GOSS calls on law enforcement agencies to combat human rights abuses

September 17, 2009 (JUBA) –The Chairperson of the Government of Southern Sudan’s Human Rights Commission, Ms. Mary Eluzai, today called on states and law enforcement agencies to promote and protect civilians from human rights abuses.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune the official said not targeting specific states but growing situational concerns are compelling the commission to remind concerned authorities.

However, she said reports from individuals and human rights activists indicate that at least thousands of innocent civilians, mostly women, children, and the elderly people, have been killed in recent tribal clashes across the semi-autonomous region.

“As Human Rights Commission we called upon all the states government to promptly and impartially investigate responsibility for any attacks on civilians, and urged all parties to the armed conflict in the region to respect the prohibition under international law against targeting civilians,” she said.

Referring to recent tribal clashes in Upper Nile, Warrap, Jonglei, and Lakes State among others, the chairperson said the attacks were reported to have been properly organized as if it was a conflict between the two conventional armies.

“Many eye witnesses have in number of times come to my office saying attacks were properly organized and conducted by experienced ex-military personnel in their respected communities for raids and other criminal acts resulting into displacement of thousands of civilians across the region.”

She further said received reports that some of the displaced persons carried automatic rifles, as is the custom for tribal men in most areas of South Sudan.

“Human Rights commission is extremely concerned about the consequences of the current tribal clashes on the humanitarian situation in the aforementioned regions, based on reports coming from the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies across South Sudan. Current media reports also indicate that upward of 150,000 civilians have been displaced by tribal fighting in the region.”

However, she said government of southern Sudan is currently committed and interested in investigating what may have caused such horrific attacks on civilians.
“Civilians should never be attacked by any armed for whatever reasons whether be it cattle or tribal differences,” she commented.

United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) regional coordinator for south David Gressly in an interview with Reuters earlier this month warned that the tribal violence in southern Sudan could mar the elections due next April.

“At least 1,200 people have been killed since January and it’s probably higher than that,” Gressly said. “What is different this year is the number of deaths and in many cases women and children have been targeted.”

“It is a concern of the United Nations and other organizations working here, that if this violence persists, it will be difficult to move election materials in some of the areas affected by the violence,” he said.

(ST)