SPLA accused Sudanese Army forces for recent chaos in Tachuin
By Bonifacio Taban Kuich
August 6, 2013 (BENTIU) – South Sudan Army SPLA has accused Sudanese Army forces of recent violation of unnecessary shooting to their forces that patrol along common border in Tachuin. The army official has claims the recent clashes was due to Sudanese Army forces clearing ways digging more oil wells on disputed areas.
According to the officials from SPLA saying six South Sudanese army SPLA were accidentally clashes with Sudanese Army Forces while patrolling along buffer zone border at Tachuin.
The commander of Unity state fourth division Maj.General James Koang Chuol told Sudan Tribune in an interview Tuesday an incident occurred when a group of soldiers from the SPLA assess buffer zone areas which were used by SAF to drill fresh oil wells resulted unilaterally firing two arms group.
Chuol says unexpected gun firing occurred when SPLA soldier patrol, to witness the ongoing SAF violation of paving ways of drilling oil wells in contested areas.
“We have been for quite long time at the border peacefully, it is only yesterday which is the incident occurred, but situation is normal. We cannot attack SAF with six soldiers while patrolling, but for sure SAF were digging more oil wells within the buffer zone”, said Chuol.
He says the confrontation turn out between two army groups, was not tensional but accidentally moves, but Chuol putting more blame on Sudanese Army Forces of violating the buffer zone for oil exploitation.
A joint border verification monitoring mechanism from African Union and the SPLA were on Tuesday in the Unity state capital Bentiu to brief caretaker governor about the endorsement of current Map which demands both sides to withdraw forces ten kilometers away from main buffer zone areas.
Chuol says the recent proposal by African Union demanding a gape of ten kilometers along common border areas will help reduced more tensions reoccurring.
“What we are trying do is to have peaceful coexistent between the two army forces to withdrawal and create a buffer zone not the border, to have peace along our borders.if the two agree and then it will pave way to set up immigration offices this is what these team are trying to do”, added Chuol.
However SAF spokesperson, Al-Sawarmi Khalid, said the military confrontation which occurred on Monday afternoon when SPLA patrol enter kilometers inside Sudanese area of Heglig, an oil producing area from border between South Kordofan and Unity state.
He says a Sudanese soldier was murder and others two hurt while SPLA patrol pulled back into South Sudan. But both officials from South Sudanese and Sudanese have contained clashes. Chuol says after an incident on Monday afternoon thing has return back to normal despite clashes.
“These are the minor cases which can happen in the armies of anywhere so the people of South Sudan specially the Unity state to remain calms, there is no alarm on that, let them do their business, let them do their works for the nation the situation is normal it is just a small case even the SAF themselves are saying it is something undersized for all of us”, said the fourth division commander.
The two sides had claims over ownership of Heglig or Panthou, which is the richest oil producing situated 30 km away from Unity state territory. The two nations have reconfirmed commitment to have faith on deploying joint patrol to monitor their common borders.
(ST)