This article was published in The Broken Rifle, December 2013, No. 98
Nonviolence
at Work in S. Sudan By Moses Monday
A
Pastor reported (in one of follow up meetings) “since, I attended
the nonviolence workshop, I stopped hating Muslims. They burnt our
Churches in Khartoum and since that time, I lost respect to Muslims
and hate them. Now we are in a new Country, I don’t want Muslims to
suffer the way Christians suffered under Islamic regime in Sudan. Its
painful to forgive but my Bible tells me to forgive as God has
forgiven us”. Since 2011 the pastor, few other Christians and group
of Muslims are working together. They organize outreach workshops to
both Christians and Muslims in Juba.
A
civilian hands-over his gun after attending nonviolence and trauma
healing workshops
“I
killed people from the neighbouring tribe, confessed a participant
after attending nonviolence and trauma healing workshop”. I am a
youth leader
and I led 2011 inter-communal violence that took place between
Counties of Yirol West and Mvolo”. My own brother was killed in
that conflict. I was later arrested and put into jail. While in
Prison, I suffered psychologically as I knew I will eventually be
hanged by neck to death. Fortunately, I was granted amnesty on the
eve of independence in July 2011”. He reported. Although, I was
discharged, I still did not feel free as the memories of the past
keep coming in my mind. The trauma healing workshop organized by ONAD
was my space for healing. I stopped blaming myself and decided to
handover my gun to the local authorities and joined peace teams. I
want to live the rest of my life as a peace worker and I don’t need
gun to protect my cattle. He added.
People
often view nonviolence with mixed feelings! Normally few people
appreciate it at first, others question whether or not it will work
in our highly militarized and violent context. While others feel it
can work in a less violent society but not in South Sudan. We have
been living in violence since creation and after all independence of
South Sudan was a result of two civil wars with Khartoum regime
(referring to 1955-1972 and 1983-2005 civil wars in Sudan) commended
one of the participants in our recent workshop. How do you face
brutality and gun points with flowers he questioned?
Our
participants often express difficulties to follow principles of
nonviolence because its true what happens around us is mostly violent
but there are also positive changes of attitudes taking place in
South Sudan and that’s the little we are building on. We refer to
practical experiences of nonviolence locally and globally. We always
say nonviolence is like a seed that needs time to germinate and grow
to become big tree. It starts with me not with others. Personal
transformation is key in nonviolence. If I become nonviolent, others
can learn from me and so is the society. This is what participants
expressed during nonviolence workshops.
When
we meet with the same group after couple of months for follow up we
asked them how has nonviolence worked with you? Surprising; many
people give more practical life experiences with nonviolence. For
example; Emmanuel
Ladu was
able to reconcile with the person who killed his father. He reported,
it took me six years to forgive and get reconciled with a person who
killed my father. I was a victim and so I took the initiative myself.
The nonviolence workshop gave me the courage to face the enemy and
let go the past pain. After I forgave him, I too felt relieved.
Forgiveness sets us free of hate! I too have suffered because of not
forgiving!
In
summary, the follow up meeting are always inspiring to us and we hear
our participants share their stories with us. On
2nd
October 2013, ONAD and its volunteers celebrated international day of
nonviolence. It was the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the
Indian independence movement who devoted his life for the cause of
nonviolence to him and thousands of others we registered our honour
to their spirit. While we strive in their way, we believe victory is
certain no matter how long time it will take. Forward we move, back
ward NEVER.
By
Moses Monday
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