S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
By Julius N. Uma
November 1, 2011 (JUBA) — A senior official from South Sudan’s military intelligence has openly accused a Khartoum-based airline company of backing rebel groups intending to overthrow the southern government.
Michael Mach, the director of military intelligence in the southern army told journalists on Tuesday that they had credible evidence that Sudan Airways could be providing both logistical and financial support to the various rebel militias opposed to Africa’s newest nation.
“Some months back, we captured a helicopter which was ferrying arms to George Athor’s rebels fighting the government of South Sudan. The helicopter, which was released on Monday, bears a trademark of Sudan Airways,” Mach told reporters in Juba, the South Sudan capital.
Athor, a former general in the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Army (SPLA) took up arms against the southern government after his failed bid to become the governor of Jonglei, the country’s largest state in the 2010 general elections.
The SPLA director for military intelligence further said the army was closely monitoring rebel movements across the country, taking a swipe at Sudan’s government for allegedly supporting south-based rebel movements.
“We all know that the government in Khartoum has been involved in destabilising South Sudan since the peace agreement was signed in 2005 and we have raised this issue with the international community several times,” Mach added.
Meanwhile, Phillip Aguer, the spokesperson of the southern army revealed that only 11 civilians were killed and 16 wounded while its army lost 10 men and four policemen during recent clashes with rebels in Unity state. Also, 32 rebels were allegedly killed.
“South Sudan Liberation Army rebels attacked Mayom town, the headquarters of Mayom County in Unity state and launched a surprise attack. Unfortunately they targeted innocent civilians, mainly children and women but were driven out by a combined force of the army and police,” Aguer said.
He identified the wife of Paulino Matip, South Sudan’s deputy chief of staff as one of those killed during the impromptu attack, which occurred over the weekend.
The army spokesperson, however, cautioned the media fraternity to desist from advancing rebel “propaganda,” likely to cause tension and fear among sections of the southern population.
He said, “We urge the media to avoid relying on eye witness reports especially on figures, some of which are untrue. Always try to verify with the army and government officials on the ground.”
South Sudan officially gained independence nearly three months ago after its population overwhelmingly voted for separation in the self-determination referendum. The vote was a key part of the Sudan’s 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended over two decades of the North-South civil war.
(ST)
Sam.Eto
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
“We urge the media to avoid relying on eye witness reports especially on figures, some of which are untrue. Always try to verify with the army and government officials on the ground.” – You must be joking. If only Aljazeera, BBC CNN or any new agenct could here you …. they would laugh their heads off.
Sam.Eto
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
Southern army officers are not too smart, are they? Just like Government officials, you have to laugh at what they say sometimes.
Bush
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
You have the power just shoot down any an authorized plane that crosses into our airspace, don’t just sit and trade accusations like with the North like co-wives but take action.
Whom do you want to come from outside to help us? why did we vote for secession if we found ourselves not capable of defending this country?
Logic
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
lol.. this guy is so funny its unbelievable.
“Southern army officers are not smart”, what a generalist/racist comment. What about the many NCP officials who lie about civilian death, the economy and instead of advising their media outlets, they violate them via censorship, confiscation and arbitral arrest.
S. Sudan’s government is far from perfect, but more democratic than the NCP lead gov.
JOHN CHOL
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
Dear Ito,
For your info BBC, Aljazeera and CNN etc…operates within the national media laws all over the world. South Sudan is a soveriegn nation desppite your doubts whatsoever therefore, our national army has its obligation to urge media to avoid relying on desk-analysis reports rather than verifying facts with the national army and the local gov’t official on the ground.
Bush
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
@Sam.Eto
You are totally a bull-shit and the definition of a fool.If we in the South are not smarter who wouldn’t succeed to get our independence despite all those provocations from the North just before the independence day. I think you are the one who is dull and thick in the head.
Alier42
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
Blamimg khartoum always is a clear indication that, spla as a national army lack a capacity to tackle any aggression posed to the country.you always rely on support from others ,and you do not want others to be supported,yes khartoum had rights to support rebel ,because you are also supporting splm/a north,there is no an exception in support,
Alier42
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
@ Bush
you are too emotional in your responses by using abusive language which gave credit to @ Eto,you need not to be too emotional in national matters .i can simply conclude that ,you lack self-discipline ,it had exposed you to childish behaviours.try to do anying possible ,to reform now not later.
pabaak
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
If SPLA military intelligence have evidence that Sudan Airways is supporting these renegades than why releasing their captured Helicopter?,its was a surprise to see on SSTV the enemy walk away without punishment.
Ker.
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
Alier, you must be mad or out of your mind,Khartoum aggressions are very clear to any living thing in S/Sudan and now your poor eyes failed you to see.please there is smarter link between Khartoum and rebel. plz keep your mouth shut
Bush
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
@Alier42
I don’t want to pick up an argument with you dude, leave me a lone with my childish behavior when it comes to responding to people like Sam.Eto, Konan, Jalaby, Ahemd Chol, Khartoum92 etc. A fool like that can’t understand your been humble to the world. You also need stupid people like me to stir-up things so that you can use your diplomacy to repair it.
