Press Statement: The Ethnic Cleansing in Malakal & Chollo (Shilluk) villages, Upper Nile

The tragic bloody events that engulfed the Republic of South Sudan since the 15th of December 2013, have destroyed lives and properties and caused massive displacements of civilian population, mainly in the states of Upper Nile region (Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity). Towns were devastated and some razed to the ground.

As the war turned more tribal between the Nuers and the Dinkas, it was ironic that nowhere has the suffering been more severe and deadly than among the Chollo people. Many of them were killed in cold blood in ethnic targeting and their villages were torched by the marauding rebels, in a nutshell, Chollo Kingdom is undergoing ethnic cleansing.

The government did not provide the required protection and was reluctant to help them defend themselves. They are caught in a situation they were not party to. Practically, they are left on their own.

In the view of the events above, we, the undersigned members of Chollo Community in diaspora (The U.S.A, Europe, Canada and Australia) condemn in the strongest terms possible these heinous crimes committed against unarmed civilians in Malakal and Chollo villages.

The barbarity of these atrocities and the consequential human suffering is almost beyond belief and comprehension of any civilized person, as reported by Ilya Gridnefff of the Associated Press, February 27, 2014, Malakal, South Sudan, and we quote:

'House after house has been burned to the ground. Hospital patients have been shot by armed rebels while lying in their beds. Dozens of corpses litter the streets.'

"This is about revenge now. There is no humanity here," said Col. Jan Hoff, an officer in Norway's army who has served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria .

South Sudan, he said, is the worst he's seen.

"It's absolutely horrific," Hoff said this week as he led a heavily armed U.N. convoy through the streets of Malakal, the capital of oil-producing Upper Nile state.'

We, therefore, appeal to the United Nations Security Council and the African Union to hold the perpetrators of this ethnic cleansing responsible and accountable for their crimes.

We likewise urge the United Nations to deliver humanitarian relief assistance to the people in Malakal and Chollo villages who are in dire need of the relief.

Furthermore, we urge the United Nations Security Council to take immediate action to bring peace and security to South Sudan before the government in Juba and the rebels could turn the whole of South Sudan into genocide killing fields.

Signed by Chollo (Shilluk) Community in Diaspora:

1. Michael Kalakon; 2. Revd Francis Chan; 3. Dr Tino Nyawello' 4. Michael Tipo
5. Kwol Deng Farag; 6. James Odhok Chol; 7. Charles Othur; 8. Jwothab Wanh Othow
9. James Abol; 10. Bumano Awin; 11. Michael Jwok (Kwanyireth); 12. James Chol Nyapal
13. Margrat Amum; 14. Catherine Yomon; 15. Mojwok Gordan Ajawin; 16. Samuel Oshem John
17. Simon Pio; 18. Moses Lwal Abudhok; 19. William Ator; 20. Jino William Kak
21. Julius Kur; 22. Yusif Otien; 23. Othow Kur; 24. Rwada Keir; 25. Fabio Amum
26. Peter Opach; 27. Romi Analjak; 28. Veronica Chol; 29. Justina Nayic; 30. Fawel Onigiti
31. Revd Dr Jon Burnham; 32. Mrs Erin W. Owings; 33. Kay Greer; 34. Monica Mayek
35. Dak Awet; 36. Suzana Deng; 37. Chol Kudit Afaj; 38. Orito Olami; 39. Achwil Mayik Ayiik
40. James Wastino; 41. Peter Ayul Tipo Ajang; 42. Othow Kudit Chaliker
43. Otien Otong Ayiik; 44. Mano Ayoker; 45. Wilson Nhail; 46. Simon Kur; 47. Anthony Kwol
48. Dr Joseph Kucburo Ajang; 49. Peter Fashodo Ageng; 50. Gabriel Gwang Ajang
51. Karlo Kwol Akol; 52. Ojiango Abar Dingmejok; 53. Julius Hakim Deng
54. Okuc Peter Awol Ajal; 55. Michael Olwak Godying; 56. Akic Adwok Lwaldeng; 57. Lam Arop Yor; 58. Buchi Otong; 59. Peter Ojwal; 60. Mark Mayott; 61- Joy Ajang; 62. Samuel Deng; 63. Shanjok Adok; 64. William (Okuc) Goldiet; 65. Trezina Atey; 66. Emmanuel Jimmy; 67. Ajak Abdallah; 68. Elizabeth David Bol