South Sudan president swears in fresh SPLA medical corps officers
April 17, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Southern Sudan President Salva Kiir, in the presence of SPLA Chief of Staff Lt. Gen Wia Deng Ajak, presided over an SPLA swearing-in ceremony at the Government of South Sudan Presidency on Monday.
During the ceremony, which was a continuation of an event that began on Saturday 14th April at SPLA General Head Quarters, twenty-seven newly-trained SPLA Medical Corps officers were passed out, making a total of fourty-four.
In a press release issued late Monday, President Kiir stated that, during the war, the only examination had been the battlefield. In peacetime, however, the needs were different. It was necessary now for all to prove their competency through examination.
To spend all of the State’s money on unproductive salaries would mean that no development would be possible; selection based on provable criteria was needed, he said.
Salva Kiir Mayardith emphasized the responsibility of those present to behave in a way that befitted their rank as officers. Bachelors should remain in the mess, he said, and bear in mind that as officers they were expected to take a responsible attitude, budgeting for their own food and expenses in a way that ordinary soldiers did not need to.
Also he has reminded the graduating personnel that they should remember that they were officers and not just medics; in the event of war they would be expected to carry their full share of the work of the SPLA.
Acknowledging the only two female officers participating in the ceremony, he said that, whilst special accommodation arrangements were made for female recruits, it was possible that some female officers would experience sexual harassment by their male colleagues.
This was not a new phenomenon, he said, and had probably happened in all armies, and perhaps even during the training period. However, he urged victims of such harassment to complain. Male soldiers engaging such behaviour would be committing a crime with serious consequences.
To the women passing out, he said “Nobody has right to harass you, given that you have come with your own competencies to share with your male colleague. You are to be congratulated; you are the first women to join the SPLA Medical Corps and we salute you”.
Speaking to the press after the ceremony, Lt. Gen. Wiai Deng Ajak, SPLA Chief of Staff, explained that the graduating officers were all medically-trained personnel who had been recruited into the SPLA and undergone two months’ basic officer training. In order for them to be commissioned, it was necessary for them to swear an oath of allegiance to the Country, before the President, who is commander in chief of the SPLA. Today’s ceremony had been the conclusion of that process.
General Kuol Diem Kuol, SPLA Spokesman, added that the fourty-four medical recruits had received basic training at Pariak Training Centre in Jonglei State. As a result of their successful completion of their training, the SPLA now benefited from the services of twenty-four medical doctors, five laboratory technicians, five medical assistants and six nurses. Given that SPLA had formerly enjoyed the services of less than ten medical doctors, this batch of Medical Corps Officers represented“qualitative change” in the SPLA’s medical services.
Further, the batch included the first two female doctors in the SPLA, an extremely good development upon which the SPLA would continue to build, Kuol said.
(ST)