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Clik here to view.PRESS RELEASE

Victoria, April 19, 2014 (SSNA) -- The South Sudan Crises Management and Advocacy Group (SSCMAG) in Australia is hereby expressing its condolences to the families who lost their loved ones during the barbaric incident occurred at UNMISS compound in Bor on Thursday, 17th April 2014.

The SSCMAG is deeply affected by the massacre and mass killing of the internal displaced people (IDPs), mainly the Nuer civilians by the South Sudan Government forces in Bor town. The attack is evident to be carried out by the SPLA, Youth and the police killing civilians indiscriminately. The death toll reached 250, with approximate number of over 300 wounded and uncounted numbers still missing from their hiding.

We strongly condemned this brutal and ethnic killing of innocence people, therefore SSCMAG requesting the United Nation to act now and consider the following:

1. Relocation of the IDPs

• Relocate the IDPs to the neighbouring countries such as Ethiopia, Sudan and Kenya for their safety.
• Hold the President Kiir and his Information Minister, Makuei Lueth, Bor Mayor, Nhial Majak & Defence Minister Kuol Manyang accountable for inciting attacks among the ethnic groups.
• Demand the president of the Republic of South Sudan to step aside and allow the formation of the interim government for peace to prevail in South Sudan.

2. Ugandan involvement in the conflict

Again, we strongly condemn in its strongest term possible the present of Ugandan Forces in South Sudan. The SSCMAG recently learn that the Ugandan fighter jet bombed UNMISS compound in Unity State Capital, Bentiu on the same Thursday 17th April wounded 3 IDPs. The present of Ugandan troops in South Sudan:

• Undermines the national sovereignty of South Sudan.
• Is an invasion of the Republic of South Sudan.
• Contribute negatively to peaceful resettlement of the current conflict.
• Intensify the division of tribes in South Sudan and while the world remains silence.
• Undermines the legitimacy of IGAD peace settlement and indeed fosters a negative role in modelling the African affairs.

3. Respect for cessation of hostilities and ceasefire

We are writing to inform the International Community that the government of South Sudan continues to breach the ceasefire signed on 23 January 2014. Therefore, the SSCM&AG urge IGAD, AU, UN and other world bodies to strongly warn the parties to the conflict to:

• Respect the cessation of hostilities and ceasefire.
• Stop killing innocent people.
• Allow humanitarian access to all corridors.
• Impose consequences on any party that breaches the cessation of hostilities and ceasefire.

Furthermore, SSCMAG is calling up on the United Nations, IGAD and AU to pressure the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and SPLM/A in opposition to respect the cessation of hostilities and ceasefire and to release the political detainees.

Sincerely,

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Clik here to view.Press Release

Nairobi, April 19, 2014 (SSNA) -- On Thursday 17 April, 2014, a group of armed Police, military and Wildlife soldiers in plain clothes together with some elements of Dinka Bor Youth, armed with AKM- 47 rifles and machetes (Pangas), attacked thousands of Nuer IDPs in the UNMISS camp in Bor, the Capital of Jonglei state. The IDPs have been under protection of UNMISS in its camp since the outbreak of fighting in South Sudan in Mid December last year. Details of casualties relayed by survivors of the attacked who attended to the burial of the dead in mass graves are 145 killed and 207 wounded. UNMISS initial report on 19 April 2014 puts the figure of the dead within the camp at 58. Three (3) UNMISS personnel also lost their lives and others got wounded in the attack. Some of the IDPs ran aimlessly into the surrounding areas where their killers may still follow.

We condemn in the strongest terms this killing of innocent civilians on the basis of their ethnicity. There is no doubt that this callous attack was instigated by some senior government officials in Juba who hail from Bor County. The killing of civilians is a crime against humanity and a serious breach of International Humanitarian Law. The UN should conduct thorough investigation into this horrific attack. It is to be noted that South Sudan has acceded to the Four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their additional Protocols. Indeed, South Sudan has incorporated the Conventions into its domestic law through the enactment of the Geneva Conventions Act, 2012.

The United Nations is called upon to intervene in what is happening in South Sudan. The government is responsible for the collapse of law and order in the country through its negative policies and inability to protect the lives and property of the citizens. It is now possible that the country can disintegrate into mutually antagonistic regional or tribal enclaves if the situation is not quickly addressed. The UN itself is now under threat in its camps in Juba as attempts are being made by government soldiers to attack the IDPs in Juba itself according to credible sources in Juba. Therefore, there is need for the UN to treat the situation in South Sudan with utmost seriousness if those unfortunate events which happened in Rwanda in 1994 are to be averted in South Sudan.

Sadly, the government is consistently obstructing the efforts of IGAD Envoys to mediate speedily resolution of the crisis. The clear objective of the government seems to be the escalation of fighting in order to impose a military solution with the help of foreign military forces. Certainly the achievement of such an objective is unattainable and its pursuit can only lead to nothing but the total collapse of the country and consequent disintegration of our communities.

Since the claim of a failed coup attempt by the Juba Government in mid December last year, the targeted killing of members of the Nuer ethnic group has never stopped. The Juba government is undoubtedly determined to implement a policy of genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Nuer people. This is a violation of its constitutional duty to provide equal protection for all citizens. More than 18,000 Nuer men, women and children were killed in cold blood in Juba by the Presidential Guards and armed Dinka civilians in execution of a deliberate policy to exterminate the Nuer. This policy if not quickly reversed, has the risk of being picked up by the communities to avenge their members as has happened in Akobo, Bor, Bentiu and Malakal. The great danger is that the young country can easily be broken into pieces that may become difficult to put together again.

The elites responsible for this genocidal policy are politicians and military elements mainly from Warrap and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states. Their names will not be difficult to reveal when the time comes for justice and accountability. They have planned and concocted the so called ‘failed attempted military coup’ as the stratagem and smokescreen for justifying the genocide and victimization of individuals as well as communities. We call upon all patriotic sons and daughters from these two states, the affected communities and from other peace loving parts of South Sudan to condemn this criminal policy and refrain from taking similar actions. Let us all put the interest of the country first in addressing the current national crisis that gravely threatens the existence of our country.

Now, it is clear from the court proceedings taking place in Juba against four SPLM leaders, that there was no coup. This is evident from the testimonies of senior SPLA officers who have stated on oath as prosecution witnesses that there was no attempted military coup, that they were aware of, that have taken place on 15 December, 2013 as claimed by the government.  

Finally, we call upon the United Nations, AU and the IGAD region to speedily intervene in the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in South Sudan where millions of lives are still at risk. While welcoming the establishment of the AU Commission of Inquiry, under the leadership of former President Olusegun Obassanjo of Nigeria, we earnestly urge the Commission to speedily start its work given the continued deterioration of human rights situation in the country. We equally urge the UN and the International Community to put the human rights records of the Juba government under strict scrutiny and to hold perpetrators accountable.

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Clik here to view.PRESS STATEMENT; FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE; 20 APRIL 2014

April 21, 2014 (SSNA) -- The South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy (SSHURSA) condemns in the strongest terms possible the attack on 17 April 2014 meted on unarmed civilians of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of (about 5000) mostly members of the Nuer ethnic group. The IDPs have been sheltered at the United Nations Mission In South Sudan (UNMISS) base in Bor, Jonglei state, right from the start of the ongoing crises in South Sudan in December 2013. The attack according to the survivors including the community leaders, 47 of whom SSHURSA has interviewed, left 148 persons dead mostly children and women, and wounded over 200 persons, a number untallied with the UN media preliminary releases that put the deaths not above 70  but disputed by the interviewed  survivors as ‘incorrect’.

The attack was alleged to have been carried out by an armed youth group from Dinka Bor ethnic group of Jonglei state. However, according to the interviewees, they believe it was carried out by well trained armed personnel, accusing the South Sudan’s national army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) as behind the attack in disguise of the armed youth.

Whoever was behind the attack, be it the army or the youth or both, SSHURSA condemns such pre-mediated killings as against human dignity. It is barbaric and must be condemned by all those who care about humanity. This is a violation of Articles 11(right to life and human dignity), 15(equal protection of the law), 16(rights of women), 17(rights of children) and 18(the right of freedom from torture or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment) as enshrined in the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan 2011 and other regional and international human rights instruments. The attack also violates the principles of the international humanitarian law stipulated in Geneva Convention and optional protocols which South Sudan has ratified and domesticated and as a state, it is obliged to observe.

SSHURSA also condemns the careless, irresponsible and hate speech by the South Sudan’s Minister of Information Honourable Michael Makuei Lueth who in a press conference after the attack described the IDPs as “intolerable rebels” and with UN being described by the Minister of the Interior Honourable Aleu Ayieny Aleu as having provoked the armed group by “shooting up into the air”. Such statements by Ministers who are also Members of the Parliament are inciting. There is no any justification under any law or circumstances whatsoever, to attack unarmed civilians.

