SPLA says Sudan oil ministry supports militias
Aug 1, 2006 (JUBA) — Sudan People’s Liberation Army accused the federal oil ministry of supporting Southern Sudan militias urging concrete measures to stop this violation of the peace deal.
The SPLA director of operation general Piang Deng, accused the federal ministry of energy and mining of financing militias in southern Sudan. Deng asked Militias Commission to take appropriate measures against this distortion of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
According to Deng some oil companies militias are financed by the ministry of energy, and it becomes difficult to distinguish between the militias and the regular police because they work in the same areas and they wear the same uniform.
The SPLM general urged the Militias Commission to take a decision on this issue in its next meeting scheduled to take place on 3 August.
Deng said that federal governmental authorities deny supporting these militias, “but how they can survive without support”. He further said that some quarters back these militias.
He also indicated that the issue was discussed with the Sudanese army but no common vision was determined. He added the problem they have to deal with these militias that they ignore their bases and the number of their members.
He said that Clement Wani who joints the SPLM two days ago had indicated the number of its force is 350 soldiers.
Deng said these militias disturb the settlement of displaced people and refugees in the south.
The UN special envoy Jan Pronk said last week that oil companies’ militias create unrest not only in the area of Bentiu but also the other states. Pronk was speaking about the intertribal fighting in southern Sudan.
(ST)