Matip accuses Sudanese intelligence of laying trap for his forces

Mar 31, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Deputy Supreme commander of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) Lt-Gen Paolino Matip has denied that the president is involved in plots waged against his forces, asserting that the ones who made the plots are enemies of the regime, who intend to lie the seeds of sedition between the president and the world media.

This was said in a press conference at the South Government Bureau in Khartoum under tight security.

Matip held the military intelligence directly responsible for setting the trap for the SPLM while returning from Abyei in Western Kordofan State, recently which led to 39 dead, 27 injured an the rest still lost.

He added that they have informed the military intelligence that there are booby traps so that they may take precautions. However, they neglected the matter so we hold them responsible for what has happened. The families of the dead are unnamed.

He also stated that this press conference is intended to make the local media aware of repeated violations of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) by the military intelligence.

Matip said that they have suffered violations in all regions of Fam, al-Zaraf and Long Shok in eastern Nuer in Upper Nile State southern Sudan and finally in Abyei.

He explained that the SPLM addressed the supreme commander of the armed forces, the first vie-president and has not yet received a response.

(Khartoum Monitor/ST)