South Sudan army denies committing atrocities in Central Equatoria

September 18, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese army (SPLA) denied on Friday reports accusing it of having committed unspeakable and horrible crimes in Central Equatoria state, forcing thousands of innocent civilians to flee their homes.

Spokesperson of the government forces, Colonel Philip Aguer, said in a statement on Friday that the general command had not received information indicating soldiers were ordered to target civilians anywhere in the state, including Wondruba payam in Lainya county where atrocities were allegedly committed by the government during clashes with armed opposition group recently.

“All what has been reported is misleading. The general command has not received any information indicating that the local command had issued out instructions targeting civilians,” said Aguer.

“Usually what happens is that an investigation is carried out to establish the truth when there are such allegations. At the moment we have not received such reports,” he said.

The military officer said the army welcomed any independent investigation into the allegation to establish what took place and that punitive measures will be taken against perpetrators.

Aguer was reacting to reports that government forces have over the past few days been involving in clashes targeting civil settlements in Wondruba and other areas under Lainya county in Central Equatoria state.

The incident drew significant attention and led to a suspension of the publication of the Juba Monitor newspaper for publishing an opinion article critical of the conduct of the government forces.

Alfred Taban, the editor in chief of the paper told reporters on Thursday that he was ordered by national security agents to not make any publication on Friday until he made clarifications and apologized.

The paper, he said, has however been allowed to resume circulation after accepting to apologise despite explaining the context in which he wrote his opinion article on the basis of the reports coming out from the area and which blames the government forces of having committed atrocities.

Also parliamentary officials representing Lainya county in the national legislative assembly criticized government forces for committing the atrocities.

Opposition faction of SPLM-IO also accused the government of violating the ceasefire and of targeting civilians in Lainya county. They also said government forces have attacked civilians in Mundri county of Western Equatoria state.

UN RESPONDS TO SITUATION

United Nations (UN) confirmed that fighting took place in Mundri West county in Western Equatoria state, saying heavy gunfire was reported in the area.

“I can tell that a UN patrol in Mundri reported heavy gunfire between Mundri West and Gullu town in Western Equatoria state yesterday. A few hours later, the Mission also observed heavy gunfire exchanges between unknown armed elements and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army," said Stephane Dujarric, spokespersonfor the UN secretary general.

Dujarric also announced efforts the UN mission has been exerting in responding to the humanitarian catastrophe when fuel tanker exploded in Maridi, killing nearly 200 people and injuring many more.

"On South Sudan, in Maridi, in Western Equatoria province, reports received by the UN Mission in the country (UNMISS) suggest that the number of fatalities has now risen to close to 200 and are expected to rise, following the explosion of a fuel tank on Wednesday,” he said in a press conference in New York.

He said the Mission has been assisting by providing four helicopters to medically evacuate some 80 casualties to Juba. The Mission also helped with ground transportation of the injured to Juba Teaching Hospital.

While evacuations took place, the Mission dispatched a medical team on the ground to Maridi for the day.

The humanitarian response, he said, was conducted under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and in collaboration with humanitarian actors.

(ST)