Sudan bombs S. Sudan killing 17 – SPLA
By Ngor Arol Garang
December 29, 2011 (JUBA) – At least 17 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal State, following an aerial attack allegedly carried out by north Sudan, authorities told Sudan Tribune on Thursday. Several others are also said to have sustained injuries.
Colonel Phillip Aguer Panyang, spokesman of South Sudan army (SPLA) on Thursday accused Khartoum of launching an attack on areas he said were” deeply inside” territories of the new country.
The new international border between Sudan and South Sudan is poorly demarcated and hotly disputed between the two countries.
“The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) have bombed and killed 17 civilians today in Boro el Madina, which is an area under Raja County in Western Bahr el Ghazal. They were innocent civilians moving with their cattle”, Aguer told Sudan Tribune.
He said the Sudanese army was using fighter jets, especially the modern weapons including antonov and MG 26 to bomb the population.
“You know this is a dry season, it is the time pastoral communities in South Sudan move with their cattle searching for pastures and water. So these civilians were moving with their cattle when Sudan Armed [Forces] started bombing them”, he said
South Sudan officially became and independent state from Sudan in July, months after conducting a referendum in which majority of the citizens voted overwhelmingly in a favor of secession.
But officials from two the states have continued to accuse each other over number of issues including attempts to forcefully demarcate the borders. The country’s army spokesman said the army of the neighboring Sudan began aerial attacks in the three border areas on Wednesday 28 and resumed its aerial operations on 29 December 2011.
Aguer said the north Sudanese air force, “started bombing civilians yesterday in Boro el Madina and resumed it again today. The SAF also launched another ground attack on the position of SPLA in Jau today. And there are reports of their activities indicating movement of some forces towards Parieng County, Unity State, from Karsana”, he adds.
The military officer said the army was “vigilant” and “ready” with its capabilities to defend territories of the new country including their properties.
“The SPLA forces at the borderlines are at maximum alert and ready to defend the territories of South Sudan”, he said.
Religious leaders and aid workers in the border town of Raja, said in separate interviews with Sudan Tribune that youth groups were seen calling on civil population to take away vulnerable groups, mostly innocent women and children as well as elderly from the attack which they say began on Tuesday.
KHORFULUS BACK TO ‘NORMAL’ AFTER SHOOTINGS
He added that security situation in Jonglei’s Khorfulus District of Pigi County, where some members of the SPLA were accused to have shot at crowd attending Christmas celebrations on Saturday 24, had returned to normal.
Juba accuses Khartoum of supporting southern rebels – a charge Khartoum denies. Khartoum claims that Juba supports hostilities in its territories, especially in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan States, where fighting broke out earlier this year. Some groups in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan fought alongside South Sudan during the over two decade long civil war between the north and south.
Many have expressed concerns over security situation in both regions which straddle the border with South Sudan if disputes on political control are not resolved amicably between the government and the SPLM-North, the dominant party in both regions.
(ST)