South Sudan IDPs call on international community to pressure warring parties
October 1, 2014 (KAMPALA) – South Sudanese Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) taking refuge in the United Nations camps across the country have repeated calls on the international community to exert pressure on both warring parties in order to reach a peace agreement soon.
“We would like to urge international community and IGAD member states to engage both sides for urgent peace in South Sudan,” Gattiek said.
He said the recent agreement in principle on formation of federal system of governance in South Sudan is a right decision, adding this will promote nation building and strong democratic state.
The youth representative called on the international community to play an effective role by putting pressure on the two warring parties to speedily address to root causes of the mid-December crisis that will lead to reconciliation and lasting peace in the country.
The group leader also cited tribalism as a main obstacle to peace, adding that many people are in UN camps due to fear of ethnic targeting which has been common practice in fuelling the conflict.
“Most of IDPs live under the protection of UN peace keeping mission due to ongoing ethnic targeting in Juba. Our friends, relatives and family members were murdered by security personnel from government,” he said, questioning the credibility of the government as a protector of individual rights.
The UN camps in Jebel and Tongping in the capital Juba house 20,000 people in the protection facilities. However, Gattiek said life in the UN camps is horrible due to overcrowding.
Many people in Unity, Upper Nile, Jonglei and Central Equatoria states have been forced to seek protection at the UN compounds after the violence hit South Sudan in December last year, pitting president Kiir’s Dinka tribe and their allies against Machar’s Nuer ethnic group.
Most of IDPs residential areas have been allegedly occupied by security officials who were part of incitement of the violence, an allegation Sudan Tribune has not independently verified.
The IDPs said they supported an investigation into war crimes committed by both parties, arguing this would bring trust to South Sudanese people once perpetrators are held accountable.
The groups in particular called on president Kiir to step down, accusing him of being allegedly responsible for turning the country into “mess and bloodshed.”
The peace talks between the government and the SPLM-in-Opposition have been mediated for the last nine months by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) with little progress seen this week when the two sides agreed on the principle of installing a federal system of government per the demand by the rebels.
The parties also negotiate on dividing executive powers between the president and a would-be rebels prime minister nominee who will also run for presidential elections.
Tens of thousands have died and over 1.5 million others displaced since the violence erupted in the capital nine months ago.
(ST)