SSHURSA also condemns the negligence of the UN soldiers who did not act in time according to the survivors and that led to attackers killing in hundreds.

SSHURSA appeals and makes the following recommendations:

1. To the UNMISS:

1. To the UN Security Council:

1. To the Government of South Sudan:

1. To the SPLM/A In Opposition

1. To the Troika Countries and the rest of the International community:

1. To the Nuer Community:

1. To Dinka Community(Greater Bor Communities):

For contacts on the above press release or about SSHURSA:

[1] Many survivors of the Bor UN base attack as interviewed by SSHURSA on 17, 18 and 19 April 2014, confessed that death rates shot high because the UN did not act in time against the attack.

--

ABOUT SSHURSA: South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy (SSHURSA) is an incorporated non political and non profit making Human Rights organization founded in June 2007 by South Sudanese Lawyers and Law Students at Makerere Law Development Centre (LDC), Kampala-Uganda. In 2009, it became operational in South Sudan with its head office in capital city Juba and co-ordination offices in the states. It membership composes of individuals and organizations who believe in its human rights protection mandate. Its vision is for a democratic and human rights abiding South Sudan and with its mission to monitor, document and publish human rights status in South Sudan and also train general public on Constitution, the importance of human rights, fundamental freedoms of an individual, Rule of Law, democracy, Transitional Justice and International Humanitarian Law , all geared towards creating a more responsible, justice and good governance oriented South Sudan. SSHURSA pays special focus on the rights of children, women and other vulnerable groups.It also keeps close attention to the strict observance of the supreme law, The Constitution.

Motto:  “YOUR RIGHTS; YOUR DIGNITY”

For more information, contact us on:

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Clik here to view.Press Release

Addis Ababa, April 21, 2014 (SSNA) -- In reference to the recent great victory and move taken by our brave hearted gallant forces, we would want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the freedom fighters and the entire movement for retaking the unity state capital Bentiu back in our control. In our voice and support, we acknowledge the great fundamental major general behind the victory to take over Bentiu, Maj-General James Koang Chuol who were heading the tactical field operations. These great freedom pioneers are fully known best in winning battles, SPLM/SPLA Youth League knew it from last week that they will emerge victorious as they head the gallant freedom fighters to take over several towns namely ;Mayom County,Tor Abieth,Rubkona,Tharwangyiela, Bentiu and many more other places along the way. These are key major positions that lead to the oil production fields and we would actually feel the bleeding of the anti-freedom fighters’ side, the government of Salva Kiir must be teasing a hand full of pain right now as we are proceeding to Juba and other key loyalists’ positions in the country.

We as SPLM/SPLA Youth League, are still calling upon President Salva Kiir to step down or risk being exiled if not conquer like other world leaders that tried resisting the voice of the people, he has killed enough people to live hence for the sake of the nation, and also for the sake of those whom he innocently killed since 2005 to date. He should honorably step down without any further bloody humiliation from the citizens. He has lost direction and no single citizen that is following him accepts gang of robbers that want to rob him of our resources. He is like a prodigal son in the bible; we are ready to forgive him as a nation if he reflects back on all the mistakes he made and humbly seek forgiveness from the people of South Sudan, however, without clear stand on him stepping down with immediate effect, then, this war will not stop until he is exiled to overseas or to the nearby countries that we all know. We would also want to extend our congratulatory acknowledgement to our leader Dr.Riek Machar for exercising the fundamental virtues of patient, humility and more importantly the vision he has in his heart for the people of South Sudan.

We know everyone support this movement across the country and in the Diaspora, of which, as the Youth League ,we are assuring everyone that the days of miserable government are numbered and we are headed for a country that treat everyone equally irrespective of their tribes,ethnicity,religion,political affiliations or individuals expressions or freedom of expression.

Secondly, we condemn in the strongest terms possible the Intentional killing of the innocent civilian at the UNMISS base in Bor and there is no doubt that this was done by the Government not the Bor Civilian. 

In conclusion, we extend our moral and physical support to our gallant freedom fighters in which we are inclusive, to keep up that brave spirit of selflessness. We as the Youth League are also calling upon our great generals engineering the operations on the grounds to fully bring out their tactics to capture all the towns under control of food loving troops in order to bring freedom to South Sudanese. Victory is upon us. May God bless all the South Sudanese waiting for freedom, may God bless freedom fighters, may God bless the entire leadership of SPLM/SPLA and may God bless South Sudan!!!

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Clik here to view.April 21, 2014 (SSNA) -- The fangak youth Union has felt shock to hear the new massacre again in Bor at the eyes of world body “UNMISS” it was unexpected scenario to see 147 civilians mostly women and children dying in their haven in the hand of well-organized military group nick named to be Bor youth to cover the fact of the hidden agenda.

We strongly condemn this discriminating killing on innocent civilians in their protection site, there is no doubt that the Nuer massacre which eventually originated in Juba is still being carrying out where ever there is Nuer civilians and died simply because of their ethnicity. We belief this callous was not from the blue it was instigated by government in Juba, there is no youth in the world who should have rockets and ever things as government forces have. The second issues Bor youth were disarmed last years and got no fire arms in their hands that was the reason which made them to Fled to Aguilar in Lakes state during incident in Bor, where can the Bor youth got their guns, military and police uniforms in front of government troops and Uganda defense Force (UPDF) in Bor Town? Is government of South Sudan supplying arms to Civilians to kill other civilians in the country? And what was the reason for youth to wear military and police uniforms in government controlled Town?

The FYU wants United Nations mission in South Sudan specially the Bor Contingent to be vigilant to their report on the number of deaths in UN base attack, the number of deaths was not 20, it was 147, and the wounded were 273. UN need to fulfill its mandate to protects civilians in all corners without discriminations and report the facts, if the government isolates Nuer in the National protections services what of UN which has no side in the world?

The Fangak Youth Union was not satisfied with the report made by government officials in the media who have reported and tried to term the attack as peaceful memo to the UN which UN turned it to be violence and started shooting at Bor youth that came to be reason to the civilians attack in Bor. We term this as “demotion” and barbaric Report.

FYU gets disturbed for the silent of UNMISS on the Abductee in the Bor attack, UN needs to report this case of kidnapping of children and women in the same violence in UN base. We need UN and Government of South Sudan if didn’t lose the responsibility to give back the abducted children and women if they are still alive to their beloved ones in UNMISS camp in Bor with the immediate effect. One of urgent issue also the FYU needs IDPs in all bases to be relocated before rectification of UN mandate by Parliament of South Sudan because this rectification will be a disaster for the IDPs in their protections sites.

In conclusion the FYU pays the heartfelt condolence to all the families, relatives and friends of deceases to take heart in this terrible time. God was not wrong to create you as Nuer tribe take courage, its God making, you did nothing wrong to any one in South Sudan. May God rest them in peace. Amen!!!

Our unity and our Voice is our strength!

Fangak youth Union (FYU)

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Clik here to view.NCDS, INC USA

United States, April 23, 2014 (SSNA) -- We, the Nuer Community in the USA express our strongest condemnation of the recent brutal attack and killing of the innocent Nuer people in the UNMISS camp in Bor. The barbaric military apparatus supported the dictator regime which waged a vicious war planning to eliminate the popular will of the Nuer People. We condemned the strongest terms possible the ruthless massacre in Bor by Kiir Mayadit’s brutal butchers.

Brutal regime of Kiir Mayardit has waged several attacks against Nuer people since the war erupted in mid-December 2013.The first killing was carried out by the savage forces of Doot ku beny ordered by Kiir Mayardit.  But, he was a wolf in a sheep’s skin and charlatan who was manipulating and undermining the unity among the citizens of South Sudan at which he would not succeed. 

Kiir Mayardit in Mid-December started killing indiscriminately civilian innocent children, women and men and destroyed their homes and businesses. Confirmed reports by eye-witness on the ground in Juba that over 17,000 women and men including children have been massacred.

The citizens and particularly women, children and elderly men have fled the city to save their lives. There are thousands of Nuer people who are displaced and are deprived of their right to live in their homes. Others are hiding in fear in bush and cut off from all life-lines. Children are starving and dying in this general havoc that gripped the Nuer people. One of the shocking behaviors of Kiir’s forces was the random killing of innocent men, women and children. Those children, women and men who were killed by Kiir’s brutal regime had taken no part in the political struggle between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

But the terrorists, far from being ashamed of their act, were proud of this massacre and claimed victory while their media are publicizing these malicious, evil and inhuman acts. The Nuer people are horrified by the brutal deeds of Kiir’s forces. In light of these savage attacks, one cannot but wonder why the Kiir Mayardit’s government is reticent about this bitter and frightening reality. The world notes reports of the ruthless attacks on innocent civilians and we condemn these acts perpetrated by brutal butchers. We also condemned the Nuer army Generals, Ministers, and Governors who are still serving Kiir Mayardit’s government which kills their own people and praise him for his genocide against Nuer.