Matur Jonghok
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
SPLA has the capacity, ability and mandate to protect the Soveriegn Nation of South Sudan from external aggession but in accordance with international law, diplomacy is the first line of respond.Besides, there is credible evidence in Khartoum Supporting South rebels but where is the evidence of Juba helping SPLM-N. You are only hard headed but not well informed.
Alier42
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
@ Ker
I do agree with those who claimed that ,rebel who are now engaging in battle with spla are being supported by the north,there is no question about that,i know you are milking your corropt relative in Juba,to abuse me is not a matter in anyway,you should also acknowledge that ,people who love their country and do not like to see their fellow citizens suffering because of bad governance t
SSLA supporter
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
The SPLA/M corrupt government in Juba needs to be ousted for the peace to prevail in RoSS and beyond. This war of liberation has nothing to do with Khartoum, unlike SPLA/M’s proxy wars in Abyei, southern kordofan state and southern blue state. SSLA/M is capable of defeating SPLA/M militia because it has the backing of the people of RoSS unlike SPLA/M whose credit has been tainted with corruption.
Aleu Majok II
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
No doubt, Sudan Tribune has always gone beyond South Sudan Press Freedom limit. Where in media ethics is a news agency allowed to act as a rebels’ mouthpiece? ST constantly publish press releases and contacts of South Sudan rebel groups esp SSLA but doesn’t do the same to Sudan. Isn’t this misuse of S.Sudan’s press freedom to da demerit of our nascent nation? I am sick of this&GoSS inresponsivenes
Aleu Majok II
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
Continuation 2 my above comment….
I am sick of this n GoSS inresponsiveness 2 this ST’s conspiracy. Besides ST as its name tells has ceased 2be one of South Sudan’s private news agency n there4 must have its website blocked in South Sudan by GoSS security n media organs. Otherwise let it stops plunging its nose into our affairs in such a conspiracious manner, changes its name n be based in RoSS
SSLA supporter
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
Dear Bush!
Please stop your childish and abusive behaviour on this forum. Try to comment constructively for your audience or readers to make sense of your comments. Stop being emotional as mentioned by Mr Alier 42, if you want commentators and the audience to take your comments seriously otherwise you will be be ignored or simply regarded as rude and incompetent.
SSLA supporter
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
Mr Sam Eto!!
You are absolutely right!! SPLA is not a yet a professional national army of RoSS. It is just a militia given to its affiliation to SPLM!
south boy
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
please dear oudeins and readers,writters the sudantribute is our newspaper let us respect it, nonsenes thing are not allow in paper, south sudan need true and right people to tel right thing,let us turn to development instead of saying nothing, please try to learn from each other, and respect one another for the sack of these new born nation south sudan is us all, even animals.
Dinka Dominated SPLA/M
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
Alier. you should be a shame with that Dinkas names which are not common in other tribes names. why are you such a prodded man from this country?
Alier you should know people like you are always left out for their disloyalty to the movement.
their rewards is alway disrespect and shameless death.
I got nothing to tell you but becarefull with what you said brother.
Guot
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
Hello Supporters of ssla/m: Is an alleged corruption in Juba your goal for disturbing the peace and impeding the development in South Sudan? Any article written by a ssla/m supporter is always about corruption in Juba. Corruption is resolved though judiciary and not war.You are not corruption liberators in Juba but peacedisturbants in South Sudan. Please form yourselves a non-violent party in Juba
SSLA supporter
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
Gout!!
SSLA/M is not hampering any peace or development in RoSS. It is the SPLA/M corruption , nepotism and monopoly of politics in RoSS that is delaying the peace and the development in RoSS. SSLA/M and other movements are fighting to curve those bad practises of SPLA/M lunatics. So, if you love RoSS you must support SSLA/M the only rescuer of the people of RoSS from SPLM tyranny.
SSLA supporter
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
I meant Guot!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Force 1
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
Same Eto. If they weren’t smart you wouldn’t be calling them Southern army, they would be under the Khartoum control. You‘re the one that is not smart because you are under Bashir control for decades. I don’t think there is any distinction between you and slaves.
Nuerone Mafitabu
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
IT YOU WHO ARE GOING TO ARABS FOR GUN TO KILL YOUR PEOPLE.
Konan
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
@Alier42 & Sam,
Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you to their level and then beat you with experience.
I read in the news that the Japanese Govt. is sending hundreds of its army to defend, protect and develop RoSS hahahahaha really isn’t that funny hahahaha. Guys where the so called SPLA militia gone? I think they are too busy killing, looting and burning their own people? Believe
Konan
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
Believe me the number of those who have been killed by SPLA are more than any number of people killed by any other army.
ulla 007
S. Sudan army accuses Khartoum based airline company of aiding rebels
the south sudan army must flush out the rebels who have not proper cause to wage war against their own people supported by NCP,dont waste time accusing each other but rather do away with the rebels.unless the SPLA is not capable of defending the south from criminals.