SPLM-IO tell Gatwech, Olony not to use civilians as human shields

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Mahar Teny has advised opposition commander Gen. Gatwech Dual and Gen. Johnson Olony Thabo not to use civilians as human shield.

This comes after a deadly attack on an IDP camp in Panyikang County of Upper Nile State resulted in the killing of at least seventeen (17) people, all of whom are civilians, with different groups accusing the other of carrying out the attack.

In a statement, the SPLM-IO warned against use of bizarre language in referring to the conflict in northern Upper Nile state, saying the warring factions must put forth the interest of the South Sudanese people and also stop using civilians as human shield.

“We warn those who are still lurking in the dark and fueling fire to stop such provocations that the fighting is a Nuer and Collo War. They must put the interest of South Sudanese people above their-narrow self-interests,” the group’s Collo caucus said.

“We call upon the warring parties to search for peaceful mechanism to resolve their disputes and to avoid fighting that causes unnecessary destructions, especially on the civilians’ lives and properties. They should not use civilians as human shields to protect themselves and fulfil their own political interests,” the statement added.

The statement further called on the Revitalized Transitional National Government of National Unity (R-TGONU) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to intervene and investigate the deadly attack on civilians and bring perpetrators to book.

“Equally important, we call on the R-TGONU and UNMISS to intervene, to investigate and to protect the Collo innocent civilians from these senseless wars. Hence, we urge the leadership of Kitgwang Declaration Groups to stop fighting in Collo Areas and to find amicable solution to their differences,” it said.

The statement then called on the government of the restive Upper Nile state to relocate civilians to a safer haven to avoid incidences such as the Thursday’s attack on the Adhidhyang IDP camp.

“Lastly, we call upon the Upper Nile State Government to relocated the displaced Collo Civilians to a safer place to avoid such unfortunate incidences that happened in Adhidhyang Camp from recurrent. We urge the International and National NGOs to intervene and provide humanitarian assistance needed,” the statement added.