Abyei Community in Australia: Letter on the Recent Massacre in Abyei, South Sudan
The Hon Marise Payne Senator
Minister Foreign Affairs
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Cc:
- H.E António Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations;
- H.E President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, the current Chair of African Union
- H.E Abdalla Hamdok, The Prime Minister of Sudan;
- H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit, The President of South Sudan;
Abyei Community in Australia is in Grave Shocked by the Recent Massacre of Civilians, Supposedly, under the Protection of the UN Peacekeeping Force.
Dear Honourable Minister,
Monday, February 10, 2020 (PW) — We, the undersigned members of the Abyei Community, one of the sub Community of South Sudanese Australians, express our grave shock about the recent Massacre of innocent civilians under UN peacekeeping force protection.
Honourable Minister, it is with deep regret and profound shock to learn that innocent civilians, most women and children, were murdered in cold blood while they were under UN Peacekeeping force protection. A force which Australia help put in place to protect civilians in Abyei during Australia time as a member of the security council.
We are aware that Australia government is fully apprised of the current events unfolding in Abyei area and the untold sufferings these events have exacted on the Ngok Dinka People.
Honourable Minister, as you may be aware that, in the morning of 22nd January, 2020 members Dinka Ngok civilians, residents of Kolom village of Abyei, were attacked by what was confirmed to be a combined force of Misseriya Arabs of Sudan and remnants of National Congress Party of former President Al Bashir. As a result, 32 civilians were killed and 18 were wounded, most being children and women. Up to 15 children were killed and more than15 children were abducted, the Chief Administrator of Abyei, Mr Kuol Alor had confirmed.
Honourable Payne, while the narratives of how Abyei is contested continues, characterise by the standoff between Sudan and South Sudan, there is no doubt innocent Dinka Ngok civil population is caught up in a continue suffering, aggravated by continuous massacre of civilians under UN Peacekeeping Force watch.
In 2013, while a peace delegation, which included the Paramount Chief of Abyei, late Kuol Deng Kuol, were returning from a crossed border peace talked, accompanied by a sizeable UNISFA force with two military tanks, they were held at a Gun point by couples of Misseriya Arabs Gun Men. United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), waited for six hours without reacting in protection of the delegation until the Paramount Chief of Abyei was repeatedly shot and killed at their watch. This tragic incident happens six months immediately after the positioning of UNISFA to Abyei Area. Endless massacres have continued to happen from then onward until the recent one. We believed the UNISAF has failed its mandate of protecting civilians.
The Effects of the Conflict on the Abyei Australian Community
Honourable Minister, the continue conflict in Abyei, in particular, continue massacre, has deeply affected the Abyei Australian Community. The Community remains deeply concern of what could unfold each day that the Abyei status remain undefined.
The instability cause by the conflict has been the main source of concern to many Dinka Ngok of Australia. Dinka Ngok Australians continue to send their hard-earned money to relatives back in Abyei, South Sudan and in refugee camps across the Eastern African region on the daily basis at the expense of their children here in Australia.
Memorial services are now a commonplace in the Community. A day hardly passes without some sad news of a close relative or friend being killed.
Concerns about the current United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA)
Honourable Minister, the Community is deeply concerned about current United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). The current force is from Ethiopia. The community believes that the UNISFA has failed their mandate of protecting civilians for the above reasons, including recent massacre.
Concern over the Delay in Deciding Final Status of Abyei
Honourable Minister, the Community is deeply concerned about the delay or deadlock over deciding Abyei status.
As you are aware, previous regime in Khartoum has severally blocked the resolution to the final status of Abyei including:
- Ignoring the final report of Abyei Boundary Commission (ABC) as Agreed in Abyei Protocol of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
- Sudan Army Forces evading Abyei in 2008 and in 2011 which received wider condemnation from international community including Australia.
- Blocking and continue to block Abyei Referendum for self-determination which was meant to take place in 2011 simultaneously with South Sudan Referendum.
- Ignoring or rejecting the decision of the International Arbitration Court on the boundaries and ownership Abyei.
- Conspired with the Missariya to killed the Paramount Chief of Abyei
- Constantly arming and backing Messariya to continue massacre Dinka Ngok civilians. And many more.
Our Request
Honourable Minister, in light of the above, and in the interest the Abyei Community and the entire South Sudanese Australian Community, we appeal to your government to take this notice of concerns seriously and do the right thing by the Abyei Australian Community as follows:
- Engage with Sudan, South Sudan, AU and UN Security Council to help bring the attackers of Kolom Massacre to justice.
- Find out how Paramount Chief Kuol was murder in the hand of UNISFA and to bring to justice those responsible.
- Engage with UN Security Council, Africa Union to replace current Ethiopia UNISFA with a neutral UN Peacekeeping Force, possibly from Western country or Uganda.
- Reject the proposal of the Join Integrated Unit made of Sudan and South Sudan Army Forces. For the last two evasions of Abyei in 2008 and in 2011 which led to hundreds of civil death, was instigated by these forces.
- Engage with Sudan to Redeployed outside Abyei, the so-called ‘Oil Police’ in accordance with many UNSC resolutions including 2046/2012. Their bases are used by the Messariya militants to springboard the attack of Dinka Ngok civilians.
- Pressured Sudan, South Sudan, AU and UN Security Council to finalise status of Abyei.
We look forward to your response.
Yours Sincerely,
On behalf of the Abyei Australia Community members, signed by:
Ms. Aluel Kuol
Secretary of Public Relation – Abyei Community in Victoria
Email: Aluel.Mayath@gmail.com
Cell: +61 470 376 849
Mr. Bol Aweng Machar
President – Dinka Community Union of Victoria
Email: bol_machar@yahoo.com.au
Cell: +61 470 618 228
Mr Deng Ajak
President – Abyei Crisis Support Organisation – Australia
Email: dengathing@yahoo.com
Cell: +61 423 407 172
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