SPLA accuses Sudan armed forces of provocation
By Ngor Arol Garang
November 11, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) on Thursday accused forces associated with Sudanese army of acting in a provocative manner with intention of violating the permanent ceasefire, said an official with the Southern army.
Officials from the semi-autonomous South have repeatedly accused the north of intending to sabotage the independence vote particularly by insisting on the completion of border demarcation before voting takes place.
In an interview with Sudan Tribune, Colonel Philip Aguer Panyang, a spokesperson for the SPLA, described behaviors of Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) members as becoming increasingly provocative and an indicative of a desire to return to war.
“Their soldiers are always aggressive and provocative mostly in areas hosting civil population as evidenced on Monday incident in Melut,” said Colonel Panyang.
Panyang said that last Monday, SAF component of the Joint Integrated Units (JIUs) in Melut town, Upper Nile State, went on a shooting spree beginning at 8 pm. He said they started targeting positions of the SPLA JIU component and the United Nations Mission office in the area.
“They also directed shots at the town resulting in the killing of a young girl and leaving two others with serious injuries. These wounded victims are currently in critical conditions. The victims included a Falata business man from northern South and a police officer,” he explained.
He said the SPLA forces did not retaliate and maintained covering position up to the early Tuesday morning.
Panyang said such behavior “shows nothing but acts that SAF are trying all means to violate the ceasefire….this is not the first time they have carried out such provocative acts”.
The SAF command has, however, denied intention to violate the ceasefire and attributed the incident to drinking by some of their forces.
Asked on position of the SPLA on such incidents, Panyang said the SPLA command remains committed to maintaining peace in the country and that they have asked the SAF command to adopt the same position by controlling its soldiers to respect lives of the innocent civilians they are suppose to protect.
“We remain committed to maintaining peace and protection of lives and properties of innocent civilians……the SAF command needs to adopt SPLA position by cautioning its soldiers against flimsy excuses and to refrain from being trigger-happy for war,” said Panyang.
On Thursday, the minister of defense in the central government Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein and minister of SPLA affairs, Nhial Deng Nhial pledged no return to war in a joint statement intended to defuse tensions.
Addressing a joint press conference in Khartoum, Nhial, said that the press briefing was intended to send out message to the citizens of commitment of the two parties to peaceful settlement of their differences and not return to war.
“We wanted to send a message to our citizens, both in the north and south, that there will be no return to war. Regardless of the amount of differences they will be resolved through political dialogue. There will be no return to war,” Nhial told reporters.
The minister Nhial said the reported attack in Upper Nile state on October 31 was still under investigation and declined to comment further.
On his part, federal minister defense Abdel-Rahim commented that he thought the north-south dispute could be solved through political dialogue by the two parties instead of using arms.
The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement allows the government of a semi- autonomous south the right to keep its own army and the right vote at internationally monitored referendum to decide their fate from rest of the united Sudan.
(ST)
Kim Deng
SPLA accuses Sudan armed forces of provocation
Mr. Nhial,
You cannot avoid war if imposed on you unless if you’re coward enough and want someone to sit on your head. It’s a matter of time before the “timing-bomb” exploded beyond your imagination.
The very dirty ugly war the arabized Nubian gov’t (NIF/NCP) has been singing about is at the corner. The South Sudan army/SPLA must be ready before the last D-day declared.
Andrew Ater REECH
SPLA accuses Sudan armed forces of provocation
what an hypocrite bloody islamist,
they claimed that they don’t want alcohol as per isalmic law and at the same time they consumed it. by law, those soldiers who have consumed alcohol need to be prosecuted as they have broken the very rule that governing the arabs north if they are not hypocrite. secondly, dischrging them from military unit.
otherwise, you gonna got what you preach. sing the song of the war and the southerner will joining you singing the chorus.
emadven
SPLA accuses Sudan armed forces of provocation
thats why if you’re smart arque your family members to leave that dusty khartoum and move to the South or else.. you will regret teh explosion of violence when Northerners go on the streets attacking people with machetes.. we all know that they’re in denier of the referendum they’re acting like South is not going to seperate.. but believe me.. you guys do not want to regret it ??
AUGUSTINO DENG
SPLA accuses Sudan armed forces of provocation
Mr.Nhial Deng Nhial,
Let your weakness stayed in Tonj. The problem of Arabs need someone who is brave in heart and in brain.
You said that “We wanted to send a message to our citizens, both in the north and south, that there will be no return to war.”Regardless of the amount of differences they will be resolved through political dialogue”. “There will be no return to war,” Nhial told reporters”.
Mr.Nhial Deng Nhial, if there is no war, then Arabs should not terriorize Melut County. This is because that you and the others leaders of Southern Sudan, you are all ready for self-investments of your own life. It was signed in CPA that Arabs soldiers should not be in the South and that is why those of the Arabs soldiers who were been in Aweil, Wau, Malakal, Juba and so many others Southern Sudan towns were repartriated back to the North. Today, how did the Arab soldiers come back again to the Southern Sudan? Was this not because of your weakness? Why Arabs always killed us in the Southern Sudan and no one of Arab being killed in the Northern Sudan by the SPLA?
That portion of dollars in Juba which all the Ministers received is not the same like the life of the citizens of the Southern Sudan. Let leave dollars behind and see reckless work being steered by the Arabs.
By Augustino Deng. Jech la mer from Tharpam.
makuei
SPLA accuses Sudan armed forces of provocation
Yes, they can do it. SAF can provoke the Southern Army before the historic vote in order to disrupt the Exercise. They have the feeeling that south will secede and the only way to stop that is by them waging war prematurely. A lot of fear in them. No way, SPLA must react when provoked. All options are applicable in order for us to achieve our goal.
Raphael
okucu pa lotinokwan
SPLA accuses Sudan armed forces of provocation
Dear Southerners.
The intention of Khartoum government want to confuse our Referendum not to take place in peace,bravo Nhial you talk like a diplomat,let us finish our referndum successfully,to be a country is not a simple thing.
Any attempt by SAF provocatives let us count it only, the day will come to shown them, this is not the time,every one should register for the referendum voting.
OKUCU PA LOTINOKWAN