The killing of innocent people of Nuer by Kiir’s notorious forces are in contravention and contrary to the principles of peaceful co-existence between the two tribes (Nuer and Dinka) and should be halted. We refuse to tolerate Kiir’s thuggish brutality against our people and vowed to defend our people and the fundamental human dignity of our people. Nuer people all across the world have raised the strongest voices, condemnation and are mourning the tragic loss of these innocent civilians massacred by Kiir’s forces in Bor.

We believe that the forces of Kiir’s terrorist attacks can do nothing to derail the Nuer people’s future in South Sudan. Further, the attacks and mass killings of Kiir’s forces is a miscalculation of Nuers’ power and raised the chance that must lead to a revenge and all-out war between the two tribes (Nuer and Dinka). From now on, the Nuer Community is taking all conceivable measures to provide utmost protection and defense Nuer people.

Lastly, we urge the UNMISS in South Sudan to relocate all the IDPS to their villages, Payams, and Counties in South Sudan.

Office of Nuer Community in USA.

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Clik here to view.Juba, April 23, 2014 (SSNA) -- The president of South Sudan Salva kir Mayardiit has removed his longtime army chief, Lt. General James Hoth Mia. Kiir issued a presidential decree on Wednesday removing Mai and replaced him with Paul Malong Awan. Awan is the Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.

The president also sacked the head of military intelligence, Major General Mac Paul and replaced him with Maj. Gen. Marial Nuor. Nuor is suspected of numerous disappearances in Juba.

Mai has been loyal to Kiir for years; his removal has been interpreted by independents analysts as a sign of a new rift among the ruling elites, citing recent rebels’ military gains in Unity, Jonglei, and Upper Nile States.

The move comes more than four months after fighting erupted in Juba late last year between units of presidential guards.

However, a well placed government source who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal told the South Sudan News Agency that the latest development is not something new, saying the plan was planned long time ago.

“President Kiir designed this plan [the sacking of James Mai and other senior military leaders] in early 2013”, the source said.

“You can call it whatever you want, but I call it the Bahr el Ghazalization of South Sudan”, the source added.

Most South Sudanese believe that Awan is responsible for recruiting and bring in to Juba young men in the cover of presidential guards. They believe that the private army that he recruited was behind the December 2013 mass killings in Juba.

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Clik here to view.Juba, April 26, 2014 (SSNA) -- Over the past week, details have emerged about atrocities committed by various groups in Bor and Bentiu, two state capitals in South Sudan’s Upper Nile region.

In Bor, a group of armed protesters stormed the compound of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and opened fire on some 5,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had sought refuge there. Preliminary reports suggest that at least 58 people were killed, including women and children.

In Bentiu, hundreds of civilians were massacred after Opposition forces recaptured Bentiu. Approximately 200 people, many of them Sudanese traders from Darfur, were reportedly killed at a mosque where they had sought shelter. A hospital was also targeted.

These most recent events are the latest in a series of war crimes and crimes against humanity that have been committed by all sides in this conflict, and yet another terrible reminder of the criminal manner in which the war is being fought. Since the earliest days of the conflict, when elements of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) went on a rampage killing hundreds of unarmed civilians in Juba, non-combatants have bourn the brunt of the harm. Government and Opposition forces have slaughtered the sick and elderly in their hospital beds, committed acts of rape and sexual mutilation, and killed children. Most recently, in Bentiu, forces controlling the radio station have been disseminating messages of hate and urging men to rape women.

Both sides are blaming the other for being more brutal and killing more civilians, but neither has stepped up to publicly denounce atrocities committed by its own forces. The leadership of the two sides should call on their forces to stop targeting civilians and publicly denounce these incidents as the acts of cowardice that they are.

The civil war in South Sudan has entered its fourth month and there is no end in sight. Humanitarian relief agencies indicate that South Sudan is on the verge of the worst famine that the world has experienced in a quarter century. The longer the war continues the more entrenched interests will become and the harder it will be to negotiate a resolution. South Sudanese from all walks of life must put aside the hate, stop the senseless revenge attacks, withdraw support from those who would use violence to win or maintain power, and begin working to secure the future of our country.

In order to bring an end to the violence and begin mending the deep wounds that it has inflicted upon South Sudanese society, Citizens for Peace and Justice (CPJ) recommends the following to the Government of South Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM)-in-Opposition:

• Publicly denounce crimes committed by your forces and hold accountable those who directly target civilians as well as those with command responsibility over the acts;
• Adhere to the terms of the January 2014 Cessation of Hostilities agreement and desist from acts of aggression against one another;

Stop obstructing efforts to broaden the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD)-led mediations in Addis Ababa and allow contributions from civil society, the church and other independent groups that are advocating for nonviolent change in South Sudan;

Provide free and secure access to conflict affected parts of the country for members of the African Union (AU) Commission of Inquiry that was recently formed in order to investigate violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in South Sudan.

* For queries, please contact Lona James, Chairperson for CPJ at +211 955 022 367 (S. Sudan), +254 706 913 020 (Kenya), llowilla2000@yahoo.co.uk, or David K. Deng, Secretary for CPJ at +211 954 890 507 (S. Sudan), +254 703 754 068 (Kenya), ddeng@sslawsociety.org.

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Clik here to view.Minnesota, United States, April 26, 2014 – Members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in the U.S. state of Minnesota have declared their support to the SPLM-in Opposition (SPLM-O) which is now under the leadership of former South Sudanese Vice president Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon.

The members of the SPLM-O blasted President Kiir of the SPLM saying he was “intolerant and hostile” which is not acceptable under any democratic system. They also warned that their defection will further jeopardize the unity of the SPLM in the United States.

In a press release signed by the Chairman of the SPLM-O (Gondar Timothy Tutlam), Chairman of Public Relations (Simon Lul Gatkuoth), and the Chairman of the Mobilization Team (Gatluak Chuol), the members made a statement.  They asserted that nearly all members of the SPLM in Minnesota have joined the SPLM-O with exception of individual family members of President Salva Kiir and VP James Wani Igga.

The statement read in part: “We the largest populations of patriotic South Sudan diaspora that inhabit Midwest in the State of Minnesota, United States, the members of the SLPM Chapter in Minnesota, would like to inform the general public that we changed our alliance to the SPLM in Opposition under the leadership of Cde. Dr. Riek Machar Teny”.

The members also condemned the killing of innocent civilians and stated that Kiir abandons the country in pursuit of his own interests.

The statement goes on to say: “We condemn crimes committed against innocent civilians by government forces in Juba, Bor, Mapel, Upper Nile and Unity States. The president have obliterated the citizens hope and dream of building the new nation to accommodate the interests of our diverse communities in favor of his private interests to cling to power and marginalize other communities”.

The new leadership of Minnesota SPLM-O declared that they are fighting for a democratic system in the young nation of South Sudan and that their defection is the right thing to do.

The statement furthermore indicated: “Our stance is the way forward to achieve democracy, justice, liberty and equality in South Sudan”.

“[Kiir] administration has degenerated into a dictatorship, which is intolerant and hostile to divergent views”, they said.

In the statement, the new members of the SPLM-O also stated that Gatluak Puoch Kuornyuot, an executive member in the SPLM, the secretariat, and team leader of mobilization for the State of Minnesota had defected to the SPLM-O. He defected citing serious problems within the party’s structure.

The ruling SPLM party has experienced numerous defections in the United States after fighting broke out in Juba late last year.

In late March 2014, the SPLM Nebraska chapter which is the biggest in the United States impeached its Chairman.  They also went on to endorse the party’s reforms, and joined the SPLM-O.

The State of Minnesota hosts one of the biggest South Sudanese Communities in the United States.

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Clik here to view.South Sudan International Advocacy is condemning in strongest term possible the massacred of 192 unarmed Nuer trainee Soldiers on April 24, 2014 by the Government force SPLA in Mapel County, Western Bhar Elghazal State. www.sudantribune.com

April 28, 2014 (SSNA) -- We condemning in strongest term the killing of helpless Nuer Civilians that including children, seniors’ people, men and women at the UN base compound in Bor capital of Jonglei state on April 17, 2014. This is any questionable that it was organized crime which has totally disregarded UN Humanitarians laws.  We also are condemning in the strongest term the killing of harmless civilians targeting in Bentiu on April 15, 2014. SSIAHR condemn the Government SPLA army that prevented civilians from Running for Safety at UN Compound and outside of town and keeping civilians as Human shield for them.

