South Sudan (UNMISS) Media & Spokesperson Unit Communications & Public Information Office MEDIA MONITORING REPORT
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Media & Spokesperson Unit Communications & Public Information Office MEDIA MONITORING REPORT FRIDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2013 SOUTH SUDAN South Sudan building a nation from scratch after independence, UN told (UN News Centre) President Kiir urges for cooperation within the SPLM Party (Gurtong) Kiir orders SPLM in Lakes State to hold meeting to resolve differences (Sudantribune.com) Immigrations officers train for better service delivery (Gurtong) UNMISS to support public service reforms (Catholic Radio Network) South Sudan civil societies hold workshop on accountability (Gurtong) Zimbabwe will teach South Sudanese diplomats English (Eye Radio) Education Ministry says only 3% of teachers are qualified (Radio Miraya) IMF urges transparency in oil operations (Sudantribune.com) SOUTH SUDAN/SUDAN Khartoum and Juba to expel rebels from border demilitarized areas (Sudantribune.com) Vice President calls for UN action on Abyei (Catholic Radio Network) OTHER HIGHLIGHTS Sudan cuts internet for next 48 hours as fears mount of new post-Friday prayers protests (Sudantribune.com) LINKS TO STORIES FROM THE MORNING MEDIA MONITOR US Envoy Donald Booth calls for formation of ‘legitimate’ Abyei referendum commission (Eye Radio) South Sudan building a nation from scratch after independence, UN told (UN News Center) Over 150 thousand SPLA combatants to be demobilized (Good News Radio) Deputy speaker warns security against torturing citizens (Voice of Hope) Baby killed after car plunges into River Limu (Gurtong.net) Inmates in need of food and medicines in Tonj (Eye Radio) MP reports disappearance of 13,000 bags of sorghum meant for residents (Gurtong.net) NOTE: Reproduction here does not mean that the UNMISS Communications & Public Information Office can vouch for the accuracy or veracity of the contents, nor does this report reflect the views of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Furthermore, international copyright exists on some materials and this summary should not be disseminated beyond the intended list of recipients. Highlights South Sudan building a nation from scratch after independence, UN told UN News Centre United Nations, 26/09/13 - South Sudan has had to build a country literally from scratch since it gained independence two years ago, Vice President James Wani Igga said today in his address to the high-level debate of the United Nations General Assembly. “We must have made errors of judgment as we try to fix a war-devastated country,” Mr. Igga said, as he appealed for goodwill to continue. According to the Vice President, the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) had been “relatively successful,” although the issue of the contested area of Abyei and the demarcation of the borders between South Sudan and Sudan continue to impede the full implementation of the peace accord. Speaking to delegations on his country’s relations with Sudan, Mr. Igga said that it has been “a mixture of cooperation and squabbles” but acknowledged that there is “no alternative to lasting peace other than harmony and cooperation.” He called on the international community to step up its role in narrowing the gap between the two parties. On the disputed area of Abyei, Mr. Igga promised cooperation to implement an agreement on its final status through a referendum set for October 2013 by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP). South Sudanese President Salva Kiir visited Khartoum in early September where he met with Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, and the two leaders agreed on improving cooperation including the unhindered flow of oil from South Sudan through Sudan, he added. A set of security and economic agreements – signed in the Ethiopian capital under the auspices of the AUHIP – include provisions on security, the common border and economic relations aimed at enabling the two nations to fulfil their obligations under a so-called roadmap for easing tensions and facilitating the resumption of negotiations on post-secession relations. Turning to the eastern state of Jonglei, one of ten states in the country, the Vice President stated, “It has serious security and infrastructural impediments.” He went on to say that the Government is determined to transform the army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), into “a professional National Army that respects human rights and the rule of law and committed to the protection of civilians.” He expressed gratitude to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), which had helped the Government transform hundreds of former combatants into a police force “conscious of the rule of law.” Mr. Igga expressed regret for the loss of lives of the Indian peacekeepers, the Russian helicopter crew and the Kenyan and South Sudanese relief workers in Pibor county. He was referring to incidents in which UN peacekeepers and humanitarian workers have been caught up in the violence in Jonglei. An estimated 100,000 civilians in Jonglei alone have been cut off from life-saving assistance as a result of fighting between State and non-state armed actors, and the recent resurgence of inter-communal clashes, according to the UN. The Security Council has called on Juba to expedite safe and unhindered humanitarian access for the timely and full delivery of aid to all civilians in urgent need of assistance in accordance with relevant provisions of international law. The Vice President also said the country is being run according to “acceptable standards of competence,” and called on “experts” to appreciate the bigger picture of “how well the country is run outside Jonglei state.” 