105 - Sudan - Approaches to Armed Groups Kuol ... - The ICHRP
105 - Sudan - Approaches to Armed Groups Kuol ... - The ICHRP
105 - Sudan - Approaches to Armed Groups Kuol ... - The ICHRP
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
• all hostile acts shall cease between Dinka and Nuer whether between their respective forces<br />
or armed civilians.<br />
• Amnesty is hereby declared for all offences against people and property committed prior <strong>to</strong><br />
1/1/99 involving Dinka and Nuer on the West Bank of the Nile river.<br />
• Freedom of movement is affirmed and inter-communal commerce, trade, development and<br />
services are encouraged.<br />
• It is hereby declared that border grazing lands and fishing grounds shall be available<br />
immediately as shared resources.<br />
• <strong>The</strong> spirit of peace and reconciliation this Covenant represents must be extended <strong>to</strong> all of<br />
southern <strong>Sudan</strong>. 22<br />
• <strong>The</strong> parties expressly urged the political factions in their areas <strong>to</strong> support this initiative.<br />
85. <strong>The</strong> political leadership later came out in support of this popular demand for res<strong>to</strong>ration of relations<br />
among the local communities. It was later reported, in reference <strong>to</strong> this agreement, that Dr Riak<br />
Machar a leader of one of the factions that made an accord with the government “backed a local<br />
peace agreement initialled between Dinka and Nuer tribal Chiefs at the beginning of March in Warap<br />
province (north of Bahr el Ghazal), which had also been given the approval of SPLA.”23<br />
86. Despite the government’s unease about this communal rapprochement, the (UDSF/SSDF)<br />
organisations of the factions which signed the peace agreement with it recently announced that they<br />
have agreed with SPLA <strong>to</strong> attend a similar community reconciliation meeting. <strong>The</strong> meeting ,<br />
scheduled in August 1999, is meant <strong>to</strong> reconcile the local communities of the Murle, Dinka, Nuer<br />
and Anuak at the eastern bank of the Nile. 24<br />
SPLA Response <strong>to</strong> External Fac<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
87. <strong>The</strong> SPLA has consistently been critical about the nature of OLS neutrality. OLS, as a UN led<br />
operation, abides by the right of <strong>Sudan</strong>’s Government <strong>to</strong> approve the entry of humanitarian<br />
assistance <strong>to</strong> its terri<strong>to</strong>ry including areas held by SPLA. <strong>The</strong> latter aspires <strong>to</strong> recognition as sole power<br />
in areas that have fallen <strong>to</strong> its hands. It would also prefer NGOs that would operate in solidarity with<br />
itself rather than being exposed <strong>to</strong> manipulation by the government as has repeatedly happened <strong>to</strong><br />
OLS. However, in spite of divergent views OLS has proved its utility <strong>to</strong> deliver humanitarian<br />
assistance <strong>to</strong> populations in SPLA areas. Most of the NGOs see it as a suitable protective<br />
arrangement for operating in areas controlled by liberation movements.<br />
88. As the SPLA restructuring has somehow been influenced by its attempts <strong>to</strong> provide an appropriate<br />
environment for humanitarian organisations in its areas, much of the changes are happening due <strong>to</strong><br />
interaction with traditional and other political forces. <strong>The</strong> SPLA strive <strong>to</strong> pause credibly among the<br />
rest of <strong>Sudan</strong>ese national political forces began with its organisation of Koka Dam workshop, in<br />
Ethiopia, in 1986. Its declaration, at the time, of the need for a national consensus <strong>to</strong> get the country<br />
out of its political impasse, was heeded by some of the country’s major political parties.<br />
22 Ibid.<br />
23 Vigilance Soudan , 1 st Quarter 1999 (January - April 1999), p.3.<br />
24 Al Hayat (Arabic newspaper), Saturday, 7 August 1999, Issue No. 13300, p. 5.<br />
18