Protest Letter against killing of Ruweng people by Arabs Messeriya in collaboration with Sudan arm.
To: 1st Vice President and President of Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS),
1st Lt. General Salva Kiir Mayardit.
CC: Vice President GOSS, Dr Riek Machar
Cc: Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) Secretary General Pagan Amum
CC: Government of Unity State
CC: All Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) partners, USA, Norway, EU and IGAD
CC: United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)
CC: All Padang MPs in Juba
CC: Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
The Padang Community in Canada applauds the GOSS for its tireless work of disarming civilians to make South Sudan a conducive environment for living. Unfortunately, the Government of Khartoum has never kept its promise of disarming Misseriya as collective security arrangement between the two governments. It is also heart breaking to entire Padang citizens given Governor Taban’s silence on the ominous death of civilians in Ruweng Counties of Biemnom and Panrieng.
It will not be wrong to conclude that Governor Taban view attack on Ruweng as not part of CPA violation. Organized tribal militias assisted by Sudan armed forces have staged numerous attacks on innocence disarmed Ruweng citizens since 2008 to 2010. Unfortunately none of the attacks have been reported to the GOSS and the International Community as a violation of the CPA. It leaves a lot of questions unanswered whether Ruweng counties are not part of CPA arrangement or there is an underground deal being moulded by policy makers as they have done it earlier.
Padang Community in Canada wants to ask the GOSS if the Ruweng people in Unity State are excluded in the CPA. If the CPA covered the Ruweng territories, then the Governor should have taken these attacks seriously as violation of CPA and alert the GOSS for further report to UNMIS, IGAD and rest of the CPA dignitaries. It is not surprising that President Omar is increasing his criminal charges by sending illegal army and Messeriya to attack Ruweng in its oil rich territories of Unity State.
In the recent attack on Ruweng people in Awarping Payam in Biemnom County, children and women have been killed and many unreported several attacks have been carried out by Sudanese army with Misseriya since 2008. Padang Community in Canada is outraged about the killing of the Ruweng people in Unity State. As stipulated in the CPA, this interim period is a period of peace and building trust between North and South. Since signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, the Government of Sudan with Misseriya have repeatedly violate the CPA by attacking Ruweng counties. Panrieng and Biennom in Unity State have faced untold suffering in the hands of Government of Sudan. They have endured much suffering in the watch of the Unity State Government and GOSS.
The hidden massacres of the Ruweng people by Sudan arm and Arabs Messeriya have been continuing from 2008 to 2010. The following evidence reveals unreported attacks and civilians causalities in two Ruweng counties, Biemnom and Panrieng in Unity State, western Upper Nile.
In February 2008, Biemnom County Commissioner Anthony Gal Deng and Ruweng Chiefs were ambushed by Sudan armed forces, 3 chiefs were killed plus Commissioner’s body guards. The total numbers of people killed in that ambush were 7 and the incident was not reported as a serious violation of the CPA to IGAD partners and UNMIS.
In May 2008, Ruweng citizens in Panrieng were told to leave their Payam of Mijak de Yiith (Karsan).The Khartoum Government claim that Mijak de Yiith (Karsan) is part of Southern Kordofan. The Sudan armed forces held about 3000 people hostage. The people were told to evacuate without essential needs such as water and food. Thirty people died with thirsty and Governor of South Kordofan gave a condition that the Governor of Unity State must sign that Mijak de Yiith is part of South Kordofan. In order to save the lives of 3000 people, Governor Taban Deng Gai signed that Mijak de Yiith is not part of Unity State. Currently, the civilians could not return. There is a growing tendency that Khartoum is claiming all parts of South Sudan. Governor Taban has not worked very hard for the return of Mijak de Yiith Payam residents to their homes. The area is currently under the Government of Sudan and it is one of the oil producing areas in Greater Ruweng area.
On May 27 2008, another attack occurred, Arab Messeriya armed by government attacked Ruweng people in Weragor in Biemnom County, two people were killed and Government of Unity State did not report it to the GOSS.
In March 2009, workers from Panrieng County who were heading to Aliny (Higlig) oil field were killed by Arab nomads. Their vehicles were ambushed; passengers killed using guns and pangas. Two people were killed and over ten others sustained serious injuries.
On Nov 6 2009, another attack on our people in Biemnom County was carried out by Sudan armed forces in conjunction with Arab nomads. That attack cost civilians’ lives in Ruweng counties and was not reported to UN as a violation of the CPA. What disturbs Padang is that violation of the CPA in other Southern Sudan States is made visible to concerned authorities. Why not do the same for any attack that happen in Ruweng Counties?
On Jan 2010, the same enemies of peace attacked our people in Miagok Biemnom County. The attack never made it to the media and UNMIS.
Arab nomads in collaboration with Sudan arm attacked Boktuot in Biemnom County on Feb 2, 2010, that attack was reported as clashes between SPLA and Messeriya pastoralists. The attackers were well equipped with heavy artilleries. Three people were killed, whether those killed were soldiers or civilians, it is still considered as a violation of CPA.
On Feb 4 2010, Awarpiny Payam in Biemnom County was attacked by Sudan army and Messeriya. Eighteen people were killed. The attack resulted into civilians’ casualties, women and under age children were killed. It was one of the attacks that made it to the media and GoSS.