All the above mention cases constitute crime against Humanity and punishable by law and those who care it must face justices.

SSIAHR would call American Government ,European union, and African union to implements the sanctions as soon as possible and to act sooner not to ignore the tragedy that continue killing thousands and destroying human life in South Sudan. We call upon UN Security council to pass the resolution that will allow ICC to investigate the crimes in south Sudan.

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Clik here to view.April 27, 2014

Nebraska, United States, April 28, 2014 (SSNA) -- South Sudan New Army General Chief of staff Paul Malong Awan and president Salva Kiir Mayardit ordered the killings of 220 unarmed trainees’ who mostly Nuer tribe in Military Training Centre at Mapel, Western Bahr El Ghazel, South Sudan in April 25, 2014.

April 27, 2014. The office SPLM/SPLA Nebraska Chapter is strongly condemns the unjustified killings of unarmed trainees mostly Nuer tribe and others are being hunt down in the bush where they went for hiding. These horrific killings of particularly tribe who are evenly still sighting with the government signified that Salva Kiir Mayardit  himself has a president of South Sudan is exercising the tribal war in South Sudan.

The families of those trainees who were gunned down at the military training center were resided in Wau town.  Other students from Nuer tribe studied at Bahr El Ghazel University after they heard their love ones were murdered by government troops wanted to enter to UNMISS compound for their safety, but were denied access by the local authorities in Wau, South Sudan.

The office of SPLM/SPLA Nebraska Chapter/USA like to inform Human Right Activities, UN personnel, and International Red Cross to quickly take an action to rescue those vulnerable Nuer civilians who are resided in Wau, and other cities in Greater  Barh El Ghazel Region and take them to their birth towns where their lives would be less danger. The Government of South Sudan has become a tribal government and security is out of control people who are resided outside of their birth places their lives are in risk at anywhere in the country especially Nuer tribe.

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Clik here to view.Press Release

Juba, April 29, 2014 (SSNA) -- The Naath Students Union in Universities and Higher Institutes (NSUHI) in South Sudan are hereby, however, again announcing the disappearance of its members after Wau’s incident. The Wau’s incident, as you all know or might have heard, came about as a result of the Mapel’s massacre which took place in the training center. The same scenario was also a practical case in Wau town. That in Wau, was started on 26 April night up to April 27, 2014.  The incident could target any Nuer ethnic group member specially the University of Bhar El Gazal Nuer Students. One of our Students was initially arrested in the night of April 26, 2014. We thanks the UNMISS for having opened its door for our students in Wau, though late.

On 27 April, 2014, when Nuer Students realized that their lives were in danger, they decided to leave the University’s hostels for UNMISS’s camp. Which they think could be safe for them, but as they were trekking to the UNMISS’s camp; some of them were captured on the road by SPLA individuals soldiers and personnel. Because it was impossible for these Nuer students to pass not through SPLA Grinti Military barrack, located between the University premises and UNMISS camp side.  From there, on the way, a dozen of Students were arrested and taken to unknown places. The rest of these students, who were captured or arrested yesterday, on 27 April, 2014, are searched and have been found by the University Administration. While the rest are not found up to now, that is why we are writing this press statement. However, we are urging the University (UBG)’s Administration and the Government of Western Bhar el Gazal state to assert much more efforts so that our students’ colleagues whose whereabouts are not yet known, to returned if they are alive with those soldiers captured them.

Most importantly, both the Government and the University Administration should find solution to the question of where do these Nuer students gets their meals from? Yes, it may be safe for every student to remain inside the dormitories to avoid being arrested outside the University premises, as H: E the Governor, Rezik Z. Hassen said. But, since there is no food (services) being provided in the hostels, all University students use to go outside and have their meals there. Hence, the Administrations should secure the basic need of these students; otherwise it will be a potential chance for their killers who are just waiting outside the University.

We hope our demands can be taken seriously by the Administrations. In fact, it is not good to loss again innocent students in the University of Bhar el Gazal, as it had happened in the University of Juba last year. Where Nuer students were intentionally dragged out of the hostels and miserably killed by national security personnel. No, that should be enough atrocities on us!! What have we (Nuer Students) done wrong to the authorities?

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Clik here to view.1. Political Situation:

April 30, 2014 (SSNA) -- Following the last reshuffle of the government of South Sudan on 23 July 2013, which resulted to the removal of the entire cabinet members including the Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, tensions had abruptly flared up within the SPLM ruling party. Before his dismissal from the position of Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar and other senior SPLM members within the SPLM ruling party voiced concerns about the President Salva Kiir’s dictatorial way of handling the affairs of the state, where he absolutely used to take most important decisions singlehandedly without consulting the SPLM Political Bureau which is the highest political organ in the ruling party or the executive wing of the government where the Vice President was deputising him in the party. President Salva Kiir’s apparently manipulated the Interim National Constitution in his favour where he appoints or dismisses any member of the cabinets without consulting the Vice President as it was already stipulated in the constitution that the President would act in consultation with his Vice President. 

However, President Salva Kiir has been promoting tribalism, nepotism, chauvinism, corruption, human rights violation etc., which are considered as parts of bad governance at any level of government all over the world during his eight years reign in South Sudan. In his turn, the former Vice President decided to challenge the President openly in the next general elections, which is supposed to commence in 2015, whereas President Kiir adamantly rejected such decision from his former Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and other SPLM senior members who were challenging him within the SPLM leadership. He did not want to be challenged by any member from the SPLM ruling party. When he saw a looming threat from the party colleagues, President organised his supporters to sabotage any move from the supporters of the former Vice President to challenge him in the upcoming elections. This becomes a wrangling within the SPLM leadership on who to run for elections. The former Vice President’s position was vigorously supported by majority of the SPLM political Bureau members and the masses all over the country that got tired of President Salva Kiir’s style of leadership, which favoured only few members from his own ethnic group, the Dinka who he placed in most of the key strategic positions in the government. They are the ones controlling the finance, security, foreign affairs etc., just to mention a few.

In addition to that, President Salva Kiir secretly recruited and trained an army numbering 15,000 soldiers that were drawn up inclusively from his own Dinka tribe, from two states of Warrap and Northern Bahr El Gazal as personal protection guards. He never trusted the SPLA regular soldiers to be guarded by him because majority of them are from Nuer tribe, which constituted 60% of the fighting force. During the first and second weeks of December 2013, SPLM supporters of the former Vice President Dr. Riek Machar which included 14 senior SPLM Political Bureau members staged two consecutive rallies in Juba where they demanded for democratic transformation within the SPLM ruling party to be urgently realized and translated into reality. This idea brought several thousands all over the capital Juba to Freedom Square to attend the two rallies in which subsequent press releases were issued afterwards to highlight their six points that include; 1. SPLM reform, 2. Economic reform, 3. Corruption eradication, 4. Strengthening relations with foreign countries, 5. Human Rights violations, 6. Tribalism, nepotism and chauvinism etc.,

During the last SPLM rally of 15 December, which was overwhelmingly attended by all SPLM government and opposing political leaders who rejected President Kiir re-elections as Chairman of SPLM, and vied for Dr. Machar to take over the chairmanship of the party instead of the incumbent SPLM Chairman and President. The tension became high in which the President Salva Kiir hastily ordered his close associate and trustful General Marial Cenouer who was in charge of 15,000 (soldiers) so-called Presidential Guards based at Luri garrisons in southeast of Juba to immediately disarm the SPLA Nuer soldiers within the Presidential Guards in the evening hours. At around 10.00 PM, on 15 December 2013, the fighting ensued within the Presidential Guards of Dinka and Nuer members from SPLA in which several soldiers were reported to have been killed on both sides. SPLA mutinous soldiers briefly captured the Tiger Headquarters, which hosted the Presidential Guards. Dr. Riek Machar and other associate members escaped along with him to the bushes of South Sudan and the direction to Bor.

The 11 SPLM political leaders who were associated with Dr. Riek Machar were detained on the following day of 16 December, in Juba prison where they remained there for some months. Towards the end of January, 7 of them were released through SPLM – In Opposition, IGAD and Troika’s interventions and were flown to Kenya to participate in the ongoing peace talks in Addis Ababa. But they chose to remain as separate block negotiating on their own as a faction instead of siding with the SPLM/A – In Opposition that advocated for their unconditional release from jail. The other 4 political detainees including the SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amoum remained in jail and have recently been released in this April, by the government in Juba and are still confined inside the country. The government in Juba is denying them opportunity to participate in the peace talks in Addis Ababa while their presence in the talks is very instrumental indeed. The IGAD and Troika peace mediators in Addis Ababa should exert more pressures on the government in Juba to fully release them and allow them participations in the peace talks.

