From: South Sudan Press

19th April 2014
Press Release

Kampala, April 19, 2014 (SSNA) — In the wake of current renewed scale of fighting in South Sudan after stalled Peace mediation process under auspice of IGAD in Addis Ababa between the government of South Sudan and SPLM in Opposition, Nuer community in Uganda are in deep sorrow and painfully mourn the senseless killing of civilians in UNMIS on 17th April 2014 in what appeared to be a well coordinated attack by Juba-sponsored militia youth recruited mainly from Bor community. We deem this cancerous act as a fulfillment of what Makuei Lueth -The Minister of information attempt to do in the early days of February 2013 but he was denied access to enter UNIMISS base.

In terms of human loss, that cowardice attack on civilians in Bor has resulted in death of one hundred and forty five people (145) mostly women and children and had also left two hundred and seventy three (273) seriously wounded and are currently undergoing deflated medical attention in the same UNIMISS premises. It is worth mentioning here that the victims and other survivors are part of unarmed civilian mostly from Nuer ethnic groups who sought refuge in UNIMISS base in Bor.

Under universal accepted rules of engagement, such deliberate attack on UN premises definitely constitute a gross violation of international laws in which United Nation Mission in South Sudan sought her mandate to protect civilians in conflict situations.

As a community, we condemn in strongest term possible the senseless killing of Nuer children and women by the government of South Sudan. This is a clear plan by the defaulted government to eliminate one ethnic community in South Sudan under helpless and silent watch of UN. While principles of international humanitarian law Geneva-convention of 1949 and other subsequent protocols that call for the protection of non-combatant; the Nuer community in Uganda questioned the principle of neutrality that UN had played by failing to act under their mandate i.e. chapter seven of UN Charter in light of ethnic massacre staged by Juba government.

Finally, we are strongly urging the warring parties in South Sudan to refrain from attacking civilians. In the same note, we are appealing to UN Security Council to increase number of UNIMISS forces in the country as a deterrence measure to a possible scale of genocide.

On behalf of Nuer community in Uganda,

Signed by:
Samuel Gai Kuinit, Chairperson
Kuajien Chamjoak, Secretary General