Western Equatoria denounces invasion of Abyei territory by Sudan Armed Forces
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May 23, 2011 (KAMPALA) - The government of Western Equatoria state
organized a peaceful protest in the state capital Yambio in solidarity
with the people of Abyei on Monday, after Abyei town was occupied by
the northern army on Saturday.
Abyei, a disputed territory on the border between South and North
Sudan, was supposed to hold a referendum to decide its future in
January. But the referendum did not go ahead due to a dispute over who
was legible to vote making it unclear to which part of Sudan the
region may belong after July 9, when the South becomes independent.
In response to an attack by the southern army (SPLA) on a northern
army (SAF) convoy that was leaving the area escorted by the UN, the
SAF took control of the town on Saturday night. The occupation of
Abyei has caused thousands of residents to flee the area.
Witnesses told Sudan Tribune that hundreds of Western Equatoria
citizens in Yambio, the state capital, converged at secretariat of the
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the south’s ruling party,
on Monday morning in solidarity with people from the region.
The peaceful protest started with a long marching around the state
capital. Students chanted and displayed slogans saying “no more war”,
“truthful on your signatory in CPA”, “ICC takes notice of atrocities
on Abyei”, “UN to run Abyei Referendum now” amongst others.
Government officials, church leaders, students, businessmen attended the march.
South Sudan is due to be declared an independent state on July 9 after
voting overwhelmingly for secession in January’s referendum on self
determination.
The acting governor of Western Equatoria state, who is the state
minister of information and communications and the spokeperson of the
state government Gibson Bullen Wande said the aim of the protest is to
“share solidarity with our brothers in Abyei”.
“We are currently telling the government of Sudan under the leadership
of Bashir, to stop war on Abyei and we are requesting Bashir and his
forces to withdraw from Abyei and leave Abyei in peace,” he chanted.
Wande called upon president Bashir also to respect the Comprehensive
Peace Agreement (CPA) that was signed in 2005 that stated clearly that
Abyei would hold a referendum whether to join the South or remain part
of the North.
Wande urged the international community to immediately intervene on
the Abyei crisis and organize the Abyei plebiscite.
“We don’t want war at this particular moment, we are calling upon the
international community that let them immediately intervene into the
situation of Abyei and stop the atrocities against the people of
Abyei.”
“And we the government of Western Equatoria with all the protestors
are saying we want international community with immediate effect to
organize the Abyei referendum so that the people of Abyei can decide
on their future” stressed Wande.
It is unclear who authorized the ambush by Southern Sudan policemen
which killed 22 SAF members. The South Sudan government has apologized
for the attack after the UN, US and others asked them to explain why
the SAF convoy was attacked.
The SPLM state secretary Manasseh Doboi condemned the atrocities
saying the SAF’s actions were in violation of the CPA.
“On behalf of the SPLM we condemn what is happening in Abyei, and we
call upon the government of Sudan at least to call off the forces who
are now in Abyei, who took control of Abyei. Because the SPLM is no
longer in Abyei that is total violation of the CPA.”
Manaseh said war was not an option and the south wants peaceful
co-existence with the north despite the separation of the country on
July 9. He also called upon the north-south border to be demarcated.
Meanwhile one of the female members of the state legislative assembly
Grace Apolo decried that “women have lost most of their children and
husbands in the struggle of the nation.” South Sudan’s SPLA fought
Khartoum for over two decades before the peace deal in 2005.
“For the communities if Abyei I pass my condolence to all the people
living in Abyei that the shedding of the blood in Abyei we are sorry
for that we join them in spirit, we are with them in the spirit
because we are far to reach them, let them take courage and tell
[President] Bashir we are fed up of him” she said.
The chairman of Yambio chamber of commerce Mbiko Barakat said “what
Sudan government is currently doing in Abyei is a violation of the
CPA. We shall stand with our government of Southern Sudan, and make
sure Abyei will be ours and Abyei is ours,” he decried.
George Bullen Mbori a student from Comboni Secondary School called
upon the UN Security Council to “take control of Abyei regions because
Abyei is for southern Sudan.”
William Deng carried a banner advocating President Bashir’s arrest by
the International Criminal Court. Bashir is wanted for war crimes,
crimes against humanity and genocide for the conduct of his
governments counter insurgency against rebels in Darfur.
(ST)
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