South Sudan’s disabled war veterans stage salary protest
By Philip Thon Aleu
March 19, 2009 (BOR TOWN) – A section of Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) – war victims staged a demonstration on Wednesday morning in Nimule, Yei, Kaya and Moyo paralyzing business there, officials say.
Sources at the border said the soldiers — most of whom suffered casualties during the 22-year war between the SPLA and the Khartoum government and commonly known as war heroes — started the mutiny to protest non-payment of their salaries for the last seven months.
South Sudan immigration officials in Nimule, the gateway to Uganda in Eastern Equatoria State, told the Sudan Tribune over phone Wednesday and Thursday that people stay in-doors to avoid likely confrontation in case of interference with the angry veterans.
“There is no business going on today. People are stranded at their homes for the fear that the war disabled may hurt you,” an immigration official Jacob Matiop described the event.
Asked what authorities in Nimule were doing to quell the protest, another official Ajak Alier said the protesters have refused to listen to any local leader unless Juba send high level delegates to explain the circumstances prompting for non-payment for 7 months. An eye witness in Nimule told the Sudan Tribune that the strike is unlikely to stop should leaders in Juba fail to react swiftly.
South Sudan became a major investment destination for its immediate neighbors in 2006 following the signing of a peace agreement between the SPLA and the Sudan government. Two other border points of Kaya and Kajo-Keji linking Oraba and Moyo to Southern Sudan respectively were also affected, paralyzing business there. Yei town in Central Equatoria State on Juba – Kaya road have business halted on Wednesday following the disgruntled soldiers’ protest.
In July, 2008 the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) held a workshop in Juba aimed at organizing and establishing a Southern Sudan War Disabled Association (SSWDA) to play a significant role in catering for various needs of the war disabled persons throughout Southern Sudan. The workshop, which was organized by the GOSS Ministry of Gender, Social Welfare and Religious Affairs in collaboration with relevant independent commissions of the government, was expected to resolve on the Association’s Draft Concept Paper in the next few days then.
Speaking at the workshop, South Sudan Vice President Riek Machar Teny was quoted in the media as saying “Those who are now running the Government of Southern Sudan are the same people with whom you [war victims] fought side by side during the liberation struggle and could not forget you.” Machar Teny allegedly claimed that South Sudan has budgeted for the war victims.
Wednesday demonstration in South Sudan towns comes after series of such protests in the past years by armed forces in a year when South Sudan salaries for civil staffs was delayed in January, 2009 for reasons innocent Southerners do not have knowledge. Authorities in Juba, the seat of South Sudan government, are yet to react to the situation there.
(ST)