SPLM officials pledge to take Abyei’s war crimes to the ICC Article Comments (19) Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Ngor Arol Garang June 9, 2011 (JUBA) —The leadership and office of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in the disputed area on Thursday rejected the legitimacy of the newly appointed administration, and pledged to take Abyei’s case to the International Criminal Court (ICC) demanding that President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir be indicted over atrocities committed there. Internally displaced people gather in Turalei, in the south’s Twic county, about 130 km (80 miles) from Abyei town, May 27, 2011. (Reuters) The move comes after a strong stance by SPLM Abyei leaders who expressed strong sentiments against military seizure of the area by Sudan Armed Forces in a public meeting held in Juba today. The former rebel movement turned a ruling political party, of the semi autonomous region of south Sudan, on the other hand, criticized international community for paying little attention on what it calls war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Sudanese government in the area since the signing of the peace agreement. "The Sudanese government, especially the leadership of the National Congress Party continues to undermine the implementation of key protocols in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement including the Abyei protocol. They decided to deliberately kill innocent civilians at the watch of the international community, who are guarantors of this peace," said Juac Agok, a deputy chairperson of the SPLM Abyei. The official who was speaking at a public briefing in Juba on Thursday over situation of the internally displaced persons from Abyei in various places to which they fled, described conditions in which they live as "appalling and upset". "Fo those who have not been able to visit them (Abyei’s IDPs), I tell you our people are living in horrible and appalling conditions. They are living under trees where they are being rained on without food and shelter", Agok further said. He stressed that the SPLM and the people of Abyei do not recognize the newly formed interim administration in the area, saying it represents nothing and lacks legitimacy. Agok wondered why the international community pays quick and caring attention to event unfolding in Libya, Syria and Yemen, where citizens have been out on the streets demanding regime change than atrocities he said were being committed by Sudanese government in Darfur and Abyei as well as in South Kordofan. "I do not understand what the international community considers as crimes when Sudanese government has embarked on killing of citizens it suppose to protect. Why does a single bomb on rebel positions by Libyan troops spark international outcry while ruthless attacks and killings with subsequent displacements of innocent civilians by the Sudanese army in Sudan hardly draw any attention", asked Agok. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stated from Geneva on 7 June that the number of people displaced as a result of conflict in the disputed area of Abyei has risen to nearly 100,000. The agency added that many residents are still on the move or hiding in bushland amid heavy military activity. UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards said only 67,000 IDPs have been registered. Some 68% of the registered IDPs have sought safety in the Turalei and Mayan Abun areas of neighbouring Warrap state. The rest have gone to Agok, which – despite its closeness to Abyei and the presence of armed groups – is attracting IDPs from surrounding areas and returning residents who had fled earlier, he said. ICC FOR ABYEI The meeting was addressed by three Abyei leaders who all spoke about lodging a case at the war crimes court in The Hague, ICC, against the Sudanese President and some senior military officers including the minister of defense for committing atrocities and displacement of the local population. The SPLM- Abyei deputy chairperson told the meeting that his community cannot forgive any atrocities in the area and that the only way to serve justice is filing a case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President Bashir and some of the senior members of his government. "There is no way and hearts which can forgive repeated atrocities committed by the Sudanese army against our people. The National Congress Party believes in killing and destruction of properties," explains Agok. Last week, Deng Alor Kuol, a native of Abyei and a prominent SPLM member reassured of South Sudan President’s commitment to resolve the dispute over Abyei through peaceful means. He also reminded the support of the international community and the United Nations to the people of Abyei. Alor said that community was considering opening a case against President Omrr Al-Bashir before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the killings and displacement of the people. Ngor Ayuel, the acting Abyei community leader and a deputy chairperson of Abyei Referendum Forum, read out condemnation letter of the seizure of the area by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). He added that the move was intended to settle the members of the rival of the Arab tribe of Misseriya in the areas from where local inhabitants were displaced. "We condemn this invasion and reject any intimidation to concede anything in Abyei. We will never compromise even an inch once again come rain or shine. We have compromised a lot because we were committed to bringing lasting peace", explained the emotionally charged official who spoke at length. Ayuel stressed that the land of Abyei belongs to the Dinka Ngok chiefdoms which are part of the South and that no political or military pressure will compel them to forgo their rights over the "ancestral land" even if it means killing them all. "The National Congress Party thinks this invasion will deter us from demanding our right on the area. This Abyei belongs to our ancestors and we will never let it go because our people are being killed. This is false and it is wrong calculation. We will never compromise anything this time even an inch come what may", Ayuel said. (ST) -- 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.
