Clerics Call For Unity Ahead Of Referendum in Sudan

Church leaders in Eastern Equatoria State have come out in solidarity to appeal to South Sudanese to unite ahead of the 2011 referendum.

They said that unity among southerners is vital at this critical and historic moment in the political history of Sudan.

The clerics who addressed a pastoral celebration mass at the Catholic Mission in Torit last week, also called upon political leaders to unite and lead South Sudanese to the plebiscite.

They urged all political leaders to put aside their political differences and start educating South Sudanese on their rights to make the right decision in the referendum to shape their country’s destiny.

Among the clerics included retired Bishop Paride Taban of the Kuruon Peace Village of Kapoeta East County, who led the mass.

“It will be too late to decide if we don’t open our eyes to educate our population about the coming national exercise that will happen in the country for the first time. So, fellow Christians let us jointly pray for our churches and political leaders to enable them guide us to the Promised Land”, he said.

Taban urged all South Sudanese to reflect reasons for successive wars, notably the 21 years of civil war in the country.

The Bishop told the congregation that the church plays an important role in the forthcoming referendum adding that high ranking church leaders drawn from the catholic Diocese around the country are currently in Washington-USA to lobby for pre- and post referendum support.