should ask for forgiveness and mercy.
“If you finish all the people of Eastern Equatoria because they do not cooperate with you, ok, now that they are finished what you gain, now that they are finished what next, what do you gain, what do you have? Any logical human person will think twice before committing an atrocity that you people are denying. But we told the Holy Father, we told him the truth that the killers are in Juba. You can take me to Jebel Kujur, it does not matter, I already spoke my mind.” he continued.
The bishop related further that while in the Vatican, he shared the situation of the Church with the Pope, explained to him the whole situation in the country and invited him to visit South Sudan. The bishop called on South Sudanese to be prophets of love and remain faithful to each other. He also criticized those who say they are ‘liberators’ but is full of hatred and seeking only power.
“Possessions, power are short-lived. You can have guns today but time will come when you will not be able to use that gun. You can be carrying artilleries today but time will come when that artillery will be heavy and you will put it down. We are watching – we shall see if some of us will be alive if you do not kill us before time.” He said.
He said he will continue to speak about our brothers and sisters in Protection of Civilian camps in United Nations Mission in South Sudan. I do think our sisters and brothers in POCs cells that they must be released from situation or bad conditions and this must be done by the Government.
“Why do we or does Government discriminate these people as they are not citizens of this country?” Laku questioned.
In this country is very opposite from the rest of the world; those who are thieves or robberies are rewarded and those who are clean and honesty pay the ultimate price. Family of honest person suffers from lack of necessities while the children of the family of robbers or corrupt people are sent overseas.
“We all as Christians and South Sudanese must keep on telling our government that they have failed us and let us be together with our sisters and brothers in UN Camps that one day and one time God will relieve them from that sufferings.”