2. Human Rights Violation:

As mentioned above that on the 15 December 2013, a group of SPLA soldiers from Presidential Guard mainly from Dinka attempted to disarm their colleagues from the Nuer tribe who were in the same Presidential Guards. Unfortunately, the SPLA soldiers from Nuer refused the disarmaments and instead their rivals from SPLA Dinka started the shooting which result to the captured of Tiger Presidential Guards Headquarters by the SPLA Nuer soldiers. They occupied the said military garrison until the following day when SPLA combined forces from different units came and recaptured the Tiger Headquarters from the mutinous soldiers of Nuer elements. Dr. Riek Machar and his wife Mrs Angelina Teny who were prime targets of being implicated by President Salva of being behind the rebellion escaped the government planned onslaughts for hiding along with former Minister of Environment General Alfred Ladu Gore and former Governor of Unity State General Taban Deng Gai.

The three SPLM leaders and Madam Angelina Teny apparently escaped to the bushes for their own lives and made their way to Greater Upper Nile where the Nuer civilians known as “White Army” and some SPLA defectors from other garrisons mostly from Nuer when they heard that wanton massacres was being carried out by some SPLA of Dinka soldiers in Juba against the innocent Nuer civilians in Juba came to their rescues. In fact, Dr. Riek and his wife left behind most of their personal bodyguards. They were left behind in their official government residential quarter in Juba on the night of 15 December 2013, when the fighting erupted in Juba. On 16 December, the infamous Nuer massacre took place in Juba and lasted for three days up to 19 December 2013, by their Dinka attackers who masqueraded as Presidential Guards inside Juba town. They summarily executed over 10,000 civilians including 35 personal bodyguards of Dr. Riek Machar who were first disarmed by the government soldiers and later killed in cold blood when the government soldiers (SPLA) smashed a two storey government building used by the former Vice President with military tanks. Inside the same house it was sheltering over hundred civilians most of whom were closed or distant relatives of former Vice President and his dear wife who an emergency sought refuge there. Unfortunately, military tanks crashed all of them and this was the most gruesome massacre ever conducted in the history of South Sudan in one town since South Sudanese fought successive wars with Khartoum regimes in the past. The UNMISS and did not revealed the exact figures of those Nuer killed in Juba for fears of reprisals from that notorious government in Juba.

The UNMISS put the figures of the dead to 500 hundred persons only while the government soldiers conducted house-to – house searches for three days from 16 – 19 December, where they collected several thousands unarmed Nuer civilians in the neighbourhoods of Gudelle, Mia Saba, Thongpiny, Jabal Kujur, Manga teen, Souk Jabal, Khor William, Gumbo, New Site, Jabal Dinka, Guray etc., Hundreds of them were summarily executed at Gudelle Police Station and thousands others were killed in different locations where their bodies dumped on the River Nile or burnt to ashes beyond recognitions. This is very painful story but the UN and other human rights groups did not revealed the exact numbers of the Nuer civilians killed during the aftermath of the massacre in Juba and its surrounding areas. The real figures were later revealed by the victims themselves who fled to UNMISS camps at Jebel Kujur and Thongpiny or hidden by their Equatorian’s friends in Juba town.

When the news of the massacres of Nuer in Juba spread throughout the Nuerlands in Upper Nile, Unity and Jongeli States, ten of thousands of well armed Nuer youth and SPLA deserted soldiers flocked into government garrisons in Greater Upper Nile States where they attacked government loyalists which resulted to the capturing of the three state’s capitals of Upper Nile, Unity and Jonglei. In the process of these fighting many lives were lost on both sides. Since December 2013, the towns of Bor, Malakal and Bentiu were repeatedly captured or recaptured by SPLA – In Opposition or government soldiers and their Uganda (UPDF), JEM and SPLA-N allies more than four times, in which thousands of innocent civilians were sadly killed there and destructions of properties were enormous indeed. Government infrastructures and religious worshiping centres as well as hospitals were therefore demolished in all the three state capitals of Bentiu, Bor and Malakal as well as at counties level during the course of fighting between the two parties.

Following the recaptured of Bentiu by SPLA – In Opposition on the 16 April 2014, from the government forces in which the UN and other international NGOs expressed propound disappointments with alleged killing of over 200 Darfuri and Dinka civilians and 400 others wounded. This damning report was circulated all over media houses all over the world and several countries expressed strong condemnations against the rebel movement who were accused of perpetrating a deliberate massacre against the unarmed civilians caught in cross-fire in the town of Bentiu. The SPLM/A – In Opposition on their part, strongly repudiated the allegation made by UNMISS boss Mr. Toby Lanzer and journalists from several news media who visited the town of Bentiu following the capture of the town by rebels who said that those Darfuri killed or other South Sudanese men (Dinka) who died along with them were not civilians but government sponsored militias and mercenaries. The SPLA – In Opposition Spokesman and other sources from the ground indicated that there were no Darfuri traders existing in Bentiu since January 2014, when the government forces and their allies recaptured it from them.

All the Sudanese traders evacuated all along the town because it becomes a war zone, and virtually deserted by its entire population to UNMISS camp, where over 8000 IDPs resides there. There was no reason at all for 800 traders from Darfur to continue in Bentiu town where there was no market or buyers to buy their goods. It is true; while in combats they usually dressed with civilian clothes and used the Mosque during that attack by SPLM/A – In Opposition forces as human shields. They had indeed guns and fought vigorously against the rebel forces when they were denied access to UNMISS compound by rebel forces following the capture of Rup Kona’s Bridge. Those civilians who felt threats because of fighting they definitely ran to UNMISS compound in Bentiu before the fighting reached the town. The fight took nearly three days before the capture of Bentiu occurred. If the Darfuri traders were actually civilians who felt threatens they would have gone to UNMISS camp before the fighting escalated into town.

The same thing with the alleged Dinka civilians who were said by UN and other aid agencies that they were deliberately massacred by SPLA- In Opposition forces. Those Dinka men who got killed were also recruited government sponsored militias who were fighting actively on the side of the government against the rebel forces. The rebels denied killing of any unarmed civilians being elderly, women or children intentionally during the fight in Bentiu. If the rebels were intended to massacre the Darfuri and Dinka civilians as it was alleged, what would have prevented the 400 wounded not to be killed in the Mosque while the rebels were the ones in control of the town and not UNMISS? Definitely, the rebels would have killed them all if they really wished to do so. The UN and other NGOs had indeed given misleading information to the outside world, which was not the true picture in the ground. They are indeed inciting more massacres in South Sudan by issuing false allegations on the side of the rebels. The Radio of Bentiu was used only by SPLM/A – In Opposition commanders who captured the town to inform those still in hiding to avail themselves that the town was free and not used for projecting hate messages as it was later alleged by UNMISS representatives from Juba and their accompanied journalists. All the images shown on the news media had no any child or woman seen in it. They were all men wearing civilian clothes where the rebels collected their guns after they got killed in action. This is a propaganda that will not serve the purpose and instead it will certainly create more harm then good between the two rival communities of Dinka and Nuer respectively. This will also make peace in South Sudan difficult to be realised within a short time if the UNMISS and other international NGOs continuous to wage such negative propaganda campaigns against one group of the fighting parties or most importantly against the SPLM/A – In Opposition and their Nuer sympathizers.

What UNMISS has been preaching following the fall of Bentiu to the rebel forces on 16 April, through the international news outlets, the resultant of it was the worst gruesome and awful attacks on Nuer civilians at UNMISS camp in Bor on the 21 April, when some SPLA soldiers and other organised forces from the government along with Bor youth went on rampage and attacked 6000 IDPs from Nuer as retaliations by Dinka to what happened to their people in Bentiu. The attack on UNMISS camp in Bor was a government initiative which was directly spearheaded by some well-known senior government officials from Jonglei and Bahr El Gazal States to massacre Nuer. The UNMISS did not give adequate protection to the IDPs inside their centre in Bor and that was the reason why 145 persons mostly women and children were deliberately killed by their Dinka attackers. Another 273 persons sustained injuries and unknown numbers of Nuer youth fled to bushes in panics and never reported back to the camp. They are presumed dead because the same attackers pursued them. The UNMISS continuously kept the numbers of those IDPs killed or wounded down simply because they did not want an embarrassment from international community or get into loggerheads with the government in Juba. The survivors themselves were the ones who revealed the accurate figures because UNMISS always played down the numbers of those killed and wound. In the first place they gave conservative estimates of 20 persons killed and 48 wounded. This is a complete lie and at the same time a great insult to the Nuer victims and their loved ones. UNMISS should not act biasedly for fears from the government to terminate their activities in South Sudan. The UNMISS mandates in South Sudan is to protect human lives and their properties against any human rights violators no matter war. They have the full mandate from the United Nations in New York to use all the necessary means if human rights of any community is seriously violated by any warring party in the conflict.

