United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Media & Spokesperson Unit Communications & Public Information Office MEDIA MONITORING REPORT THURSDAY, 11 JULY 2013 SOUTH SUDAN US condemns interethnic violence in Jonglei (Catholic Radio Network) Accuse forces of harassment on Independence Day (Gurtong.net) Justice Minister asks MPs to fund Elections Commission (Bakhita Radio) Two years on, South Sudan still faces major challenges (IRIN) Foreign state secretary represents Angolan president in South Sudan (AngolaPress) Governor appeals for Kiir, Machar Unity (Gurtong.net) Governor Bakosoro urges citizens to maintain peace (Gurtong.net) Upper Nile Governor urges citizens to embark on agriculture (Gurtong.net) Botswana pledges to support South Sudan (Gurtong.net) US ambassador says South Sudan growth is commendable (Gurtong.net) Leaders urged to return stolen property, boost reconciliation (Gurtong.net) One in every 3 South Sudanese has bribed: Report (EyeRadio.org) Man dies in Uror’s cattle raid (EyeRadio.org) US pledges $700 million to boost health sector (EyeRadio.org) IOM Launches $200,000 healthcare program (EyeRadio.org) Youths urge Government to define dowries (Easter Radio) 130 abducted people return from Darfur to Aweil (Catholic Radio Network) Parliament defers oil money management bill debate (Radio Bakhita) OTHER HIGHLIGHTS Sudanese president will "soon" travel to Nigeria: ambassador (Sudantribune.com) Kenya and Uganda most corrupt in East Africa says Transparency International (Sudantribune.com) OPINION/ANALYSIS/COMMENTARIES/EDITORIAL Protection and assistance challenges demand a firm response (Relief web) LINKS TO STORIES FROM THE MORNING MEDIA MONITOR Heavy fighting in South Sudan’s Jonglei State (Agence France-Presse) EU calls South Sudan to national reconciliation (Catholic Radio Network) SPLM official in Unity State says party traumatized by tribalism and corruption (Sudantribune.com) Unity State acting governor warns against violence, crime (Gurtong) South Sudan backs plans to boost press freedom, reporters wary (Reuters) Journalists applaud passing of media bills (Gurtong) South Sudan newspaper editor calls for sanctions against top officials (Sudantribune.com) South Sudan to launch first mini oil refinery next month (Reuters) Parliament defers oil money management bill debate (Catholic Radio Network) 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 US condemns interethnic violence in Jonglei Catholic Radio Network, 11/7/2013 – The United States government strongly condemned the interethnic violence taking place in Pibor County, Jonglei state, between Murle and Lou Nuer youths. In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the Office of Public Affairs at the US Embassy in Juba urged “the government and community leaders to call on all armed youth to lay down their weapons immediately and return to their homes.” The statement asked “all actors on the ground, including David Yau Yau’s militia group and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), allow humanitarian agencies to reach those civilians and communities ravaged by violence.” It expressed deep disappointment that the army did not defend civilians in vulnerable areas and it constitutes an abdication of responsibility by the authorities. The US Embassy encouraged “all communities to return to dialogue and address long-standing grievances – including returning abducted women and children to their families and ceasing cattle raiding, among other instigators of conflict.” (Back to Top) Accuse forces of harassment on Independence Day Gurtong.net Juba, 11/7/2013 – Citizens in Juba have accused security forces of harassment and torture that involved beating during the marking of the South Sudan second year of independence. A day ahead of the Independence commemoration, security in Juba was tightened with police forces and army deployed all over the capital. Others were involved into an overnight patrol. James Enocka, the Police Spokesperson told Gurtong how the security coverage during the independence marking was reached, came after all the line bodies; the security, police and the army senior officials sat and drew the mechanisms. However, some of the men in the uniform seemed had not executed their duties responsibly as several citizens spoke odd about their role. “This independence day many people suffered. Many people were bitten badly by the police and the army,” a bodaboda rider (motorcyclist) operating within Juba only identifying him as Blair told Gurtong. Another woman who chose to remain anonymous also told Gurtong that: “Like yesterday [Tuesday] some people suffered. Some were beaten along this road – Custom-Gudele road.” Surprisingly as she found the forces were carrying out the sinister she did not know as to why the beatings were carried out. Gurtong physically also witnessed civilians been beaten at St. Kizito along Munuki-Gudele road by the soldiers on Monday evening. Other harassments took place along the airport road. We also witnessed soldiers holding guns on Sunday deployed to provide security but looked drunk while performing their duty. James however, said his office did not receive complaints of beatings and harassment though admitted that there might be some minor incidences that have happened in contrary. He said forces involved in committing some of the incidences were the Presidential guards. He said deployment of the forces which comprised of all the security forces; security, police and the army the officers were coached before their deployment. SPLA Spokesperson Col. Philip Aguer exclusively told Gurtong he had not received any complain about torture, harassment and beatings, reiterating commanders of all the different forces deployed were strictly advised on how to make their operations. He however, blamed citizens who might have fallen victims of these circumstances. 2 “If somebody who did injustice to you they-citizens should go to the authorities. These are really not genuine accusations because we have not received them,” Aguer told Gurtong. He has called for education of the citizens on how to fight for their rights, saying the forces were deployed with their commanders under strict rules and guidelines of operation. They were expected to execute their roles responsibly. He rather said reports he received indicate that the commemoration of the day was successful. South Sudan on Tuesday marked its second independence anniversary with four African heads of states witnessing the event. (Back to Top) Justice Minister asks MPs to fund Elections Commission Bakhita Radio, 10/7/2013 – The minister of Justice urged MPs to approve enough money in the 2013- 2014 budgets to enable the National Elections Commission to do its work. John Luk Jok was in at the National Legislative Assembly to take part in the third reading of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill 2012 on Wednesday. He told MPs that the National Elections Commission needed money to set up its offices and prepare the elections of two Governors dismissed by the President of the Republic and County commissioners, and to fill vacancies in national and state parliaments. Mr Luk cited that the National Election Commission did not organize the election for a new Lakes State Governor because it did not have the money necessary to conduct the exercise. These comments came during the discussion on how to use the three percent from oil revenue that the Transitional Constitution allocates to the producing communities. (Back to Top) Two years on, South Sudan still faces major challenges IRIN Nairobi, 10/7/2013 – South Sudan marks two years of independence today, but the millions who continue to face displacement, hunger, disease and extreme poverty will be hard pressed to find any reason to celebrate. Aid agencies say they require US$485 million from June until the end of 2013 to help some three million people "to survive and to rebuild their lives". IRIN has put together a list of some of the country's most serious humanitarian issues: Aid agencies also report being prevented by the government from accessing populations in need in Jonglei. The integration into the SPLA of parts of some rebel movements - including Yau Yau's and Peter Gadet's South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) - saw a decline in militia activity in 2011 and 2012. Analysts say an amnesty issued to six militia leaders by President Salva Kiir in April could see further declines in militia-related violence, but for the moment, Yau Yau's militia remains active, although elders in the region say peace talks are imminent. Overall, internal conflict has displaced some 354,670 people, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Refugees: Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces - Sudan's national army - and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in Sudan's South Kordofan and Blue Nile states has forced more than 220,000 people into South Sudan's Upper Nile and Unity states. Overcrowding, outbreaks of disease, poor funding and flooding make caring for these refugees problematic for aid agencies. The ongoing rainy season - which blocks roads for months - will make aid delivery even harder. Returnees: Close to two million South Sudanese have