105 - Sudan - Approaches to Armed Groups Kuol ... - The ICHRP

political officers drawn from various SPLA military units. After they have attended the
UNICEF/SRRA workshops they go back to their bases in order to enlighten troops on the subject of
the workshop besides their own political programmes.
NEUTRALITY OF HUMANITARIAN ACTION IN SPLA AREAS
Reaction to SPLA/SRRA Ground Rules Violations
72. The OLS/SPLA arrangements for delivering humanitarian assistance to the intended beneficiaries in
southern Sudan were more successful after the conclusion of the Ground Rules agreement. The
identification and location of rights and duties have enabled different actors to dispose of their
responsibilities or practically engage in solving most issues which crop up in the field. The local civil
authorities and relief workers find in the agreement the basis for their working relationship needed to
enhance the humanitarian activities. The occasional instances of violations of the Ground Rules
provisions have been tackled through specified mechanisms rather than being left to halt the delivery
of services. A few examples may illustrate the validity of those mechanisms.
73. In 1997 some SPLA members were charged of having seized and diverted a significant amount of
relief food consigned by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to its centre in Yei County. The OLS, of
which CRS is a member, demanded an explanation and action if necessary from SRRA. The latter
launched an investigation in to the matter in collaboration with SPLA. According to the Ground
Rules provision “diversion of aid from intended beneficiaries is regarded as a breach of humanitarian
principles”. The result of the investigation process led to the accusation and arrest of a number of
SPLA personnel including a commander. It was the first time that a commander, the highest SPLA
military rank, was exposed to criminal charges relating to misappropriating relief food intended for
civilian population.
74. Another commander was also arrested later in the same year in Bahr El Ghazal Region for disrupting
children’s educational programmes. The local SPLA commander ordered the forceful recruitment
into the military of some children from a local school run by the Catholic Church. When the priests
and nuns protested against the action the commander put them under detention and ordered them to
be flogged. The row the incident generated among the Church and NGO community pressed the
SPLA leadership to ensure the speedy release of the detained Church members and the children. The
arrest of the same commander was effected pending the completion of an investigation into the
incident by a high committee.
75. There have also been some violations involving senior SRRA field staff. In early 1998 The SRRA
Secretary for Tonj County, in Bahr El Ghazal Region, ordered the closing down of activities and
expulsion of World Vision International (WVI) staff members from the county. The reaction of the
SRRA headquarters was swift and firm. The county secretary who acted unilaterally had jeopardised
the relief services in the area without justification and had therefore to be suspended from his duties
and disciplinary proceedings. The reason for his order was immaterial as the decision to close down
relief services and expel relief workers from the area of SPLA was beyond the remit of his office.
Such a decision, in practice, lies with the SPLA political leadership.
Reaction to NGOs Violations of Ground Rules
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