On 23 April, the town of Renk was briefly captured by the SPLM/A – In Opposition forces in which they dislodged government forces and their ally’s forces from town. After the rebels withdrew from the town which bordering the White Nile State, Republic of Sudan, the Nuer officials in the government and other organised forces were deliberately killed by their Dinka colleagues and militia soldiers who were armed by the government to intentionally fight the rebels. According to various reports from different sources said that about 300 Nuer civilians have been killed in Renk alone. UNMISS has no present in Renk and no NGOs agency can easily verify this report because few of the NGOs who used to operate in Renk had evacuated the town before it was briefly occupied by the rebels.

On 27 April, Mapel SPLA Training Centre was attacked by a group of Dinka soldiers in which they killed about 192 unarmed SPLA Nuer trainees and several hundreds others fled to forests for their own safety. Their whereabouts are not known and the government still playing it down as if nothing had actually happened. According to the statement from the State Government of Western Bahr El Gazal State Hon. Razik Zachariah Hassan, he said that some widows whose husbands got killed by the rebels in Unity State carried out the attacks on Nuer SPLA trainees in Mapel. He also played down the death rates to be three persons killed and four other wounded. If this statement over Radio Tamazaj is true, could several hundreds of Nuer men who left behind their dear wives and children ran to the bushes to escape widow’s onslaughts? Could this episode provoke the defections of seven Brigadier Generals and their forces of not less than a complete brigade to forests? Would the widows managed to kill 192 persons as reported by the survivors in the bushes and defector generals from Wau area? And yet the attackers are still hunting after those who escaped such ordeals. This appalling situation aggravated the defections of 7 SPLA Brigadier Generals and their forces that are from Nuer simply because they did not want their own fellows Nuer to be humiliated in such a manner in their watch. The 7 brave Brig. Generals have decided to rescue their fellows Nuer instead of continued supporting this notorious government in Juba under dictator Salva Kiir Mayardit. The UNMISS did not report this incident to the outside world yet they are more concerned with the fates of Darfuri rebels from JEM and SPLA – N who were killed in action by SPLM/A – In Opposition in Bentiu. The government forces and their Uganda (UPDF) allies have recently captured the town of Ayod from the SPLA In Opposition forces in which they are now conducting gruesome killings against the civilians in the area and yet UNMISS and other international NGOs are keeping quiet and not reporting such wanton killing of Nuer in all these places.

3. Humanitarian Situation:

The humanitarian situation in Greater Upper Nile States of Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei is pathetic indeed. Most of its population have migrated to neighbouring countries or UNMISS camps or to saver areas within the country. Over one million people are already registered by UN and NGOs agencies operating in South Sudan as IDPs within the country in which most of them are from Greater Upper Nile States. Juba alone has not less than 50,000 Nuer IDPs in the UNMISS compounds whereas Bentiu with 22,000 IDPs, Malakal has the same number of 22,000; Malut has over 30,000 and Bor with 6,000 IDPs. Wau has got over 1000 Nuer IDPs whereas some of them are being rejected entrance to UNMISS compound in Wau by the government of Western Bahr El Gazal State. Nuer students at Bahr El Gazal University are greatly affected by the recent skirmishes in the area. It is reported that a number of university students have been arrested of are presumed missing by their colleagues who fled to UNMISS compound in Wau. The families of Nuer unarmed soldiers in Mapel needs to be traced because some conflicting reports indicated that some Dinka soldiers had killed them all or some fled to forests for safety. This needs UNMISS and other Human Rights organisations to pay an urgent field assessment to see if the families of the murdered and fleeing Nuer soldiers are still alive so that they can be relocated to UNMISS camp in Wau town. The IDPs at UNMISS camps in all the states Greater Upper Nile and Central Equatoria need to be relocated to secure countries like Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia instead of remaining in that sad conditions for too long. They are more less prisoners in their own country. They lack most of basic human necessities. Their children are at high risk of contracting water bone diseases and malnutrition and at the same time not attending schools. The elders are very much depressed and are facing state of hopelessness and uncertainties. The UN and other NGOs agencies can transport them to where their children can go to schools or move freely than being confined inside UNMISS compounds throughout the country like prisoners of war.

In the SPLM/A – In Opposition controlled areas, education is completely none existent where most of the teachers have abandoned their teaching jobs and joined either the government or the rebels rank. Several hundred thousands children of school aged are staying without attending classes. Food situation is also very sacred indeed and this will force millions of people to abandon their homesteads in search of food and protections in secured places. Health situation is also very demanding whereby majority of the victims have gunshot wounds and others are suffering with different ailments mostly children with severe malnutrition cases. Cross-border operations through, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia would serve more lives if negotiated in good face with the host countries and implemented by UN and NGOs agencies which is similar to that of OLS in 1990s, where both government of Sudan and (SPLM/A) controlled areas were served equally.

4. Peace in South Sudan:

If this war in South Sudan is not handled carefully, regional conflict may flare up very soon because the continuous supports of UPDF, JEM, and SPLA – N and other invisible actors like Egypt and Zimbabwe to the government of Salva Kiir in Juba would definitely attract other regional countries to join the ongoing war. Therefore, the international community has a task to pressurise the government in Juba to delink itself from his allies otherwise South Sudan will soon be a theatre of war between competing regional leaders over control of its vast oil and mineral resources. The most of its population will migrate into more secured areas in the neighbouring countries. This is because Juba is intensifying war vigorously with full supports from his allies, which are also enemies of other regional leaders. Uganda has been actively engaged in combat operations in Greater Upper Nile where they used cluster bombs against civilian’s targets in Jonglei State and jets in Unity and Upper Nile States. With the latest development where some communities are being targeted indiscriminately, the situation is already out of control and will be difficult to bring this war to an end very soon as long as some foreign mercenary allies of the government are still active in war in South Sudan. Norway must double its efforts to pressurise both Juba and Kampala to immediately withdraw the UPDF forces in South Sudan in order to give peace a chance.  The same thing with Darfuri (JEM) and SPLM-N (Nuba & Ingessnia of Blue Nile) rebels who are siding with the government in Juba against the SPLA – In Opposition. The present of Sudanese rebels in South Sudan to protect the oil fields installations which are under threats from the SPLM/A – In Opposition forces and in turn they also receive their shares from oil revenues and in addition to supply lines through Upper Nile and Unity State to continue with their war against Khartoum. The JEM and SPLA – N have abandoned their cause for material gains in South Sudan. Therefore, UN should advise their leaders not to involve their fighters in conflict in South Sudan while at the same time disusing as Sudanese traders.

Generally, genuine Sudanese traders are free to operate anywhere in South Sudan without any intimidations. But the present of JEM and SPLA – N in war against the SPLM/A – In Opposition is highly posing serious threats to Sudanese traders operating in South Sudan. This is a very serious game in which people of South Sudan at the end of the days will be the losers from this war. The international community most save South Sudan from imminent collapse from Salva Kiir. The people of South Sudan are tired of war and are longing for a lasting peace where democracy, development, rule of law, accountability and human rights shall be the basis of principles of good governance in the country.

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Clik here to view.Re: Victoria Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) Chapter’s Position Paper

Whether you are in position of leadership or not you have a moral duty to be the change you seek to be

Victoria, Australia, April 30, 2014 (SSNA) -- Fellow comrades, we are hereby declaring to you all at your respective locations around the globe that we the Victoria SPLM Chapter members led by the Care Taker Chairperson-Comrade Gatluak Puok Puoch, Youth League Acting Chairperson-Comrade Peter Bidong Pal, Member of Youth League Executive Council-Comrade Tito Tut Pal, Finance and Administration Officer-Comrade Solomon Jal Nhial and Women and Gender Officer-Comrade Nyaboth Stephen and several other honourable active members of the Victoria SPLM Chapter whose names have not been mentioned, are no longer servicing under an incompetent government and shameless leadership of Salva Kiir, who failed to uphold its values and responsible and largly knokn for driven by family members and loyal hand-picked tribal groups; clan militants and militias.

Like any sons and daughters of this great nation-yearning for tranquillity, prosperous and just democratic South Sudan, we have denounced the current leadership and all its fiats in strongest term possible and embraced the just peace, democratic, united and inclusive SPLM/SPLA in Opposition led by Comrade Dr Riek Machar Teny and Comrade Alfred Lado Gore. We are urging you all to register your collective support whole heartedly with this democratic, just, transparent and people-driven political system-Federalism emerging.

Our immediate strategic decision came into effect as result of numerous despondences, massive loss of lives and destruction caused to our innocent South Sudanese by the government in the name of few desperate and power hunger individuals who have systematically organised the killings of our innocent South Sudanese through fabricated ‘Coup’. D’état. Hailed high on the basis of clan and region, Kiir placed his trust on few hand-picked patronages and spin-doctors that are mainly from his tribe and clan- leaving wondering and vulnerable the mainstream South Sudanese who had overwhelmingly voted him into the highest trusted post of the nation.

