South Sudan’s Justice Minister John Luk Jok addressing a peace conference for the Greater Akobo held in the Jonglei State capital Bor.[Gurtong/Gabriel Mayom]
By Gabriel Mayom
BOR, 26 May 2012 [Gurtong] – South Sudan’s Justice Minister John Luk Jok has cautioned church leaders against politicising church activities instead of preaching messages of peace and development.
“The involvement of pastors in political activities is the root cause of all the divisions and conflicts among communities in the Greater Akobo”, he told a peace conference in the Jonglei State capital Bor.
He at the same time urged politicians to work together for peace regardless of their political affiliations.
“Reconciliation is the only way to unity and effective service delivery to the community and overall development of our country”, he said.
The Minister also cautioned Lou Nuer youth against spreading hate messaged through the internet, saying those nabbed will face the full force of the law.
The two-day peace and reconciliation conference for the Greater Akobo was attended by over 250 members of Greater Akobo Counties leadership consisting of National Minister of Justice, Information and Broadcasting, Ministers of the state, members of both National Legislature and State Assembly, elders, representatives of women, youth and intellectuals.
Jonglei State Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk and his deputy Hussein Maar Nyuot also attended the meeting.
The meeting of the three counties of Nyirol, Uror and Akobo ended Thursday with a number of resolutions.
The meeting discussed reconciliation and peace-building among political leaders and the people of Greater Akobo, support for peace in the Greater Akobo and Jonglei state in general and development matters.
At the meeting, the Presbyterian Church leadership was asked to fast track reconciliation in the church in the Greater Akobo.