Rebecca Garang calls for new probe on helicopter crash

July 30, 2006 (JUBA) — The widow of Dr John Garang, the late leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, SPLM, who died in a helicopter crash in southern Sudan on 30 July 2005, has called for new investigations on the circumstances of his helicopter crash.

Rebecca Garang, during the commemoration of the first anniversary of the death of the former Sudanese First Vice President yesterday in Juba, said that deeper inquiries should be conducted to establish the truth about the controversial helicopter crash on July 30, 2005.

“The report has come out but as the family of Gen. Garang and the extended family what we want is that even if it is out we need extended investigations,” said Rebecca.

Madam Garang said she asked the governments of Uganda and Southern Sudan (GOSS) to support further probe into the controversial death of her late husband.

Following the helicopter crash near New Site in southern Sudan, an international investigation panel was formed to establish the probable cause of the accident after his death sparked a wave of violence in Sudan, where many suspected conspiracy.

The international panel was chaired by former Sudanese vice president Abel Alier and the black boxes were analysed in Russia.

Pilot error was to blame for the helicopter crash that killed Sudanese First Vice President John Garang last year as he flew home from Uganda, the final report into the accident by Uganda and Sudan said on Tuesday 18 April 2006.

The Ugandan government notified Sudan of its reservations regarding some aspects of the final report by panel investigating the plane crash. Actually the difference between the panel members and the Ugandan government was obviously clear during the investigations when Uganda was accused of information retention and lack of cooperation by the investigators.

(ST)

Related paper: Sudan, Uganda differences over the causes of Garang crash