Kiir was thought to be a charismatic and an admired leader for his fierce and radical views in support of secession of the South and pursued for freedom for all South Sudanese; however, after he secured the position, Kiir unexpectedly chose the opposite. He joined the club of dictators led by murderer of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, who enshrined and blessed him after he joined the nation of faceless men and became a prospect member fully integrated in this clan of gangs. This is indeed an undisputed evident that Kiir entered the office to service the interest of only few hand-picked advisors and foreign forces such as Ugandans and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) militants of Darfur. Circled by such incompetent groups willing to commit atrocity in return of financial support, Kiir has completely chose not to listen to the majority of his own fellow citizens and further ignored the contributions of the very important actors and arc of the nation such as the political parties, faith based groups, civil society organizations, youth and women groups, traditional leaders, church leaders and eminent personalities which the world considers as the valuable and major actors for the future development in any nation.

Worst of all, the government was quick to condemn the killings of territorial invaders and venal groups-the JEM militants in the recent combat operations in Unity State; however, maintained silent during the mass killings of the most vulnerable innocents civilians on 15 December 2013 in Juba and continued to do so during the lynching of other more powerless Nuer members in Jonglei State in April 2014.

Comrades, we would like to advise that the government in Juba is too deformed to be reformed. This claim has been proven by number of the following evidences:

First, the government has been intentionally refusing to commit to the handwork of addressing political underrepresentation, political grievances, historical grievances between our communities, human rights abuses, economic disparity and trauma which have been facing our community for the last eight years. Domination of the most secretive and vital government positions by Kiir’s clan and tribal men is indeed another worrying sign of the nation’s resources and the leadership being dominated by one tribe. In 2013, South Sudanese around the globe embraced the notion of ‘Peace and Reconciliation’ as one of the vital mechanisms to seeking peace amongst themselves and forgiving each other; however, Mr Kiir and his spin-doctors delivery refused the go-ahead of this process-knowing that they have unfinished business-being the recent killing of innocent South Sudanese. 

Second, the government has been rather oppressive to its critics and publically chose to rule with iron fist. Many prominent political commentators and journalists have been banded from broadcasting information that appears to be questioning the performances and directions that the government has been leading the nation to. Others have been killed-Isaiah Ambraham is an example. Several ordinary citizens have been incarcerated, unlawfully detained or dispositioned from places they called homes simply because they are being considered as enemies of the regime.

Innocent protestors were indiscriminately sprayed with AK-47 machine guns during peaceful processing in Wau in 2013 and countless Equatorian lands were occupied and continues to be seized from their custodians by Kiir’s militants whilst the government remain silent.

Third, invested immensely on tyrannical system, Kiir and his government applied zero tolerant, out of touch and dramatically failed to deliver the promised services to the needy South Sudanese. Kiir and his government claims they have no financial support when it comes to services supposed to be delivered to innocent South Sudanese; however, have funds available for militants, militias and foreigners like JEM of Darfur and Ugandans Army Combats Forces to carry out massacre on specific tribes that he and his spin-doctors hated most.

Fourth, the social fabrics of our great nation have been crippled by unspeakable corruption. The God-given abandon revenues that we all shared and inherited by birth became the properties of Kiir and his militants. In Juba, public offices have packaged up with family members, relatives and loyalists thus critically resulting in total lost of the visions, aims and objectives of the SPLM/A. Widows whose husbands and orphans whose father have given up nothing else by only their lives for the freedom of all South Sudanese to be achieved are continuing to suffer as the government turns blind eyes on them. Heroes and heroines who lost limbs in sacrifice for their people and nation are rarely treated as contributors to South being a nation today, or valued as living legends. Kiir has indeed becomes a king of the nation as symbolised by his cowboy hat and trademark stick pictures posted in business hotels, airport and everywhere in the nation. Loyalists serving Kiir’s interest have been enjoying a government of no accountability, purchasing expensive mansions outside the country using public money and filling their accounts with countless incentives that are supposed to be enjoyed by all South Sudanese.

Fifth, Kiir is a supreme man above the law instead of the law being above him. With the main security apparatus and agents of the nation appointed and runs solely instead of the nation, the legal institutions have also been systematically paralysed and made intentionally effective specifically so that the government continues to operate undercover and unquestioned. Strongly believed in his own militias and militants, Kiir has abandoned the nation’s army. Instead, he recruited his own clan-men whom he used to execute the genocide of the Nuer Tribe on 15 December 2013 and publically failed to implement measures aiming to curve the current ongoing lost of lives, destruction and despair in the new nation.

In conclusion, the South Sudanese should realise that there is only one trusted leadership capable to reversing the above critical issues and brings about inclusive, people driven government, transparency, accountability and equal share of resources for all-that is the current SPLM/A in Opposition led by Dr Machar.

Undersigned by:

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Clik here to view.Date 2/05/2014

DECLARATION OF THE CURRENT POLITICAL POSITION THE SPLM IN OPPOSITION IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA: THE WAY FORWARD TO ACHIEVE DEMOCRACY, JUSTICE, LIBERTY AND EQUALITY IN SOUTH SUDAN.

Revolutionary Greetings:

Adelaide, South Australia, May 2, 2014 (SSNA) -- We the members of the SPLM Chapter in South Australia would like to inform the general public that we changed our alliance to the SPLM in Opposition under the leadership of Cde. Dr. Riek Machar Teny. We are here by declaring that we do not support the present dictatorial government in South Sudan led by Salva Kiir.

We the executive members of SPLM Chapter in South Australia strongly condemned the ongoing political crisis that has resulted to mass atrocities, massacred and violation of other human rights in the country.

We wish to have effective and inclusive government of national unity that has a total commitment to protect the lives of all tribes of South Sudan equally.

The present government has opposed to all attempts to bring democracy to the SPLM and the government therefore, it does not represent the views of all the people of South Sudan as inspired to be.

The government that has Maras scared, persecuted its own people, arrested political opponents and brought division to the tribes of South Sudan is no longer legitimate to lead the nation as their government.

We would like to remind ourselves that the current government that has promoted tribalism and division that has brought resulted to the death of over 10,000 people and the displaced of over a million people to the neighboring countries such has Uganda,Kenya,Sudan and Ethiopia. It is clear as crisis that our country is occupied by the foreign troops from Uganda and the Sudanese rebel from Darfur and Blue Nile to attack its own people with cluster bombs and helicopters as proved by the UN reports.

We the South Sudanese community in South Australia strongly believe that Kiir government that and will not doesn’t protect and provide for the safety of its all the citizens no longer deserves to be in power, and should resign or be remove d by its citizens and international pressure and negotiate to allow an interim government of national unity that will forge lasting peace and stability in all parts of South Sudan.
We are here by asking other states in Australia nationwide to follow us and to join the SPLM in opposition to show our support for the opposition in South Sudan that is determine to bring democracy, unity, set healing and reconciliation and the rule of law to our country, which the present government has failed to do.

We the South Sudanese in South Australia in particular would like to extend our call and our solidarity to our brothers and sisters in South Sudan and other countries who are trying to end the tyranny of Kiir and his corrupt government.

Despite South Sudan’s oil wealth and financial support from the International communities, the Kiir government has failed to provide basic health, education, security and jobs for our people since independence.

Multi Billion of South Sudanese from the oil revenue has been stolen since Independence without legal investigation into the crimes or any charges to the alleged individuals. We all know that the Kiir government has failed to expose and correct its own corruption and exploitation of the South Sudanese people. This revenue should have been used for developmental opportunities to improve the lives of all citizens, provide services to South Sudanese people but instead it has disappeared into the bank accounts of some corrupt SPLM and other government officials. We want to end this corruption and exploitation of the South Sudanese people by supporting the SPLM in opposition and the creation of a new government of national unity and the removal of the Government of Kiir and his supporters who have bought only conflict, corruption and tragedy to our people.

Importantly, to really end this conflict, Kiir and his government must step down and a new government of national unity must be formed with all tribes and groups represented democratically and fairly under the rule of law, and free from corruption and with judicial independence. National reconciliation can only be achieved if these conditions occur as the present government has shown it is not able or fit to rule our precious country of South Sudan in the interests of all its citizens not just the chosen few such as Kiir and his supporters.

The way forward for South Sudan is to form a government of national unity with western help (e.g. UN & US) and an interim administration led by the UN to build strong governance structures that will promote and protect the rule of law, democracy and accountability. The new nation of South Sudan was never able to establish these governance structures and it is now paying the price for the lack of democracy and human rights violation that led to this conflict after the government became dictatorial and corrupt under Kiir and then turned against its own people with its attack on innocent Nuer civilians on 15th December in Juba, the introduction of Ugandan troops to attack its own people, and its arrest of political opponents and suppression of press freedom.

