United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Media & Spokesperson Unit Communications & Public Information Office MEDIA MONITORING REPORT THURSDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2013 SOUTH SUDAN Seven sustain gunshot wounds during clash with army in Rumbek North (Gurtong.net) Ex-combatants get a new lease on life (Eye Radio) An armed and dangerous SPLA soldier on the loose in Aweil (Eye Radio) Governor Rizik makes first visit to Mapel town in preparation for President Kiir’s mission (Gurtong.net) Security tightened ahead of officials visit to Western Bahr el Ghazal State (Gurtong.net) UN calls for early preparation for 2015 elections (News Agency of South Sudan) Rejection of national justice ministry nominee was unconstitutional: whip (Gurtong.net) Warrap Governor sacks three County commissioners (Sudantribune.com) South Sudan to increase non-oil revenue earnings by December - Finance Minister (The New Sudan Vision/AllAfrica.com) Ugandan parliament discusses S. Sudan’s expulsion of its nationals (Sudantribune.com) Two Ugandans die, 15 injured in Nimule accident (Sudantribune.com) South Sudan learns Great Lake policies (Bakhita Radio) Minister urges action on flood victims to reopen schools (Radio Miraya) More than 50,000 people feared affected by floods in Panyijiar (Gurtong.net) JICA donates vehicle to Labour ministry (News Agency of South Sudan) State assembly postpones cabinet vetting (Gurtong.net) Education minister visits Rumbek University (Good News Radio) Ministry urged to speed setting up state radio booster in Kapoeta South (Gurtong.net) More than 70 diaspora South Sudanese to get government jobs (Gurtong.net) City Council launches cleaning at Juba teaching hospital (Bakhita Radio) SOUTH SUDAN, SUDAN Satellite imagery shows evidence of SAF aerial bombardment in Jau (Sudantribune.com) Improvement in Sudan, S. Sudan ties to reflect positively in S. Kordofan peace making (Sudan News Agency) OTHER HEADLINES SAF continues bombing Nuba Mountains (Catholic Radio Network (CRN) Khartoum seeks to contact SPLM-N over peace talks – Arman says (Sudantribune.com) Rights groups call for tougher stance on human rights issues in Sudan (Sudantribune.com) Sudan Finance Minister says economy will soon recover (Sudantribune.com) Sudan promises to clear hurdles facing Chinese investments (Sudantribune.com) Politicians call on armed movements to be nucleus for new political life (Sudandailyvision.com) Kenyan Journalist accused of crimes against humanity was peace advocate (Sudantribune.com) Rwanda seeks to address ICC during Kenyan leaders’ trial (Voice of America) ANALYSIS/OPINIONS/EDITORIALS/COMMENTARIES South Sudan’s new Parliament Speaker: ―We are watchdogs‖ (Theniles.org) Are there transparency, integrity, and accountability in S. Sudan? (South Sudan News Agency) 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. The absurdity of peace-building in South Sudan (I) (South Sudan News Agency) LINKS TO STORIES FROM THE MORNING MEDIA MONITOR Kiir set to make first public address since sacking Machar and reshuffling Cabinet (Sudantribune.com) S. Sudan’s 2015 general elections may not take place – census official (Sudantribune.com) Statistics Bureau says 2014 population census ―unlikely‖ (Radio Miraya) SPLM calls on government to calm deteriorating security situation in Jonglei (Gurtong) UNHCR establishes new transit site in Rubkona (Radio Miraya) KCB local staff agree to resume work (Catholic Radio Network) World Vision helps over 400 households in Tonj South (Don Bosco Radio) Deputy Governor urges NGOs to prioritise support (Radio Miraya) RwandAir adds Juba in South Sudan to its network (anna.aero) Repatriation exercise to resume in November (Radio Miraya) Abyei community petitions Obama over proposed referendum (Sudantribune.com) Highlights Seven sustain gunshot wounds during clash with army in Rumbek North Gurtong.net Rumbek, 12/9/2013 – Rumbek North County has reported that five people were wounded and two others are in critical condition admitted at the Rumbek Civil Hospital after clashes erupted between pastoralists and the army responded by opening fire on the fighting youth. The army is reported to have opened gunfire to youth position resulting into the injuries with eye witnesses saying that the army station in Rumbek North County had weakened county activities acted without professional attitude toward civilians. The resident who requested anonymity said there was no serious clashes, only two young men from Gak and Lith disagreed over little family related matter and the two fought with sticks before the army responded by opening gunfire on civilian position. Rumbek North County information officer, Peter Makuei Tinjok confirmed the Saturday clashes and said that the county had received incidents of civilians reportedly being shot by soldiers. The shooting occur when clashes