The Catholic Bishop of Torit has called on the authorities to pay tribute to people who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of South Sudan.
Bishop Johnson Akio Mutek stressed that those who died in the war and their surviving families deserve recognition of their contribution towards the liberation struggle, Radio Emmanuel reported.The bishop made the remark in his message to remember the victims of the Torit uprising on August 18, 1955.
He said the people of South Sudan survived through the blood of the dead and of the wounded.
Bishop Akio stressed that the recognition of the war victims encourages soldiers to be committed to their work without fear of neglect.
Bishop Akio said August 18 should be treated as a special day throughout South Sudan.
Eastern Equatoria state minister of information, Felix Otuduha Siro, announced that commemoration of August 18, gazetted as “Veterans Day”, has been postponed because President Salva Kiir Mayardit is outside the country.
Mr Otuduha said that celebration of the Veterans Day will rotate every year starting from Eastern Equatoria to other states.