Some armed elements trench SPLA reputation – official

March 19, 2007 (JUBA) — A Southern Sudan official denounced some armed elements which, in the name of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), commit violence against civilians. He said these people may ruin the reputation of the SPLA.

The speaker of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, James Wani Igga, said these “armed elements” in southern Sudan may “spoil the name of the SPLM” in upcoming elections., the Sudan Radio Service reported.

Addressing a political rally in Juba last week, James Wani Igga alleged that there are armed elements and civilians, pretending to be SPLA soldiers, who may harass and intimidate citizens during the run up to elections.

“People say oh! It is the SPLA, oh! It is the SPLA soldiers. Those are just lies. There are other people behind it. Recently it happened in Gabat. There were six soldiers who were beating civilians there. When an SPLA commander patrolled the area, he asked the soldiers where they were from and they said they were SPLA soldiers. The commander left and came back with a large group of soldiers who surrounded the six. When they were arrested, it was found that they were not SPLA soldiers. They were just out to spoil the name of SPLA.” said Wani Igga:

Igga said SPLA soldiers must be trained on how to relate to civilians so they can “promote” the image of the party. Whether SPLA soldiers will be encouraged to actively campaign for the SPLM in upcoming elections, action that would surely be opposed by other political parties in Sudan and could be a violation of the CPA, was not clear in Mr. Igga’s remarks.

He also encouraged people who have still not joined the SPLM to do so. He particularly encouraged young people to join, calling the SPLM the “party of the future.”

(SRS/ST)