happened between youth of Gak of Alor payam and youth of Lith of Meen payam. He explained that army was already being deployed by county commissioner as part of quelling down insecurity and to collect firearms from civilians. Lakes state government under instruction of military caretaker Governor Matur Chut Dhuol early this year instructed the eight counties that are associated to cattle raiders to return back all cows belonging to other state raided in Unity state and counter cattle raids within counties of Lakes state. The decision seem by youth are unwise and they demanded state government also to bring cows raided by Unity state to be returned back to Lakes state owners. Ex-combatants get a new lease on life. Eye Radio, 11/9/2013 – Over 250 ex-combatants will graduate on Monday after finishing three months of rehabilitation training organized by the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission in Western Bahr el Ghazal State. The training aims to change life of the former soldiers to a civilian way of life. Kerbino Yel, the Public Information Director at the DDR Commission says that the training also gave the former soldiers basic career and livelihood skills. ―There are around four to five courses; one is life skill, and then agriculture, carpentry, welding and many others,‖ he said. 2 Mr Yel also said that there will be more opportunities for training. ―We want to encourage the rest of the ex-combatants and the combatants who are out there to gear up for the next training,‖ he said. The training is part of the pilot project funded by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan with support from government of South Sudan, which targets the four states of Warrap, Lakes, Western Bar el Ghazal and Northern Bahr el Ghazal. The graduation of the ex-combatants will take place on Monday. (Back to Top) An armed and dangerous SPLA soldier on the loose in Aweil Eye Radio, 11/9/2013 – Police are searching for an armed man in a village in Aweil South, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, who they say has attacked people and burned down two buildings. The man is believed to be an SPLA soldier from Division 5 in Wau, Western Bahr El Ghazal state. Officials say the man has deserted his post. The soldier, who has not been named, is alleged to have beaten three people, including a pregnant woman in the village of Ayai. He is also accused of setting fire to a family tukul and a cattle pen. Witnesses have also told police that the man robbed shops at gunpoint and using hand grenades. Commissioner for Aweil South County Jel Mangok Yel said they are now searching for the solider, who has also attacked a police officer and has taken his gun. ―I talked yesterday with the acting governor to inform him that I want to send a force now I am preparing a force,‖ said Mr. Yel. ―I held security meeting this morning with all security organs and we have agreed to apprehend him by all means.‖ Victims of the soldier are recovering in Aweil Civil State Hospital, police have said. (Back to Top) Governor Rizik makes first visit to Mapel town in preparation for President Kiir’s mission Gurtong.net Mapel, 11/9/2013 – Western Bahr el Ghazal state governor Rizik Zackaria Hassan led a high profile state visit to Mapel town of Jur River County, the first visit since 2011 campaigns, to prepare for President Salva Kiir’s scheduled visit to the area next week. This is the first time for the governor to visit Mapel town of Jur River County since 2011 when SPLM candidates including President Salva Kiir held a mass rally in the area. The visit included state government ministers, security forces, members of state Legislative Assembly and two county commissioners from Raga and Jur River Governor Rizik was welcomed with long queues of people as he arrived in Kwajiena payam, Akwayo boma before he approached to the town. Rizik also first met with SPLA army officials at the academic headquarter where he appreciated the security situation and harmony relationship between the civil population and the army mentioned by the SPLA Mechanized division commander Major General Malual Majok. The visit was aimed at inspecting the road linking the town to the state capital ahead of president Kiir’s visit to the town. Speaking in Mapel town, governor Rizik said he has come to Mapel to inspect the road condition, security situation and to see the Ex-combatants who President Salva Kiir is scheduled to inaugurate their graduation on the 16 September. ―It is with pleasure to announce to you that our president Salva Kiir Mayardit will be with us in Mapel town to inaugurate the DDR ex-combatants,‖ Rizik told the crowd before he met with the ex-combatants at DDR facility centre. Rizik reiterated that Mapel is not new to him since he was residing within the town during the past war time saying that he will arrange his private visit to Mapel.