USSP leader writes to South Sudan Prersident over insecurity and land grabbing

Your Excellency,

Subject: The alleged Wanton Attack on Anakdiar, Abanim, Obang, Atar (Collo areas), the land grabbing in Madi and Acholi land and the continued LRA’s attacks and brutal killings of civilians in Western Equatoria State.

Please allow me first and foremost to extend on my own behalf and on behalf of my party, United South Sudan Party (USSP), our deep sympathy and condolences to the families of Collo (Shilluk) who lost their loved ones in Collo land in the hands of certain alleged Dinka elements following the alleged wanton attack on villages of Anakdiar, Abanim, Obang, Atar on 10 January 2009, in which 16 people were reported murdered according to a letter written by some local Members of Parliaments addressed to the Governor of Malakal on 15th January 2009 . We also extend our condolences to the families and relatives of the civilians killed by LRA’s sustained attacks in Western Equatoria State recently. For those who were injured on the 9th January, 2009, during the fourth anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that took place in Malakal, we extend our sympathy to them and their loved ones.

Your Excellency,

It is high time that the government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) took serious measures to bring the murderers to justice. It has to be noted here that, unlike the events that followed the conclusion of the Addis Ababa Peace Agreement in 1972 where every refugee or displaced person went back to their original village and settled back to reconstruct their place, the signing of the CPA on 9 January 2005, has been marked by a series of fatal incidents in Western Equatoria State, Madi Land and Acholi Land in Eastern Equatoria and most recently, in Malakal, Anakdiar, Abanim, Obang and Atar involving land grabbing by some alleged Dinka elements. Surprisingly enough, the government of Southern Sudan has done too little to address these profoundly sad episodes. Unless the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) takes swift and stern measures against these perpetrators, GOSS will be accused of deliberately turning a ‘blind eye’ and condoning these deplorable atrocities. Such an irresponsible behaviour from a government will only encourage different communities to take the law into their own hands to protect themselves. That will plunge our country into chaos which we are totally against. In this connection, we have to be mindful of what happened in other African countries like Rwanda, Kenya, and so on, which we must learn a lesson from and take decisive actions to avoid at all cost. Any government has the obligation to protect all citizens regardless of their tribe; otherwise, the government will be failing in its duties and responsibilities. So, it would be wise to resolve this problem of land grabbing before it spins out of control.

Your Excellency

In light of the aforementioned problems, we recommend the following measures:

1- The mindless murderers have to be brought to justice promptly.
2- Formation of an independent committee to probe the incidents in Malakal, Anakdiar, Abanim, Obang and Atar and their findings and recommendations to be made public.

3- The borders issue of the counties within Upper Nile State as well as neighbouring states has to be settled without further ado.

4- The displaced persons should be returned safely to their homes or villages and given compensation they deserve for all what they have lost as a result of the attack. Likewise the government has to give them protection in their villages.

5- As for the land disputes in Madi and Acholi land, we advise that an independent committee be formed to probe the alleged land disputes in Madi and Acholi land to help the government resolve the matter amicably and speedily.

6- The LRA attacks on civilians in WES must be taken more seriously than has so far been taken and be considered a declaration of war by the LRA (a foreign force) against the people of South Sudan. Therefore, we urge GOSS to invoke article 12(2), and 12 (3) of the permanent ceasefire and security arrangements implementation modalities and appendices so as to protect innocent civilians and the territorial integrity of Sudan without delay.

7- Emergency relief aid, resettlement and rehabilitation programme need to be initiated through the state government with the help of GOSS to help those affected by the LRA attacks.

Your Excellency

We write this letter out of genuine concern for the common good of our people, the South Sudanese people, who have lost more than several million lives in the course of their struggle for freedom, independence and human dignity.

Thank you very much.

Clement Mbugoniwia
Leader of United South Sudan Party (USSP)