SRSG takes questions from listeners on UNMISS’ mandate
Friday, 18 May 2012 06:54 Lagu Francis Interviews >>> . Following the increasing and continuous bombardment on South Sudan territories by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) even after the withdrawal of SPLA from Heglig/Panthou, many southerners questioned the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Radio Miraya recently hosted the Special Representative of Secretary General for South Sudan and head of UNMISS, Hilde F. Johnson on 'Inside South Sudan' to explain the mandate of UNMISS. She also took questions from listeners; Festo Augustine, asked South Sudan is withdrawing from Heglig, yet the country is being bombed by Sudan? Johnson: The UN Security Council is the body that first said they expected South Sudan to withdraw from Heglig. They actually in the same vein also condemned the bombardments of SAF. The Security Council (SC) is the supreme body for peace and security worldwide and it reflects a unanimous statement from the SC and reflected the views of people all over the world. The statements subsequently came from a number of countries and those were the ones and SC that requested South Sudan to withdraw from Heglig. The Secrtary General (SG) also did so, on the basis of the SC resolution and the reason basically is that when it comes to territorial claims, the international community expects both South Sudan and any other government to follow international rules and procedures. The international rule is that territorial claims should be raised in political or legal context through arbitration and not through military means. Host: Are you saying South Sudan failed to raise the Heglig issue to the international community? Johnson: At least what we are seeing is that Heglig has not been systematically raised before from the arbitration result on Abyei and on words. But I think the government is trying, planning to do so now and the international community expects the government to use legal and political means and I think it can still be done and I heard the president say that that is what he is intending to do. It is important to note that UN has not taken a decision on Heglig. Augustine: is there any assistance being given to those displaced by the Sudanese bombardments? Johnson: The humanitarian situation in South Sudan is very serious on many fronts and the humanitarian organizations are working 24/7 to help and also helping in areas where they were displaced from areas of fighting. They have been less displaced from the aerial bombardment and we are monitoring the situation very carefully. So far, 16 have been killed and 34 wounded civilians in areas we have access to, we don't know where we don't have access. We are with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other organisations are helping both the wounded and those who have been coming to the hospital. Kitale from Jonglei: is it good enough for UN to only condemn the bombardment when they asked South Sudan to withdraw from Heglig, we obeyed? Johnson: We need to do more? I wish I could. I don't have the means to do more. The South Sudanese population and government need to talk to the Security Council, US, United Kingdom, France, China, Russia and appeal to them to take action. Host: It's a common sentiment all over South Sudan that the international community is being unfair to South Sudan, what do you say? Johnson: There is clear reaction when any country, be it South Sudan, Sudan or any other country is taking territorial claims through military means, it will be subjected to exactly the same condemnation. Galuak: the mandate of UNMISS is to protect civilians, what did Johnson do when people fled from Panthou? Johnson: The mandate of the mission stops at what is internationally recognized as South Sudan. At this point, Heglig or Panthou is not internationally recognized as part of South Sudan. It is not recognized as nothing else than a potential disputed area. For that reason at the moment, it is in Sudan territory, but being claimed by South Sudan -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" 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/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
