President Kiir calls on the nation to honor and pray for martyrs
JUBA (July 30, 2012) – President Salva Kiir on Monday appealed to the people of South Sudan to continue to remember, honor and pray for all martyrs of the country’s liberation struggles.
“We must always think about them,” the President said.
President Kiir was addressing a crowd of thousands of people commemorating the 7th anniversary of Martyrs’ Day at the Dr. John Garang Mausoleum in Juba.
He also called on South Sudanese to remember to pray for the families of these martyrs and lend a helping hand to their widows and orphans as well as war disabled.
“It is your responsibility, you people who are alive, to take care of these people who are disabled completely,” the President stressed, adding that it was regrettable that some individuals were deliberately refusing to help.
The government, said the President, was doing its part and it would continue assisting war disabled, widows and orphans even in the face of the ongoing economic challenges the country was going through.
President Salva Kiir lays a wreath of flowers at the tomb of Dr. John Garang, founder of the SPLM/SPLA
President Kiir also addressed the nation on political and economic developments in the country, particularly relations with Sudan.
He said he understood the high expectations of the people after independence, saying the government was unable to meet much of these due to a number of obstacles thrown up by the Khartoum government.
Sudan, said President Kiir, remained intransigent and belligerent in spite of the peace feelers that South Sudan has been putting out, including the offer of a charming financial package to the tune of billions of dollars.
Instead, Sudanese leaders have been busy forecasting the doom for South Sudan.
“We are not going to collapse and we shall survive,” President Kiir stated matter-of-factly.
The President explained that Khartoum was also behind recent rumors of a plot to overthrow by force the government in Khartoum, which he described as desperate and failed attempts by Sudan to cause anxiety and instability.
President Kiir further downplayed reports that Sudan was hatching a plan to topple the SPLM-led government in Juba and replace it with a puppet government led by Lam Akol’s SPLM-DC.
This was a far cry, he pointed out.
The President also addressed the organized forces directly, especially the police and the army, telling them to treat civilians with respect and dignity and stop stealing their property or using their weapons to terrorize and rob.
These actions bring disgrace to the uniform and betray the cause for which the martyrs fought and died, according to the President.
July 30th was the day the founder of the SPLA/SPLM and father of the nation Dr. John Garang died in a tragic helicopter crash.
Earlier, President Kiir inaugurated a monument dedicated to the Unknown Soldier and laid a wreath of flowers at the tomb of Dr. John Garang, founder of the SPLM/SPLA and father of the nation.
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