South Sudan army denies detention in shipping containers

May 27, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudanese army (SPLA), has denied reports that its forces detained captives, including civilians, in shipping containers which many times resulted to death a result of suffocation.

The report released by Amnesty International on Thursday said dozens of detainees were held in dire conditions in poorly ventilated metal shipping containers at Gorom area.

However, Brigadier Lul Ruai Koang instead accused the Amnesty International of violating protocol and SPLA’s chain of command when it directed its concerns to the commander of the Tiger Battalion, General Marial Chinuong, instead of to the President, General Salva Kiir or to the minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, Deng Alor Kuol.

“First and foremost, Gorom is not a detention facility but a refutable Military Training Center,” Koang said.

He said the SPLA had 62 SPLA-IO prisoners of War detained in a different facility but were all released between July and September 2015.

“Before concluding, SPLA would like to point out insufficiencies and lack of leadership demonstrated by the Author of the Report. The report was based on faulty information leading to a release of a shallow document that completely lacks substance,” he added.

The SPLA, he said, urged the people of South Sudan, the region and the international community to disregard the report and consider it as a piece of paper laden with unsubstantiated stories.

“Finally, SPLA urges the highest authority/body governing Amnesty International to be more careful, rigorous and thorough in the appointment of regional directors before its well- built image is tarnished and credibility compromised,” he said.

(ST)