By Yang Ater Yang
The Rup community in Rumbek Central County of Lakes State has agreed to pursue reconciliation, forgiveness, and unity while putting aside past grievances to promote peaceful coexistence among its members and other communities.
The Chairperson of the Rup Community in Juba, Dr. Matur Ater Majing, said he travelled to Rumbek with a team from Juba to work with the local leadership in addressing conflicts affecting members of the community.
He said the delegation came to address conflicts that had affected four Payams of the Rup community and to encourage members to embrace peace.
“We came to address the conflict that engulfed the four Payams of the Rup community, and we thought and raised our voice to our community because we need peace. We need peace among the Rup community, and we need peace in all the Agar community, and this was the only reason we came down here,” he said.
Dr. Matur said a major meeting was held at Akon Buoi Hall in Rumbek Central County, bringing together chiefs, elders, and spiritual leaders from the Rup community.
He said the meeting resolved that no member of the Rup community should attack another person, while members should live peacefully and refrain from looting property, even when conflicts occur.
He also said the community agreed to organise a general Rup community conference, which could take place in September or December, depending on preparations.
On compensation for people killed during conflicts, Dr. Matur said the community discussed resolving cases through traditional compensation rather than relying entirely on courts.
“We also addressed the issue of compensation. Instead of going to court, where people may end up with a lot of fines, we said as the Rup community, we can end up compensating our people,” he said.
He said a subcommittee could be established to oversee compensation, including the selection of suitable cattle for blood compensation that would be acceptable to the family of the deceased.
Dr. Matur said the resolutions received support from chiefs, intellectuals, and other community leaders who attended the meeting.
Daniel Kon Dhelbeny, Deputy Chairperson of the Rup Community in Rumbek Central County, described the reconciliation process as a collective effort involving members of the community in Juba and Rumbek.
He said four of the planned 11 chieftaincy meetings had already been conducted, including the latest meeting.
“Our community has general acceptance of peace in their localities and Payams. We need to appreciate them, and we need to appreciate the intellectuals, women, and youth organisations as the Rup community,” he said.
Dhelbeny said the community would also invite Rup members living outside Rumbek and Juba to support the peace process by spreading messages of peace in their respective areas.
He said the planned general conference would bring together members of the Rup community and serve as a celebration of the peace achieved across the four Payams.
“Our people have resolved and agreed to 25 resolutions, and these resolutions are important for all of us,” he said.
Jamal Marial, Gelwong youth leader of Among-piny Payam in Rumbek Central County, said youths and community intellectuals met to discuss issues affecting the Rup community.
He said the meeting recognised that conflict had brought no benefit to the community and that hunger and food insecurity were among the major challenges facing families.
“We have realised that there are no benefits in conflicts, and yesterday in the meeting we resolved that hunger is the real threat to us. No one is allowed to cause conflicts among the people, and they have all agreed,” he said.
Marial added that many youths were now engaged in activities in villages and cattle camps to find food for their families.
Meanwhile, Sabit Kuac Manyiel, head chief of Cueiadukan Payam in Rumbek Central County, said eight sections had participated in a peace meeting focused on peaceful coexistence within the Rup community.
He said forgiveness was among the key issues discussed during the meeting.
“We have resolved to make peace and to compensate for the blood of those who lost their lives, and this is a main reason we are here today at Akon Buoi Hall,” he said.
He added that the community was committed to resolving its differences through dialogue and peaceful means.