UN says SPLA committed widespread violations during July fighting
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This image provided by the UNMISS on July 11, 2016 shows some of the
at least 3000 displaced women, men and children taking shelter at the
UN compound in Tomping area in Juba (AFP Photo - Beatrice Mategwa)
August 4, 2016 (GENEVA) – United Nations (UN) has said preliminary
investigations into recent fighting in South Sudan, and its aftermath,
have revealed that forces loyal to President Salva Kiir carried out
killings and rapes, and looted and destroyed properties.
The UN human rights chief on Thursday called on the Security Council
to take stronger action against the perpetrators of the crimes.
“Tensions remain very high, and violations continue to take place in
Juba and other parts of the country,” said UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, after providing a written update
to the Security Council on the preliminary findings of ongoing UN
investigations into the five days of fighting that began in the
capital Juba on 7 July, and its aftermath.
The UN human rights top official said that information received by UN
human rights officers suggested that hundreds of fighters and
civilians were killed during the initial fighting.
It said while some civilians were killed in crossfire between the
fighting forces, others were reportedly summarily executed by
government’s SPLA soldiers, who appeared to have specifically targeted
people of Nuer origin.
The report cited as examples two separate incidents on 11 July in
which soldiers of the national army, known as the Sudan People’s
Liberation Army (SPLA) reportedly arrested eight Nuer civilians during
house-to-house searches in Juba’s Munuki area and took them to two
nearby hotels, where they shot four of them. On the same day, SPLA
soldiers broke into another hotel where they shot and killed a Nuer
journalist.
At least 73 civilian deaths have been catalogued so far by the UN, but
it is believed the civilian death toll may in fact turn out to be much
higher. The UN said it was denied access to some of the hardest-hit
areas in the days following the conflict and a number of restrictions
on movement remain in place.
“The fighting also resulted in widespread sexual violence, including
rape and gang rape by soldiers in uniform and men in plain clothes,”
Zeid said, adding that Nuer, Dinka and women from the three Equatorian
states were all targeted, along with foreign nationals. Many victims
were minors.
“We have documented at least 217 cases of sexual violence in Juba
between 8 and 25 July,” Zeid said.
“In a few areas, women from various ethnic groups were raped by
heavily armed youth believed to be affiliated to the SPLA in
Opposition (SPLA/IO),” the report said.
“However, according to the information we have gathered so far, those
most affected were displaced Nuer women and girls and those
responsible seem to have been mostly SPLA.”
“Sexual violence continued after the initial fighting subsided and
over 100 women and girls are reported to have been raped or gang-raped
on the road leading out of Juba towards Yei. On 18 July, for example,
35 women and girls were reportedly raped in two separate incidents:
firstly, 28 women, including 12 minors, were allegedly assaulted at an
SPLA checkpoint at the Jebel Junction on the Yei Road; and in the
second incident that day, seven other women were reportedly raped on
the road between two Protection of Civilians sites, where people –
mostly Nuer — displaced by earlier rounds of fighting are protected by
UNMISS peacekeepers,” it further said.
During the five days of fighting in Juba, it added, thousands more
people were forcibly displaced, and many civilians were denied access
to safety in UN compounds by SPLA soldiers manning the various
checkpoints that sprang up across Juba.
“There have also been reports of forced recruitment by the SPLA,
including of children, in Bor,” it said.
The UN High Commissioner urged the Transitional Government of National
Unity to restore dialogue and take steps to ensure justice and
accountability, and called on the international community to put real
pressure on the government to halt violence and respect the life of
all South Sudanese.
“The severity of the recent violence, and the very dangerous ethnic
undertone, call for urgent action by the Security Council,” he said.
(ST)
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5 August 00:23, by Panda Odhie
UN really is setup to conspired as global liar and fuel division
among the tribes dwelling,this is full of fictions in order to achieve
their hide agenda on SS those are Pagan words.
repondre message
5 August 16:16, by Hardlinner
Goverment shld prioritize agriculture n kick UN out for good.
UN is stiring up tribal wars in S Sudan by manufacturing lies. I hv
never heard them talking about alives of innocent dinka civilians
killed by rebels on juba numile road. They r indeed advocating for
Rwanda genocide in S sudan by fitting tribe against one another. I
think UN as become KKK organization. South sudanese shld watch out
repondre message
5 August 02:36, by allan
I think un is another name for nuer or Riak Machar company
repondre message
5 August 05:33, by Dinka-Defender-General
UN needs to stay away from south Sudan affairs. You don’t know our
problems and you didn’t help us during the 22 war with Khartoum when
they killed 2 millions. Therefore, stay out of our internal affairs
please.
repondre message
5 August 06:33, by jur_likang_a_ likan’g
UN is a world organisation body that speak facts on the ground. No
one can dispute what took place in South Sudan in the recent
history.Right now we have tribal monsters claiming to be a national
army that act just much worse than Jallaba army. When a Balanda,
Zande, Moru, Kuku women are raped and men massacred do you call them
Nuer? Why is it hard to implement reform?
repondre message
5 August 11:20, by Akuma
Jur,
UNMISS forces and SPLA-IO forces who run into UNMISS compound
are responsible of such abuses otherwise SPLA forces are very
discipline compared to UNMISS and SPLA-IO forces. PLease begin
mourning your wife boss is dead
repondre message
5 August 11:46, by jur_likang_a_ likan’g
Mr Akuma,
This is a time not for misinformation. Every thing you or
your so called rebels are doing is being seen through the satellite.
Stop kidding soon or later you will have to answer for your deeds.
repondre message
5 August 09:15, by Eastern
UN Security Council has become a talking shop indeed! Shame!
repondre message
5 August 17:50, by marie
South Sudan government has the option of terminating its
membership in the UN. As it did apply for membership, it has the
freedom of opting out of UN. Then we would see what happens.
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