We must learn the lessons from the lack of democratic structures and accountability provided in our present constitution and judicial system and builds a more democratic and just future society with government and judicial structures to support this. South Africa after apartheid and in negotiations for majority rule made sure all the structures for democracy and the rule of law and protection of human rights abuse were included in their Constitution and governance structures and they have had peace since the ANC won government there.

South Sudan needs to adopt the same development of democratic governance that was achieved in post-apartheid South Africa that was led by late Nelson Mandela and other ANC leaders that established democracy, the rule of law and national unity in their country. This is a model that the New South Sudan should follow to achieve a lasting peace under a new government of national unity after the present conflict ends and Kiir’s government is removed. This process of nation building under an interim government of national unity needs to be fully supported by the religious leaders, civil society organizations, UN and the International Community.

This will help our country to achieve successful nation that will allows freedom, peace, unity, and stability, accountability and transparency that was the source of the great sacrifice paid by our great freedom fighters during the long struggle for our independence.

Signed By:

Addis Ababa, May 4, 2014 (SSNA) -- Combined forces of Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), and Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N) have captured Nasir just days after President Kiir agreed to meet rebels’ leader, Dr. Riek Machar.

Nasir is the Upper Nile State’s most popular county.

SPLA spokesperson Philip Aguer told reporters that soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir have taken Nasir, adding that Juba also recaptured Unity State’s capital, Bentiu.

Rebels warned government forces

Meanwhile, rebels’ source told the South Sudan News Agency that they were not defeated; calling their defeat a “tactical withdrawal”.

“We knew they [government forces] were coming, our intelligence agents alerted us long before they were sent to our areas and we are going to teach them a lesson they will never forget”, an official close to the rebels’ leadership told the South Sudan News Agency.

“Just wait you will hear a different story soon. They are going to regret their premature victory and they will face dire consequences”, he warned.

In a separate development, Unity State rebels’ commander Maj. Gen. Koang Chuol Ranley struck a similar tone saying his troops are not defeated and that Juba-backed forces will be punished soon.

Earlier this week, US Secretary of State John Kerry warned of “South Sudan Genocide” and called for a speedy peaceful solution to the conflict.

Peace talks are expected to resume next week in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

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Clik here to view.Addis Ababa, May 4, 2014 (SSNA) -- Combined forces of Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N), and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) have captured Nasir and Bentiu from anti-government forces just days after President Kiir agreed to meet rebels’ leader, Dr. Riek Machar.

SPLA spokesperson Philip Aguer told reporters that soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir have taken Nasir from the opposition forces, adding that Juba also recaptured Unity State’s capital, Bentiu.

Aguer also denied that Sudanese rebels participated in the operations.

Rebels warned government forces

However, rebels’ source told the South Sudan News Agency that they were not defeated in both Nasir and Bentiu; asserting that it was a “tactical withdrawal”.

“We knew they [SPLA, UPDF,JEM, and SPLA-N] were coming, our intelligence agents alerted us long before they were sent to our areas, we made a tactical withdrawal, and we are going to teach them a lesson they will never forget”, an official close to the rebels’ leadership told the South Sudan News Agency.

“Just wait you will hear a different story soon. They are going to regret their premature victories and they will face dire consequences”, he warned.

Nasir is the Upper Nile State's most popular county and Bentiu is the capital of the oil-rich Unity State.

In a separate development, Unity State rebels’ commander Maj. Gen. Koang Chuol Ranley struck a similar tone saying his troops are not defeated and that Juba-backed forces will be punished soon.

Earlier this week, US Secretary of State John Kerry warned of “South Sudan Genocide” and called for a speedy peaceful solution to the conflict.

Peace talks are expected to resume next week in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

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Clik here to view.Re: Mabaan Community in USA/Canada frustrated with Kirr destructive use of power and declares our support to SPLM in Opposition

United States, May 5, 2014 (SSNA) -- It’s not a surprise for us Mabaan community in USA/Canada to conclude that our country under Kiir leadership becomes a failure’s state that are plagued by two structural disorganize, political identity fragmentation and weak national institutions that together preclude the formation of robust governing system by tribalistic minded leaders that severely undermining the legitimacy of the state and leading to political orders that are highly unstable and hard to reform.

In the light of political crisis caused by weak leaders that subjected our people to execution, violence and psychological harm; we the Mabaan Community in USA/Canada strongly denounce the government of Juba abuse use of power to massacre innocent people and drag country into unwanted war.  We strongly reject government of Juba ethnic extermination policies and declare our position to support SPLM in opposition because we believe in reforms. The government of South Sudan is not only an enemy of the people but a killer of hope and dreams of the people of South Sudan.

Political legitimacy that they claim is misinterpreted and it was up since Dec 15. He was not elected to kill and divide the nation based on regional and ethnicity. President abused power delegated by the people of South Sudan to commit genocide on his own people particularly Nuer ethnic in Juba and hired Uganda people defense force by the nation resources money to help him carried out atrocities on his own citizens; just for him to stay in power, and his action is a violation of 2011 expired interim constitution.

We believe that Kiir political fragmentation directly affect the capacity and aspiration of the people of South Sudan to create positive institutional environment system to encourage productive economic, political, and social development because it undermines the usefulness of traditional informal institutional system.

Destructive use of power undermine democratic transformation and good governance that overwhelmingly expected by the people of South Sudan. Corruption, nepotism and tribalism are the factors reduce accountability and distort representation of policymaking which compromise the rule of law and weaken government public administration system resulted inefficient distribution of wealth and services. This unwanted war cause fear, displacement of our people, and mass destruction of infrastructures that expose civilian to disease and famine.

In order for the people of South Sudan to have peace, security and sustainable development;  Kiir must step-down to pave road for peace, Ugandan people defense Force and JIM, SPLM-N must be out of South Sudan , and  urgent needs of Constitutional amendment. We are strongly rejecting the IGAD proposal to assign regional troops in the oil areas because they want to make South Sudan as another Somalia.

The use of foreign troops by the government to fight rebel doesn’t cover up big tattoo written on face of the wall that South Sudan under Kiir is a failure State. They must know that the way to lasting peace is through power of negotiation not bullet as government campaign.

In conclusion, we Mabaan community in USA/Canada strongly warn and condemn the notion of our commissioner to disarm and send out Nuer community who are living in Mabaan county because they are Nuer; such weak decision is an acceptable; Mabaan people have no problems with Nuer or Dinka, they have equal right, access and freedom like any mabanese to live in Mabaan county as citizen of South Sudan. We blame the new deputy governor of upper Nile state action to influenced Mabaan commissioner to order Nuer community to leave county and he will be held accountable for his unethical decision. We call commissioner to stop propaganda campaign and designate county as safe zone for all South Sudanese displaced by war regardless of their ethnicity. We are proud to be South Sudanese not tribes.

The statement is signed and released to media by Mabaan Community in Canada/USA Executive Committee, Ontario Canada:

Date: May 4, 2014

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Clik here to view.Washington, DC, May 6, 2014 (SSNA) -- The United States Treasury Department has on Tuesday issued sanctions against South Sudanese military Generals, Maj. General Peter Gadet Yak and Maj. General Marial Chanuong.

The move comes just days after the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced that Kiir has agreed to hold direct talks with Machar.

Gen. Peter Gatdet is one of the leading military commanders supporting South Sudanese rebels leader, former Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.

Gen. Marial Chanuong is the commander of presidential guards also known as kiir’s private army -- an army widely believed to be behind the December 2013 Juba massacre.

The United States Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen calls for violence to end and warns that the U.S. has new tools to crackdown on individuals who obstruct peace in the young nation.

“The violence and human rights abuses perpetrated by the Government of South Sudan and Riek Machar’s opposition forces must end”, David S. Cohen, the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence said in a statement.

“We now have new tools to crack down on those who obstruct the peace process and hold accountable those responsible for violence against civilians.  We stand with the people of South Sudan who are calling for peace” he added.

The sanctions prohibit American companies or Americans from doing any business with the two Generals.  The sanctions will also freeze their assets in the U.S.

The United States has on many occasions warned that it will punish anyone it sees as a threat to peace in the war-torn country.

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Clik here to view.Addis Ababa, May 9, 2014 (SSNA) -- Leaders of South Sudan’s warring factions have on Friday signed a peace deal in Ethiopia paving the way for the peace talks to continue.

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardiit and his main rival, Former Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurghon, agreed the pact in the Ethiopian Capital, Addis Ababa.

Under the accord, a transitional government will be formed. The agreement also calls for a fresh constitution follow by new elections.

The deal requires both sides to halt fighting within 24 hours.