Kiir asked to recognize December 15 as national day

A tank patrols along one of the main roads in the South Sudanese capital Juba Monday December 16, 2013 [Photo by RUETERS]

JUBA – A local rights organization has asked President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s government to recognize December 15, the day Nuer civilians were killed in December 13 sparking the civil war, as a national Day.

The Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), a Juba-based rights organization, said in a statement extended to Sudans Post that that the 2013 fighting in Juba has engulfed the nation and urged President Salva Kiir Mayardit to recognize it as a national day.

“The Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) the seven years from the sad event that engulfed South Sudan, citizens keep holding their breath about the uncertainty of the future.  A political wrangling‘s consequences were borne by the innocent citizens across South Sudan but most notably in the capital Juba where civilians were massacred, raped, maimed and inhumanely tortured, and as a results , hundreds of  thousands lost their lives for duration of five days,” the statement said.

“It is against this backdrop that the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) is calling on the Government to Recognize December 15 as a National Day as a remembrance and promise never to go down that path again in the history of South Sudan,” it added.

The statement further added: “It’s true that, we can never revers the past, but we can learn from it.  Not recognizing this day and turning a blind eye to it means that, the people of South Sudan will continue to live in constant denials of their bitter past, here providing a cycle of the same.

“CPA deeply regrets the intransigent of the parties to implement the R-ARCSS in letter and spirit. This is the very reason, seven years down the line, the victims of 2013 conflict are still helplessly crying for Peace and Justice that has never been forthcoming despite the R-ARCSS providing formation of the Hybrid Court of South Sudan by African Union and International Community.  

“There can never be genuine peace where the perpetrators of serious crimes still linger on the sight the victims.

“Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) urges the Government of South Sudan to line up to its responsibility and make sure December 15 is recognized as a National Day in the country but, most importantly the establishments of Hybrid Court of South Sudan by African Union in order to bring the perpetrators crimes committed during the conflict.

“CPA on the same note calls on the UN Security Council, ICC, and International Community to hold those individuals responsible impending, path to genuine peace including serious issues like accountability for the crimes committed.

“As the people of South Sudan continue yearn for justice and lasting peace, the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) calls on all the citizens to work toward a prosperous, peaceful, just and developed South Sudan, which is a collective responsibility of all.”