25 April 2012 - As part of the Jonglei peace process that began in early April, three-day forums aimed at resolving conflict between communities began today in the capital Bor and three other towns in the state.

Opening the event in Bor, Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul, chairman of the Presidential Committee for Peace, Reconciliation and Tolerance in Jonglei, called on participants to arrive at constructive ideas that would bring peace to the state.

"Jonglei State has suffered a lot from conflicts and it is time to seek a solution ... to make the state a better place to live in," said Archbishop Deng.

The Bor meeting drew together over 150 participants, including chiefs, national and state members of parliament, representatives of youth and women and government officials from Jonglei's Bor, Twick East and Duk counties.

Participants are expected to list problematic issues in their respective areas and come up with recommendations to help resolve them.

Some participants vocally expressed their concerns due to existing conflicts in the state at large and in their home areas.

"We have surrendered our arms and are now being slaughtered like chickens," said Matheir Luke, a youth representative from Duk County.

A woman from Duk County, Marry Adut, called for immediate humanitarian assistance in her area for people who had lost their livelihoods due to recurrent conflict. "I have lost my cattle and I didn't cultivate anything. I have nothing to rely on."

Members of the 23-member presidential committee have divided themselves into four teams to assist in conducting meetings in Bor and the three other towns -- Pibor, Waat and Ayod – holding like forums.

UNMISS is assisting the conferences with technical and logistical support, mainly by airlifting organizers to remote locations.

"We are supporting the people and government in their peace building efforts," said UNMISS Jonglei Civil Affairs team leader Felicita Keiru. "Our plan is to take such conflict resolution mechanisms down to the grass roots."