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Press Release

An Open Letter To IGAD, AU and UN: Use of Starvation As a Weapon of Destruction in South Sudan

To:
  • The Chair of IGAD-Plus, C/o H.E Hailemariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
  • The President, UN Security Council
  • African Union
CC
  • European Union
From: South Sudanese Equatorian Community Leaders in the Diaspora

For correspondence: Mr. Federico Awi Vuni; livi.hope@yahoo.co.uk

Date: 25 July 2016

Your Excellencies,

July 28, 2016(Nyamilepedia) —– We welcome the efforts of the international community in trying to achieve a lasting peace in South Sudan. In particular, we thank the UN Security Council for its recent press statement on South Sudan issued on 10 July 2016 and the communique of the Heads of States and Governments of the IGAD-Plus on the situation in South Sudan issued on 16 July 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda.

The Government of South Sudan, under the leadership of President Kiir is using starvation as a weapon for destruction and prevention of civilians from going out in search of food. Those South Sudanese would like to leave the country are being held hostage and used as human shields. The limited food available in the World Food Programme warehouse in Juba has been looted by Government soldiers and they have distributed it to their ethnic groups. We condemn this act. This is evidence that the Government has recruited a burdensome army that it cannot sustain. It is further evidence of the economic collapse that has contributed to lawlessness by soldiers.

We condemn the ongoing use of rape and gender based violence, perpetrated against women and girls as a weapon of war in the current conflict.

The Government has failed to respect human rights of its citizens. Instead, the government has demonstrated that it is working against its own people. Journalists have been threatened, detained and killed for doing their job. More recently, Mr. Alfred Taban, the Editor of Juba Monitor, was arrested for exercising his right of freedom of expression by demanding the resignation of both President Kiir and First Vice President Dr Machar. We advocate for an alternative government that will represent entire South Sudanese.

Following the recent incident that occurred in Juba on the 7th, 8th and 11th July 2016, the Presidency has been unable to meet due to a lack of trust in security provision. It has been suggested by the Government buy clomid online canada that should Dr Machar not return to Juba then he should be replaced by an alternative individual from within his movement. President Kiir issued a decree on 25th July 2016, in which he replaced First Vice President Dr. Macha with Taban Deng Gai. We object to any attempt by President Kiir to replace First Vice President Dr Machar. Under the current environment whereby all SPLM-IO in Juba are at the mercy of the Government it should be considered that they are effectively held hostage, and therefore unable to express their own views. They are being forced to comply with a course of action dictated by the SPLM under the direction of President Kiir. Until such time as there is a neutral force in the country. It is unlikely that an honest partnership will exist between the principal peace partners.

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In view of the distrust among the principal parties in the Presidency, we support the call for South Sudan to be placed under UN Trusteeship until such a time that a fair and transparent election can be held and a new leader with a genuine mandate is elected for our country.

We, the Equatorian Community Leaders in the Diaspora:

  1. Condemn the use of starvation as a weapon of mass destruction;
  2. Condemn government action to prevent civilians from leaving Juba and South Sudan;
  3. Condemn the human rights abuses committed by the Government against its own citizens;
  4. Condemn the lack of freedom in the country and the growing authoritarianism this represents;
  5. Object to attempts by President Kiir to replace the First Vice President, Dr Machar with General Taban Deng Gai;
  6. Support placing South Sudan under UN Trusteeship until a fair and transparent election can be held enabling new leadership to be chosen by the people.

We, the undersigned representatives of Equatorian Leaders in the Diaspora, call upon our peace partners to remain seized on the matter of restoring and enforcing peace in South Sudan.

Kind regards,

Federico Awi Vuni

Chairman, Executive Committee, Equatorian Community in the UK

UK

William Orule

Chairperson, Equatoria Community & Welfare Association, NSW

AUSTRALIA

Kwaje M. Lasu, MPH, RCP
President, Equatoria South Sudanese Community Association-USA (ESSCA-USA) USA
Joseph Modi

President, Equatoria South Sudanese Community Association-Canada (ESSCA- Canada)

CANADA

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9 comments

Mayen anyoun July 28, 2016 at 7:59 pm

100% well said. Time is ripe for UN and international community intervention to see a givernment of people in place.

Reply
Gero Iriwo July 28, 2016 at 9:07 pm

Bravo Equatoria leaders in diaspora. I am very concerned about two points missing in the open letter and they are:
1. The recent sale of armored cars by a Canadian company to President Kiir’s government to strengthen his forces against the citizens and
2. The continuous support of Kiir’s administration with what is known as humanitarian that go to support the notorious SPLA. EU’s 40 million euros is a clear example.

Reply
Beden James Gale July 29, 2016 at 1:50 am

This correct, we are already leaving fear particularly during day time and night which is very very dangerous like at around 3:00 an acholi youth was shoot dead by two armed soldiers, but good enough they were arrested and taken away by the army. But am not sure with this government what will they do because they belong to the ethnic group.

Reply
lokiden July 29, 2016 at 8:23 am

Thanks to our brothers around the world for the decision u have taken, when we keep the unity we shall have better future of our country south Sudan.

Reply
Matiop makol Dut July 29, 2016 at 12:28 pm

Anyway u Are right brothers to pass that letter to Au , Igad and so on but there is a proverb said that one man meat is another man poison so foriegn intervention will affect the country politically apart from what u expected

Reply
Anthony July 29, 2016 at 1:54 pm

Why should we allow other people to come and help us in things we can do on our owns?
#LETS_come_together_and_solve_the_issue_as_southSUDANese no need to involved other communities in.

Reply
taban July 29, 2016 at 2:00 pm

All should take a keen concern on Geros two points and think twice
These people seems to be playing on the minds of people of the nation

Reply
Nhial July 29, 2016 at 8:23 pm

I should also say that all ugandan soldiers should go back to their country,because they involved in fighting.

Reply
arop isake lual July 29, 2016 at 8:31 pm

Well which ever is good for you guys is the opposite to the other. You are correct some ways but one to two need you to think about.that is un trusteeship.don’t you think you are selling away your country?whites are ever good but unthinkable in politics.

Reply

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