S. Sudan conflict survivor decries slow pace of sanctions
December 7, 2014 (KAMPALA) – A survivor of last year’s killings that took place in Gudele, a suburb in the South Sudan capital, has urged the international community to step up efforts to impose sanctions on those who committed crimes on innocent people.
“I don’t see the credibility of international community when talking about threats without implementing the sanctions. How many times do they talk about sanctions without putting it into effect?” said Lieth.
He also expressed concerns over the fate of the thousands of civilians still holed up in United Nations protection of civilian camps in fearing they could be killed should they returned to their homes.
Over 100,000 people have sought refuge in UN bases across the country for fear of their lives or after being attacked from homes.
Millions more have reportedly fled into the bush and remain too fearful to return home as the violence conflict rages on to-date.
“If the governments can sanction civilians in South Sudan, why is it so difficult for international community to issue sanctions against them, while they prevent aid supply to victims’ affected areas?” said Lieth.
He called on the international community to sanction both warring parties in order to stop the suffering of thousands who are displaced by conflicts to neighboring countries and those within the country.
Lieth, who spoke to Sudan Tribune by phone from Sweden, also faulted president Salva Kiir for allegedly failing to lead the nation, by “allowing ethnicity targeting of his own civilians in mass killing”.
“Every person in the country must know there is big mistake committed by president. Whether you are Dinka where the president comes from, you should know that what the president is doing is not acceptable in world history,” he said.
“We cannot keep silent for the deaths to continue, if you think covering Mr. Kiir because you come from Dinka tribe. That is a wrong ideology and we have to walk out before this conflict finishes us all,” he added.
REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS
Meanwhile, Lieth urged those living in the various UN camps in South Sudan due to fear on repercussions to remember souls of people innocently killed by government forces at genesis of last year’s conflict.
“Every family member in the country and around the globe should come out on day 16 of December to light candles to show the respect on toothless civilians who were merely killed because they carry identity of Nuer community,” said Lieth as he sobbed.
He also recalled how the blood of victims from the massacres covered most ports of his body during the gruesome killing incident.
“Sometimes, the blood of those killed used to come up in my dream and I could not rest throughout my life due to fact that the situation I witnessed is disturbing to me,” said Lieth, one of the people granted asylum by the Swedish government owing to the tense situation.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed and nearly two million displaced since violence pitting president Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar, broke out last year.
(ST)