OPEN LETTER TO: Easter Equatoria State Government (GOEES) AND Eastern Equatoria State Legislative Assembly(EESLA)
TORIT, SOUTH SUDAN 18 MARCH 2011 SUBJECT: WHY SPLA IS FIGHTING CIVILIANS IT IS SUPPOSED TO DEFEND AND PROTECT MAR. 23/2011, SSN; As a concerned citizen of Eastern Equatoria State (EES) I am dismayed by the unfolding military mayhem in Didinga and Buya territories and, hoping the EES authorities to explain why the SPLA has been ordered to fight and kill the civilians it is supposed to defend and protect. Indeed, this is the third time in less than seven months that the SPLA and EES security organs have targeted and victimized the Buya and Didinga communities because they are not prepared to be bulldozed, intimidated and harassed especially whenever they stand to defend their livestock, territory and resources. The excessive military and the unnecessary killings of civilians by the SPLA in the Didinga and Buya areas reflect the EES suppressive leadership style that has even forced its own Ministry of Information and Communication (EESMIC) not to work with and inform the public about the crisis in and around the state by serving as a tool of the government policy of intolerance and sensitivity to reporting and publication. The EES government is also dictating most of its ministries and organs to focus more on defending its image than defending the truth and the people who elected them in the first place. While there may be short term gains to defend the government’s image, there are no long terms benefits to abandon and let down the people who are the foundation of the government’s integrity. Surely, the EES government cannot continue to build its image on false hope and assumptions without addressing the daily problems the Didinga and Buya communities are facing. For instance, the IDPs presence in the area is one of the main causes of insecurity and instability in BUDI County. Today, the EES government policy has been to defend the IDPs at the expense of Didinga and Buya communities as if the IDPs are the ones who elected them. The EES government owes its electorates an explanation into why they have used and continue to use the SPLA against its own population. The EES government must also explain why the IDPs are still in Didinga and Buya areas as we are about to celebrate the independence of the Republic of South Sudan. The EES legislative assembly must play its role to account for the government’s suppressive policy and the ongoing victimization and killings of the Buya and Didinga people and bring those responsible to books. In the event the government nor the state legislative assembly does not investigate and account for these inhuman acts against the civilians, then the people of Eastern Equatoria State (EES) are prepared to use the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other international human rights organizations as avenues against those involved and who ordered the killings. Thank You, Lobolo-Hitti Onyo-Majileikwa Lokwahu Irere COMMENTS, PLEASE CLICK HERE Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author(s) and do not represent those of the website. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
