Nuer traditional leaders to protest to UN over Jonglei attacks
Feb 13, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Political and people’s leaders, Sultans and chieftains in northern Upper Nile State are expected to hand on Wednesday 15 February a memo of protest to the UN representative in Khartoum to denounce attacks on people of Neur tribe in Jungle area.
Some seven people were killed in Jonglei State in southern Sudan in clashes between South Sudan Defence Force (SSDF) armed militias and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), despite a peace deal to end Africa’s longest civil war there.
The official spokesperson for the SSDF Brig Gen Mohamed Chol gave the details of Jonglei State incidents. He said that SPLA forces led by Peter Paul Kong had carried out a widespread attack on the forces of the SSDF and civilians in an attempt disarm them which resulted in the death of many citizens.
Speaking to the press yesterday, Chol said the attack had occurred on Friday 3 February and further accused the SPLA of taking women and children hostage.
Le Chief of the SSDF, Maj Gen Gordon Kong, asked why the UN had remained quiet about repeated attacks by SPLM forces in the south and called on it, as one of peace’s guardians, to reveal the truths and ensure that some sides were serious about the continuation of the peace process.
The United Nations has been slow to deploy around 10,000 soldiers to monitor a ceasefire in the south between former foes the southern Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the northern Islamist government.
(ST)