Resolutions
Padang Community in Canada demands the following resolutions to be implemented by GOSS, GONU and Government of Unity State. We are asking UNMIS, the CPA partners, IGAD, USA, Norway and EU to intervene whenever necessary instead of being dormant and sending mixed signals.
1. The border between South and North Sudan has remained undemarcated. As a result, the border between South Kordofan and Unity State has remained blurred since CPA was inked five years ago. It has given room to Arab nomads in Southern Kordofan an opportunity to claim parts of Ruweng as theirs. We need GONU and GOSS to demarcate the borders so that our people are not exposed to merciless attacks from enemies of peace.
2. Unity State civilians were disarmed by GOSS but Arabs Messeriya are still retaining their guns. Not only that the Government of Sudan has included Sudan armed forces as part of the force that is terrorizing civilians in Ruweng areas. Since the disarmament of Arab Messeriya cannot take place because of continuous supply of weapons from Government of Khartoum, GOSS should alert the CPA partners and our civilians should not be disarm.
3. The negotiators of CPA are partially responsible for the annexation of Ruweng territories in Unity State. Many people knew that almost all oilfields are located in Abyei until the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) gave its final verdict last year. Ruweng people made it clear that some parts being claimed as part of Abyei have never been part of it. That argument was not received warmly by some policy makers who were then at Naivasha negotiating CPA. The buck has fallen on all South Sudanese and especially Ruweng communities who are bordering Jalaba. After the declaration by PCA, it is clear that some politicians who made fictitious claims are equally responsible for annexation and the killings happening in Ruweng counties. It is for this reason that Padang community in Canada is asking GOSS to watch out wolves in sheep skin who are working for their own benefits.
4. GOSS should be responsible for maximum security along the border of North and South Sudan. Killing of three Chiefs and commissioner’s body guards during the census is an example of a major border dispute. The Commissioner was on a mission to delineate constituency boundary when he came under attack. The boundary has remained unmarked and election is approaching. There is likelihood that the same scenario will continue unless stiffen measures are put in place.
5. Sudan Armed Forces in Aliny (Higlig) should be withdrawn. The Joint Integrated Units should have been the only forces in and around all the oil fields in South Sudan. We are asking the GOSS to pressure the Government of National Unity to withdraw its forces otherwise asking international community and IGAD members to intervene is the only viable option.
6. Padang Community in Canada is asking GOSS to put the above resolutions into consideration. This nonstop killing of civilians in Ruweng counties must be stopped by all means. It is the duty of any legitimate government to protect its civilians otherwise a government that does not provide security to its citizens is deemed as a failed government. We don’t think GOSS is a failed government; however, deliberate negligence and allowing civilians to take their own crosses when there is a standing army that can defend South Sudan leave many questions unanswered.
GOSS OYEE
SPLM OYEE
LONG LIVE THE SPIRIT OF STRUGGLE AMONG SOUTHERNERS
The under signed are the members of Padang Community in Canada
Names Position Contacts County
1.Miakuach Bhol Nyok: Chairperson miakuachbhol@yahoo.co.nz Pigi
2.Joseph John kuc D/Chairperson jojokog@yahoo.ca Baliet
3.Dhieu Dok Minyang Secretary dhieudokminyang@gmail.com Pigi
4.Charles Chol Tiop Member Panrieng
5.Mayiik Nyok Member Biemnom
6.Santino Kutpul Dau. Member Panrieng
7.Dominic Jueny Yar. Member Pigi
8 Kuol Mayik Deng Member Biemnom
9.Akot Kiir Ayuel. Member Panrieng
10.Lal Miabil . Member Biemnom
11.Miagak Dau Ayuel. Member Panrieng
12.Salva Marial Arop. Member Panrieng
13.Michar Bhol Nyok. Member Pigi
14.Abraham Gak Monyabur. Member Panrieng
15.Bolis Mijok Thon . Member Panrieng
16.Peter Arop Bany. Member Panrieng
17. Michar Tor Chan. Member Melut
18. Mior Wieu Kak . Member Renk
19. Sarah Aluel thon. Member Panrieng
20. Charles Nyok Mayany Member Biemnom
21.Mayak Nyang Ngor Member Biemnom
22. James Amal Nyok. Member Panrieng
23. Chol Nyok Kuot member Biemnon
24. Beljeek Lual Ajang. Member Renk
25. Stephen Nyuop Nyok. Member Pigi
26.Gabriel Manyluak Miakol Member Panrieng
27. James Chol Achut. Member Panrieng
28.Philip Nyok Member Pigi
29. Elizabeth Ayar Mijak Member Panrieng
30. Gabriel Khor lual. Member Melut
31. Peter Piot Dol. Member Pigi
32. Chol Akuong Ador member Biemnom
33. Tito Pagai Tiop. Member Baliet
34. Miading Marieu member Biemnom
35. Nyanthuny Aujak Kuot member Biemnom
36. Anger Thon Miyar member Biemnom
37. Akuach Nyok Bol Kiir member Biemnom
38. Achol Mun Ayei member Biemnom
For any correspondence, please don’t hesitate to contact the Interim Executive Committee using any of the e-mails provided.