S. Sudan army investigating human rights abuses: spokesperson
July 23, 2015 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese army said it had launched investigations into a Human Rights Watch report accusing its forces of killing civilians in Unity state.
“The SPLA command is conducting an investigation into the report to know exactly where the alleged violations took place,” said Aguer.
“If it is proved that the SPLA soldiers or officers carried out such violations, definitely this is against our rules of [military] engagement that prohibit any killings of innocent civilians and violations of the rights,” he told reporters in Juba on Thursday.
The HRW reported disclosed at least 63 rape cases, killing of 60 people and the crushing of civilians as they fled the army and allied militia from Bul Nuer. Similar allegations by survivors and witnesses were documented by UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in June in an investigation carried out by its human rights department.
Aguer said the United States-baesd rights groups and the United Nations should accept the army’s invitation to work together to prove any wrongdoing by government forces.
“We are committed to accountability and we are sure that if human rights or United Nations writing on the ground are committed, we are ready to go to the ground to carry out joint investigation into these allegations,” he said.
Both government and rebels forces loyal to former vice president Riek Machar have been accused in the past of committing human rights violations that amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. They both vowed to investigate the matter, but in vain.
(ST)