South Sudan: Perpetrators of violence against civilians at Terrain Hotel held accountable for their crimes (06.09.2018)

The judges delivered their verdict today and handed down lengthy prison terms for murder, rape and other crimes.

JUBA, South Sudan, September 6, 2018 – The finding of a military court that 10 soldiers were guilty of committing violence against civilians at the Terrain Hotel in Juba, South Sudan, has finally delivered justice for the survivors and the family of the journalist murdered in the attack.

The judges delivered their verdict today and handed down lengthy prison terms for murder, rape and other crimes. The court also ordered the government to pay damages to the victims.

The victims and survivors of this horrific attack in July 2016 deserved justice and that has been served today. However, according to evidence raised during the trial, questions remain about whether accountability for these crimes reached high enough up the chain of command.

While the guilty verdicts handed down will not take away the pain and suffering caused by the appalling acts of violence carried out by these criminals, it is important that they have finally been held publicly accountable. The outcome of the trial also sends a powerful message to other would-be offenders, including members of the armed forces, that they will be prosecuted and punished for such violence.

The witnesses and survivors demonstrated true courage and patience by participating in the judicial process which began back in May 2017. There were some significant challenges throughout the process, including the detention conditions of the defendants, some impediments to the defendants’ access to counsel, and the trial of these crimes against civilians in a military rather than civilian court.

However, as the trial progressed, there was a willingness to adopt new procedures, including allowing testimony to be given via video link to facilitate witnesses and survivors unable or unwilling to attend the trial in person and using closed sessions to prevent public disclosure of witness’ identities.

This trial brought to justice offenders involved in the particular case of the Terrain Hotel where international workers were targeted. However, there remains the broader problem of widespread sexual and gender-based violence against South Sudanese women and children. Most cases go unreported and there remains widespread impunity.

UNMISS is committed to working with authorities in South Sudan to address some of the challenges observed during this trial and support efforts to improve the independence and effectiveness of the justice system so that many more victims of sexual and other violence can also have their day in court.

UNOC Signs Memorandum of Understanding With CNOOC to Start a Partnership in Exploration in the Albertine Graben (05.09.2018)

South Sudan: Joint Statement by SPLM/A(IO) and SSOA on Discussion of Implementation Matrix of the Revitalized ARCSS 2018 (03.09.2018)

South Sudan: Humanitarian Coordinator commends aid workers but rapid support in Juba is needed by the humanitarian community (04.09.2018)

South Sudan: 3500 displaced people successfully relocated by UNMISS and humanitarian agencies (04.09.2018)

South Sudan: MoFA and International Cooperation Press Release on Arrests of 100 Nationals in Kenya (29.08.2018)

Amnesty International Report of 1978 could have been rewritten for Museveni in 2018!

Today, I am just showing some quotes and small fragments of the Amnesty International Report from June 1978. This report of the atrocities of that time shouldn’t be repeated, but because of the bush-war should have been eradicated. Instead, the rulers and the regime are continuing their works. Maybe not as violent or to the extent, but there is still civilians dying so the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni can continue to rule indefinitely.

The NRM today used the Presidential Guards or the Special Force Command to intimidate the public, as they were starting to demonstrate in Kamwokya, as Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine was first blocked from leaving the Republic for medical treatment. He has later been allowed to leave, but Hon. Francis Zaake are still lingering in police custody at the hospital. Both of them after being tortured by the Security Officials. There was others who was hurt in the violence and torture by the authorities needs treatment.

The other fitting paradigm of the previous dictatorship under Idi Amin, was the use of Military Tribunals or Military Tribunals on civilians charged with treason. That has happen over time under President Museveni. Other similarities that is mentioned are the violent arrests and bundled into the back of the trucks of vehicles. That picture has been more and more common, as people are rioting and demonstrating. Therefore, there are more and more signs that the liberators are looking more like they predecessors.

Just read this quotes:

The effect of this structure of repression can be said without fear of exaggeration to have transformed the whole society in a short period of time into a ruthless military dictatorship marked by arbitrary arrest, torture, murder, the removal of virtually all fundamental human rights, the terrorization of the population, the turning of tens of thousands of Ugandans into refugees” (…) “Any security official is empowered to “use any force he may deem necessary” to arrest or prevent the escape of anyone suspected of kondo-ism (armed robbery, which carries the death penalty).3/ This supports a policy of “shooting to kill” on mere suspicion of kondo-ism, which is frequently used to justify arbitrary arrest or murder by security officers, whether in uniform or not. This was the case for example with the death of Makerere University student Paul Sserwanga” (…) “Military tribunals, originally confined to judging

cases within the armed forces, are empowered to try civilians accused of capital offenses such as sedition, subversion or treason” (…) “Victims of arrest by the security forces are normally bundled into the back or trunk of a security forces’ vehicle, Arrests are carried out by different branches of the security forces who normally take victims to their own headquarters” (Amnesty International, P: 2, 4, 6, 1978)

I don’t feel the need to address it again, As the state of affairs is like this. That the militarism of Museveni, could have its roots in the Amin and using same methods to intimidate and control the public. If he was a real freedom fighter and someone who fought for rule of law. Why use the same tactics and same means to silence critics and population in general. Because if they stood in the way of Amin, it would cost and President Museveni shows that it can be fatal in his rule too. Therefore, the world should know, that they supports same evils, but with just different flag at an another time.

The United Kingdom and United States, should be concerned that their arms and weapons are used against the public, as the state using the tricks of Amin. It is just ones of the fellows who toppled him, who later had his major movement in 1986 and stayed since. Instead of bringing new fresh ideas and actually changes of ways to govern. It is more of the same and the population deserves someone who represent them and actually be there for them. Not just use military force to prove you have the rights to rule. Peace.

Reference:

Amnesty International – ‘Human Rights in Uganda Report’ June 1978, England, United Kingdom

South Sudan: SPLM/SPLA-(IO) and SSOA – Joint Press Statement (30.08.2018)

Uganda Cancer Institute Press Release glitches in the radiotherapy machine (30.08.2018)

South Sudan: SPLM Leaders (FPD) – Press Statement on the revitalized ARCSS (29.08.2018)