It’s with heavy heart and sadness I follow the events taking place in South Sudan. It was about this time on Dec 2011, I had arrived in the country via Uganda. South Sudan had been a wonderful journey where I had a chance to meet up with fellow country men and Mayor of Juba. People were ecstatic and full of hope for their newly born nation, the 193rd country to be recognized by UN.

How quickly that hope turns to ashes. We again witness the worst of humanity and mankind as South Sudanese go on killing rampage all because of different ethnicity and religion. How I wish we had more leaders like Nelson Mandela who believed in the ideal of true democracy and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. He has shown us that it is possible to build a forgiving nation where we can co-exist despite of our different ethnic, tribal or faith.

As we observe another Christmas, our prayers and thoughts are with people of South Sudan and may peace prevail over their nation. I also pray and hope for safety of all our fellow Nepalese citizens.

Peace and Harmony,
Furtemba Sherpa