Nhial tells S. Sudan MPs: ‘SPLA trained to fight rather than keep order’
By Isaac Vuni
February 10, 2009 (JUBA) – The Minister of SPLA Affairs Lt. Gen. Nhial Deng Nhial, appointed on December 22, 2008, today responded to a summons of the August House requesting him to make a statement on the security situation in the metropolitan capital Juba and the states.
Responding to accusations and allegations from governors, Nhial reminded the August House that SPLA have been trained to fight rather than to enforce law and order as some people are advocating within the Sudanese community today.
Ethnic and sectional fights have taken a horrendous toll on human lives particularly in Lakes, Warrap, Upper Nile, Unity and parts of Eastern Equatoria states. The minister noted that cattle rustling has become a deadly activity costing human lives as raiders operate with impunity in these states.
Nhial moreover pointed to redeployment of Sudan Army Forces (SAF) in contravention of the 2005 peace agreement, creating a major security threat to the South; by contrast, he said that SPLA completed its redeployment from Eastern Sudan, Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile.
According to Nhial, the SAF practice of arming of civilians has stepped up for Arab tribes straddling the North-South border with the aim of destabilizing the South.
Further he noted that the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) poses a menace in Eastern, Central and Western Equatoria states. He cited figures that from December 2008 to January 2009, 43 people were killed and six injured. Hence SPLA deployed four Divisions from its Brigades, in Kajokeji, Kaya ,Bazi, Morobo, Yei, Lasu, Tore, Mapoko and Goli while a Commando Brigade deployed along Juba-Yei road. He added that LRA still remain elusive as they are also being guided by fellow Sudanese including political negotiation tactics with the Uganda government.
PROPOSED PLAN OF ACTION
Consequently the minister outlined before the lawmakers a possible action plan for reducing insecurity in ten states of South Sudan. Above all, the plan calls for forcible disarmament of civil populations and other persons not authorized to bear arms.
But rather than making use of the usual SPLA forces, Nhial proposed that South Sudan could establish a special broadly representative force for the task. After they underwent special training, the special troops would disarm communities and make continuous searches to prevent suspected groups from rearming.
Nhial called on the regional parliament to allocate adequate resources for the force. He also called for dignity, respect of fundamental human rights, and respect for rule of law when disarming.
Finally, he recommended imposing the death penalties in lieu of traditional compensation practices as a deterrent to the practice of taking human lives with impunity.
MINISTER AND GOVERNOR RESPOND TO ACCUSATIONS
Regarding accusations leveled by MPs that the Warrap Governor is compelling citizens to contribute 50 bulls monthly for feeding SPLA, Nhial said that such collections used to be done during the war but now that parliamentarians have approved a budget for upkeep and equipping of soldiers, he questioned the governor’s directive.
But he also argued that the inability of SPLA commanders to respond to the demanding situation was due to the limited to resources at their disposal. For instance, there is a lack of water supply for SPLA in Magwi area, though this would soon be taken care of by SPLA authority, he noted.
Meanwhile Jonglei State Governor Kuol Manyang Juk said security situation in Jonglei has worsened since he took over administration of the state. Since weather conditions in the state do not favour agricultural production, six ethnic groups opt to raise cattle at the same time. A fierce trade in cattle and abducted children abduction of children goes on as the pastoralists carry superior weapons than the police.
Governor Juk added that in total 117 persons were killed and 32 children abducted as of yesterday from the Pari area of Eastern Equatoria state.
The Jonglei leader suspected that cattle raiders could be SPLA deserters who are in full uniforms and have no respect for traditional leaders including chiefs, as they take law into their hands; hence the governor could only protect civil population when it has a monopoly of power, he noted.
“If we want to be in peace, we must disarm our civilian population, otherwise, there is a serious breakdown of law and order in Jonglei state,” cautioned the governor.
PARLIAMENTARIANS COMPLAIN
According to Hon. Maker Benjamin, currently the majority of police deployed in Jonglei are war-disabled persons. He said that the split within SPLM/A movement in August 1991 created more than fifteen movements including establishment of the White Army under Dr. Riek Machar that devastated the Bor people.
Hon. Beatrice disclosed that Captain William in Magwi garrison was the source of supplying guns to Dinka pastoralists occupying areas of Eastern and Central Equatoria and demanded for his arrest by SPLA authority.
Returnees to the area complain that the Jonglei pastoralists occupying their farmlands are seemingly backed by senior former SPLA officers and current government officials. They have demanded a fixed period of evacuation by the pastoralists.
Hon. Beatrice also complained that SPLA are denying civilians borehole water, especially the affected returnees. The MP added that the parliamentary team selected to investigate the issue had failed to report to the House and was afraid of rich people, hence they only wrote their reports pledging that the governor of Jonglei would forcefully collect his people from Magwi in Eastern Equatoria and other affected states back to their original state.
Hon. Oliver Mari Benjamin suggested that some of the ongoing raids are over competition for appointments to the new cabinet of the Government of Southern Sudan, since some leaders have surrendered their land for the sake of getting a position in the current government.
Hon. Toby Madut said pastoralists have rights to live in any part of southern Sudan and those who commit crimes must be arrested and punish by law, adding that there are some blocks of people in the House against pastoralists.
C. EQUATORIA GOVERNOR: THREE SOURCES OF INSECURITY
The governor of Central Equatoria state, Clement Wani Konga, posited that there are three major causes of insecurity in Juba city.
First, Sudanese “niggers” (a derogatory term used for returnees from abroad, sometimes to designate non-customary cultural practices) who came from Egypt are more deadly and eliminate their colleagues who opt to desert the groups, said Konga, noting that most are children of senior government officials.
The second major instigators of insecurity are disgruntled soldiers who have not received their salaries or were left out of assimilation exercises, he said.
Third are foreign criminals from Kenya, Uganda and South Africa specialized in snatching jewelry from women while on motorbikes, soldiers carrying firearms home and land-grabbing by senior government officials and squatters, he said.
He recommended the following measures to be taken immediately to restore dignity in the city: there should be cooperation and coordination with security organs in south Sudan; adherence to directives of the GOSS president that arms should be stored; intensification of security training to foster and instill disciplines among forces; and assurance that all soldiers live in barracks instead of residential areas.
Finally, the governor assured the Assembly that three persons were arrested and are under investigation over the killing of four people on December 31, 2009.
(ST)