FROM:     INTERNET:nscc@net2000ke.com
DATE:     7/14/98 10:00 AM

13th July 1998, NSCC Nairobi
 
PRESS RELEASE
 
SIX NUERS RELEASED
   
In a bid to breathe a fresh momentum to the Nuer-Dinka
reconciliation accord signed on 10th June 1998, the Dinka chiefs
from the West Bank of the Nile have released six Nuers. They are
all from Leer, Upper Nile region of Southern Sudan.
 
The six - three women, two girls and one child who have now been
reunited with their loved ones, were abducted by the armed Dinkas
in March 1998 as part of tit-for tat Dinka-Nuer conflict.

Reactions from the Nuer elders have been positive. The Associate
Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Sudan (PCOS), Rev. Paul
Bol said; "This is the right way and very important step towards
achieving a just peace between Nuer and Dinka Communities. This
must be encouraged and promoted by all means".
 
The former Associate Moderator of PCOS, Rev. Matthew
Mathiang, described the decision by the chiefs to release the six
Nuers as a courageous step in the right direction. He said this
gesture was a sincere attempt by the Dinka from Western Bank of
the Nile to show their determination to forge ahead to achieve
genuine reconciliation and peace between the two communities.
 
It is worth mentioning here that the consultative meeting held under
the auspices of the NSCC set a number of issues to be carried out
by the elders of the two communities, and these include a return of
all the abducted women and children and an end to cattle rustling.
 
According to Mr Festus Ufulle, NSCC Peace and Justice
Facilitator, the Dinka reconciliation gesture should be seen as a
challenge to the Nuer Chiefs. While acknowledging that the release
of the six Nuers was a positive step forward, the Peace and Justice
Facilitator was optimistically cautious.
 
"We still have challenges ahead of us before we could say the
reconciliation process has taken root. For us to come to that peak
point, we need to redouble our efforts to ensure that every positive
step such as what the Dinka Chiefs of Western Bank of Nile have
done is quickly reciprocated and followed. We are appealing to the
Nuer elders to emulate the example of their Dinka counterparts by
releasing their abductees, if they have some", he said.  

We shall continue to update you of any new developments. In the
mean time if you wish further information, don't hesitate to contact
the Advocacy and Peace Desks of NSCC.

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7/16/98   3:31 PM