S. Sudan rebels warn army against plans to attack in Upper Nile
April 23, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA/JUBA) – South Sudanese rebels led by former vice-president, Riek Machar have warned against government plans to launch an offensive on rebel-controlled areas in Eastern Upper Nile state.
Deputy press spokesperson Dikson Gatluak told Sudan Tribune that the movement has learned from a reliable source in the capital, Juba, that the government is preparing for an offensive.
He said rebel forces were on high alert, adding that commissioners are advancing with troops from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) from Paloch oil field to Guelguuk and onto Mathiang and Mai-wut.
“They are ready for an attempt on our positions,” he said.
“If they initiate any attack on our positions, we will send them all to the land of no return and they would learn a better lesson this time like those commissioners killed before,” he added.
Gatluak said the rebel faction has no plans to launch fresh attacks on government positions, but stressed it was ready to act in self defence should the SPLA go ahead with its offensive.
The opposition group maintained it respects international treaties and would abide by the cessation of hostility agreements signed previously under regional mediators.
“In case they (the SPLA) are going to attack us, we will be forced to act to protect ourselves from attacks and fight back in self defence,” he added.
UN AID AGENCIES PULLING OUT
In Juba, the United Nations has announced it is pulling its humanitarian workers out of Upper NIle state’s Pagak, citing lack of safety and harassment.
“The work of non-governmental organisations and United Nations providing emergency relief to the survivors of conflict in any setting is based on the principles of humanity, impartiality and neutrality,” humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan Toby Lanzer said on Thursday.
“The safety and security of aid workers and their property is a condition for programmes to be carried out,” he added.
Lanzer said national and international staff members were nolonger free to move unimpeded to reach civilians in need.
“Over the past days conditions for aid agencies in Pagak, Upper Nile state, have deteriorated. Aid workers there have been harassed and threatened and their freedom of movement has been impeded,” he said.
“The organisations are no longer able to conduct their work on behalf of populations in need in an impartial, neutral and safe manner. As a consequence, aid workers have left Pagak until such a time when the conditions for them to be present there, on behalf of civilians in need, are re-established,” he added.
(ST)