Why are international human right organizations silent on the killing of civilians on South Sudanese highways?
7 min readBy Longar Mathiec Wol, Nairobi, Kenya
July 4, 2017 (SSB) — To begin with, let me start by passing my condolences to the families and friends of innocent people victimize on south Sudan highways. Our hearts, support and prayers are with you at this critical movement where your small world is too dark to see. We hope one day you will be a free citizen not victimize because of your ethnicity or political affiliation.
What started as the power struggle between the two elites within the ruling party Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) reached it incorrigible level and exploded to deadly civil war the citizens become victims. A war that claims a lot of lives, caused uncountable atrocities across the nation, a war that displaced the millions south Sudanese whether internally or externally in neighboring countries, a war that put the lives of millions at risk of starvation and put the country into an immutable economic crisis through hyperinflation was a manmade and unforgettable disaster of 21st century.
The level of insecurity since the rebellion started in the country remain high. The peace that was brokered by the Inter-governmental authority on Development, the only hope for the hopeless people of South Sudan, is seems not to be working. In all these scenario citizens are the one paying heavy price. They are caught up between my tribe, my government; my tribe my rebellion but all is not helping because none of them is bringing any obvious change that the people of South Sudan need.
The government that is seems to be accommodating all the tribes is tarnish by the corruption without accountability. The rebellion turn to terrorize the people it claims to be fighting for their freedom. They are being ambushed and kill in all the egress and ingress of Juba.
However, what is not clear is whether this killing that is happening in the entrance and the exit of the city is a terror acts. Even if the word terrorism might be bigger to describe the situation then it is not far away from it because there are certain symptoms to link to it. Ambushing civilians, killing them and chop them is not far from terrorists’ work. Since there is no comprehensive agreed definition of the terrorism; it made it hard for small countries to list an organization as terrorists’ organization.
The listing is only done by the superpower countries which have influence across the globe. But regardless of whether there is uniform definition or not there is one thing that bring the people together. Any act that kill the civilians is automatically a terror act.
One thing that left me confused is why there is no organization or super power country that is condemning this crime committed against civilians on south Sudan highways. Where are these organizations that seems to be more concern about the civilian’s lives, the human right organizations and, the civil society? Why are they not condemning this indiscriminative killing, the UN on the ground, why are they making reports about the regime all the time and they don’t make any single report concerning this heinous crime being committed against the civilians?
Is the regime change on the expenses of civilians? Isn’t the road ambushes and killing of civilians on south Sudan highways mount to terror act? What types of killing or level of killing that mount to crime against humanity? What type of crime is considered to be terror act if these killing are not considered to be ones? What qualify an act to be terror act? If we answer all these questions with sober minded we will come out with concrete understanding of what is really happening. In that context let look at the definition of terrorism according to the one of superpower states.
There are many others but this discussion will focus only on this definition. According to section 140(d) (2) of the United States Foreign Relations Authorization Act of fiscal year 1988-89 defines “terrorism” as premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents. Plus so many other definitions, but what is interested when you look at all these others attempted definitions about terrorisms one thing in common is that, it is killing targeting the noncombatants or civilians. That means any killing that target the civilians is an act of terrorism.
Refer to above definition you can see some of the words like premeditated, politically motivated violence against noncombatants. That description qualified to describe the situation happening in South Sudan. It started as political dispute led to disagreement and latter rebellion that alone make it fit in politically motivated violence. It also talked about premeditated, that mean all the ambushes being carried out in the country against civilians are premeditated because they are plan.
Anything that is plan acted upon become a premeditated actions carried out by south Sudanese who according to this definition become like subnational. Therefore, to wrap it up, it means all the killings happening in the country suit to be described as terror act. Regardless of whether was commit by your brother, your sister or your dad; know that they are practicing terrorisms activities which is not helping our country.
There is no one who don’t want change but change should be systematic with human values, the change that put into consideration the liberty of the people you’re fighting for, the change that everyone see himself/herself in, the change that doesn’t put into consideration the tribal affiliation or political affiliation. The change that tolerate the diverse ideology, the nonviolence change is what we need. People need to see an opposition forces as alternative if the government forces are not trustworthy. That the change people want not the change civilians move in fear due to his/her tribal affiliation.
I need south Sudan where I am a citizens regardless of where I am staying, whether government control areas or opposition control areas. I should be treated with dignity no matter where I live. The people of south Sudan need to roam freely without fear of which area he/she is entering. The citizens should not be a victims of crime they have never committed.
When we confine the citizens in one locations by carrying out the ambushes on their convoys the use to go and look for something to feed their families then that mount to an act of terror which deserve condemnation across sector, whether government, opposition, internationals organizations and, the friends of the people of South Sudan worldwide.
That is what the world call terrorisms but in south Sudan the death of citizens doesn’t pain any of the warrying parties. If that pain them then any killing or mistreatment against civilians should be immediately ceased.
I condemn this cowardly act against the innocent people. People who know nothing about why they are targeted, why they are confine in one location. Being Dinka, Nuer, Bari etc. doesn’t make me automatically a supporter of certain organization. Dinka being Majority in government control areas doesn’t means all are supporting government like wise to Nuer doesn’t mean all Nuers are supporting the opposition.
Do the killers really feel the pain and agony like the way the relatives and friends feel when the lay their loved ones rest? Do they see tears of pain being shed when we beat them goodbye. Time has come for the people of South Sudanese to stand united and speak up against this frequent killing, take the real procedures that will lead to the real change not victimization of innocents.
South Sudan is bigger to all of us and is ample enough to accommodate us. Cease killing your brother or sisters for political reason we are one people.
Therefore, no words can describe what has happened in last few months or this year, it’s indeed the year of pain and sorrow. All these killings that are happening in south Sudan can only be describe in three words; terror act, war crime and crime against humanity it is horrific and not acceptable.
The author, Longar Mathiec Wol, is a concern South Sudanese living in Nairobi, Kenya. He can be reached through email address: longarmaxiech@gmail.com.
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