Human Rights Watch says justice needed to stem violence in South Sudan

New York, US (PANA) - South Sudan should urgently ensure an effective and independent investigation into the violent, ethnic-driven attacks in Jonglei state, and arrest and prosecute those identified as responsible, Human Rights Watch has said.

In a statement obtained by PANA here, HRW said in order to assist this task, South Sudan said it should promptly ask the United Nations and regional organizations to establish a commission of inquiry.

“To stem this horrific cycle of violence, the organizers have to be held to account,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at HRW. “For speed and credibility’s sake, the government should ask the UN and African bodies for help.”

Since early January, 2012, the government has repeatedly promised to investigate the attacks and hold those responsible to account, but it has not made any apparent progress in investigations or arrests.

There have been new attacks and counter-attacks in January and February, and threats of more to come in March.

HRW said that to help South Sudan move forward with investigations, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon could appoint a commission of inquiry consisting of experts, including South Sudanese, and request support from the African Union.

On 23 December, 2011, according to UN estimates, 8,000 armed men, largely from ethnic Lou Nuer villages in central Jonglei state, attacked ethnic Murle villages in the eastern part of the state, starting with the town of Likwongole.

The attackers burned and looted homes; killed and injured people using machetes, sticks, knives, and guns; abducted women and children; seized hundreds of thousands of cattle; and forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes to hide in the bush.

The death toll and full impact on communities is still being determined. Murle leaders reported that more than 3,000 had been killed, while UN monitors have been able to confirm just a fraction of that figure and have not released an estimate of total casualties.

In early January, President Salva Kiir vowed to “work to ensure those behind this attack are identified and brought to justice,” and the government spokesman, Dr. Barnaba Marial, said the government was in the process of setting up an investigation committee to arrest perpetrators.

However, HRW said it had not been able to get any information that any arrests have been made in connection with the conflict.
-0- PANA SEG 12Feb2012