Jonglei chiefs and South Sudan army call for sustainable peace
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By Philip Thon Aleu
May 28, 2011 (BOR) – Officials from South Sudan’s army and local
chiefs have called for cooperation to bring long lasting peace in
Jonglei state in speeches delivered during the commemoration of 28th
anniversary Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement in Bor on Friday.
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Jonglei state governor Kuol waving Jonglei state flag joins SPLA in a
dance in Bor. May 27, 2011 (ST)
Uror county paramount chief, Gatluak Thou Kuony, told South Sudan’s
army – and former rebel movement - to keep a distance from politics
and allow democratically elected leaders to accomplish their mandates
until the next elections.
Deputy Commander of the SPLA’s division 8 battalion, Gen. Bol Bol,
said unless civilians cooperate with the soldiers, it “might be
difficult to identify” elements causing insecurity and apprehend
them."
Jonglei state’s bushes host two different rebel groups led by losers
of last year’s elections in April. Former SPLA General. George Athor
Deng who contested for the position of governor and David Yauyau, a
civilian defeated for a Jonglei assembly seat, took up arms at the end
of April 2010.
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A man from Jonglei state drives his oxen to Bor stadium to attend the
anniversary of the SPLA - South Sudan’sm army and former rebel group.
May 27, 2011 (ST)
The insurgency of both Gen. Athor and Yauyau is concentrated in their
home counties of Pigi and Pibor respectively. The scale of their
fighting with SPLA forces surged in March 2011 but dropped
significantly recently something the southern soldiers say is a sign
of success against the rebels.
Unlike Gen. Athor who served as the SPLA deputy chief of staff after
the 2005 peace agreement and as a minister in the South Sudan
government, Yauyau was a civilian but managed to form his group by
gathering together local youths.
Speaking as a representative of chiefs in Jonglei state, Paramount
chief Gatluak Thou demanded that SPLA forces protect the civilians and
cease hostilities. “We elected President Salva Kiir Mayardit and he is
our president,” the traditional leader said.
“All governors and members of assemblies were elected and will serve
till the end of the office tenure,” he said through a translator.
SPLA commander Gen. Bol on his part said the success of the southern
army in dealing with defecting officers lies with the cooperation of
civilians.
“They (defected army officers) stay in villages and it is the help of
civilians that they can be captured and brought to [trial],” Gen. Bol
said. He assured the civilian population of unconditional protection.
South Sudan, which is due to become independence from north Sudan on
July 9 following a secession vote in a January referendum, faces
numerous internal defections. Gen. Peter Gatet Yaka and Abdel Bagi are
the latest to defect and cause displacement of civilians in Unity
state.
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A girl gets her shoe stuck in tghe mud as she walks to attend the
celebrations of the SPLA’s 28th anniversary in Bor, the capital of
Jonglei state in South Sudan. May 27, 2011 (ST)
The 28th Anniversary of SPLA/M inception was under the theme
“Celebrating the final phase of south Sudan armed struggle.” The
celebration was delayed twice due preparations and the Abyei crisis
that engaged South Sudan’s president who was supposed to attend the
function. Friday’s ceremony was organized at state level.
Giant billboards bearing names of SPLA soldiers who died during the
movements 21 year civil war with various Khartoum governments were
erected in Bor town. The function was supposed to be a major national
event ahead of South Sudan’s July independence - that will be
celebrated in Juba.
The fact that South Sudan president Salva Kiir Mayardit did not travel
to Bor did not seem to affect the attendance. Thousands of civilians
took positions in the fenced area allocated to the east of Bor town on
Pakau—Makuach junction.
South Sudan’s organized forces in their thousands marched three
kilometers to the reach open ground named as “New Jonglei state
Stadium” which delayed the programme for 3 hours and only commenced at
midday.
Local musicians and several traditional dancers entertained the audience.
(ST)
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