2 Government spending has been reduced by 40 per cent and non-oil revenue has been increased considerably, he added. Meanwhile, efforts are being made to address literacy rates among women, which is below 18 per cent, and to increase their political participation. “We are determined to uproot impunity and corruption, a phenomenon which is a symptom of post-conflict States,” said the Vice-President. (Back to Top) President Kiir urges cooperation in SPLM Party Gurtong Rumbek, 27/09/ 2013 - President Salva Kiir Mayardit has concluded his two-day visit to Rumbek, Lakes State on Thursday with a call for cooperation among the members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement Party (SPLM) party. Members of the SPLM held a closed door meeting at Palm-Tree Hotel in Rumbek Central County with the president to address outstanding party power struggles in Lakes State Legislative Assembly. A group of 34 lawmakers in Lakes State filed a complaint against the Speaker John Marik Makur seeking his impeachment but Kiir warned of dire consequences on the party. He said the party would be heavily affected. Kiir called upon the state legislators and SPLM party members at State Liberation Council (SLC) level to show cooperation between junior and senior members. MPs in their petition letter to impeach accused the speaker of corruption, mismanagement of the Assembly and undermining the challenges of the harsh security reform measures that have affected the public. The president directed the State SPLM chairman Daniel Awet Akot to call for State Liberation Council (SLC) for an urgent meeting to iron out their party differences within two days. The SPLM Acting Secretary General Dr. Anne Itto is working around the clock to collect finances to allow SLC to conduct it sitting. Kiir told SPLM caucus members: “I need cooperation and unity among you. If any MP attempts to impeach the speaker, I will apply what I applied on former speakers; Isaiah Alier Machinkok and Bullent Kot..” In 2008, a group of MPs opposed the former speaker Machinkok and president Kiir forced the two rivals to resign from state parliament. In October 2008, a group of MPs supporting Bullian Kot seized state parliament for 13 days. Marik Nanga Marik MP, who represents Rumbek North County, told Sudan Tribune that Lakes State parliament is setting a bad example to the public. Marik said: “Democracy is a valued principle, so much so that some people have sacrificed their lives to fight for it. While no system is perfect, it seems that democracy is once again under assault. What are the challenges posed in a democratic system and are established safeguards helping to strengthen democracy or are their forces successfully weakening it?” Marik told the press, shortly after the Deputy Speaker rejected the discussion on conduct of business. (Back to Top) Kiir orders SPLM in Lakes State to hold meeting to resolve differences Sudantribune.com Rumbek, 26/09/ 2013 - South Sudanese president Salva Kiir Mayardit concluded his two day visit to Rumbek, the capital of Lakes state on Thursday, after instructing top officials to hold a meeting to resolve their diffences. Members from South Sudan’s ruling party - the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement - held a closed door meeting with the president at Palm Tree Hotel in Rumbek Central county to address power struggle within SPLM MPs in the Lakes State Legislative Assembly. A group of 34 lawmakers have attempted to impeach the parliament’s speaker, John Marik Makur, for corruption and allowing harsh security measures to be introduced. However, president 3 Kiir warned against such internal divisions and called for better cooperation between MPs and other members of the party within the central state. Kiir directed the chairman of the SPLM in Lakes state, Daniel Awet Akot, to call for the party’s State Liberation Council (SLC) to conduct an urgent meeting to iron out party differences within two days. The SPLM’s acting secretary general Dr. Anne Itto is reported to be working to provide the finances to allow the meeting to be held. “I need cooperation and unity among you” Kiir told SPLM members and MPs. In 2008 when a group of MPs in Lakes state opposed the former speaker Isaiah Alier Machinkok president Kiir forced him and his main rival Bullent Kot to both resign from their positions after MPs loyal to Kot seized control of the state parliament for 13 days.