SPLM-DC Condemns the Hideous Killing of Women and Children in Jonglei in Intertribal Clashes

(04/08/2009, SPLM-DC) It was reported yesterday that on 2nd August 2009, in Jonglei state, that there were clashes between Murle and Lou Nuer outside the town of Akobo which resulted in at least 185 fatalities including up to 100 women and children.
The SPLM-DC leadership is extremely concerned by the scale of such violence in Southern Sudan and the rampant insecurity and tribal clashes which has become more violent since the beginning of the year 2009. Insecurity and continuous uncontrolled tribal clashes in Southern Sudan was one of the main reasons that led SPLM-DC to split from SPLM in April 2009. We unreservedly condemn the senseless killings and the loss of innocent lives for no apparent reason other than tribal agitation and exacerbation. The continuation of such senses killing in Southern Sudan is clearly pointing to the world that we have a very failed Government in Southern Sudan and change is needed urgently to save the nation from the catastrophe of ethnic violence which has been exacerbated by Government of Southern Sudan lack of providing services for the masses so that people can feel contented with one another without being suspicious of the each other over wealth and resources.
Also the scale of the disaster in Southern Sudan clearly points to the fact that Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) lacks the basic institutions of government that should be able to control the Southern Sudan and allow accountability and rule of law to prevail. Everything in Southern Sudan seem to run their own course with Senior officials in the states; be they in the SPLA or civilian role, being unconcerned for the need to be answerable to the Central Authority. The lack of operational government institutions means that anybody any where can take the law into their own hands and sometimes get engaged in brutal activities against one another or against members of other tribes.
SPLM-DC would like to call on GoSS to try hard to build and strengthen government institutions and to loosen up and allow political freedom and democracy that will issue in a governing party which can rebuild the absent government institutions and infrastructure whereby leaders, commissioners, governors, judiciary, SPLA and police organs will all be answerable to the people and the Central Authority. Since January we have witnessed one massacre after another massacre while GoSS and SPLM leadership pretending all the time that the current would be the last. It is high time that SPLM led GoSS go for the change which had been called for by the SPLM-DC leadership whereby new acceptable and transparent and accountable government can be installed in Southern Sudan so that the security of every Southern Sudanese can be guaranteed.
We call upon the International community and the United Nations to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the affected people and area. It's also high time that the UN and International Community pressure SPLM leadership to acknowledge failure and allow democratic transformation in Southern Sudan to save the nation from total collapse as there seems to be no end in sight of the violence gripping Southern Sudan.
We would like also to extend our sincere condolences to all the families in Akobo, Jonglei State and Southern Sudanese elsewhere who might have lost loved ones in the tragedy.

Eng Charles Kisanga
Deputy Chairman and Acting Secretary General
SPLM-DC