http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article50945
SATURDAY 10 MAY 2014
S. Sudan rebels accuse army of occupying Rubkotna despite truce agreement
May 9, 2014 (KAMPALA) - South Sudanese rebels have accused the national
army (SPLA) and its allied mercenaries of continued attacks on its
positions in Unity state despite a peace agreement signed on Friday between
the countries rival leaders.
South Sudanese rebel troops loyal to former vice-president Riek Machar
stand on guard in Unity state capital Bentiu on 12 January 2014 after
recapturing the strategic town from government troops (Photo: Reuters)
In an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune by satellite phone from the
rebel stronghold, Brig. Gen. Makal Kuon accused Sudanese rebels form the
Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the SPLA of breaking the truce,
demanding both warring parties cease attacking one another.
Kuon says the SPLA and fighters from the SSLA, former militias led by
Mathew Pul Jang, had launched a series of aggressive attacks on Friday
morning which had forced them to withdraw from the area.
"This morning we have received an offensive attack on our positions by the
government troops. They have penetrated in Rubkotna county [and] we have
withdrawn peacefully without responding to them," said Kuon.
Gen. Kuon claim rebel forces withdrew from Rubkotna amid concerns civilians
sheltering in a United Nations base in the area could get caught up in the
violence.
"We fear [for the] thousands of lives of people in the UNMISS camp. We
could not respond to their (the SPLA) bombardments and we tactically
withdraw from the area," he said.
An aid worker at the UN's Rubkotna camp told Sudan Tribune on condition of
anonymity that a civilian was shot dead after government troops began
firing at random after entering the town.
"There was random shooting, even some of the bombs landed inside the UN
compound where thousands seek shelter," the aid worker said.
The aid worker claims many of the fighters were from JEM, as well as the
Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-North (SPLM/A-N), which is
currently leading an insurgency against Sudan's central government in South
kordofan and Blue Nile states.
The aid worker said the Sudanese rebels had entered the region in armoured
military convoys with deadly ammunitions.
The South Sudanese government and the rebel SPLM/A in Opposition signed
Friday's peace agreement following face to face talks between their
respective leaders, president Salva Kiir and Riek Machar - their first
since conflict erupted in the country in mid-December last year.
However, Kuon says rebels would not wait for a direct order from their boss
while the SPLA and their allies are attacking their base in the oil hub
town of Bentiu, the capital of Unity state.
"We have given 12 hours for the SPLA and their allies to withdraw from
Rubkotna. Failure to comply with our order will lead to imminent attacks on
them," said the rebel general.
He claims the government is an enemy of peace and has repeatedly failed to
abide by the existing cessation of hostility agreement.
The deal was signed on 23 January, but has failed to halt fighting on the
ground, with both sides accused to violating its terms.
More than a million people have been displaced both internally and to
neighbouring countries, while hundreds of thousands have sought protection
at UN camps across the country.
Aid agencies have repeatedly warned of a looming famine, saying the country
is facing a humanitarian catastrophe.
Although essentially a political crisis, the conflict has inflamed decades
old tribal tensions in the country, with atrocities and human rights abuses
committed by both sides attracting international condemnation amid warnings
the country was facing a possible genocide.
Face to face talks between Kiir and Machar followed several high profile
visits to the country, including US secretary of state John Kerry and UN
secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon.
(ST)
Received on Sat May 10 2014 - 10:12:11 EDT