Sudanese Government continued Human Rights Violations

On 22nd October 2001, around mid-day a very resourceful person, Mr. Wisely Wani Barnaba, a Sudan Medical Care (SMC) community health worker (CHW) was abducted by the Government of Sudan (GOS) sponsored Militia while traveling by bicycle between Napotpot and Lolim (on Loyoro River), Eastern Equatoria, south Sudan. Mr. Barnaba who originally hails from Mundri County, Morro ethnic group of Western Equatoria, was stopped by the Militia group and took him away to a Sudan Government-held town of Kapoeta and abandoned his bicycle on the road.

In a situation such as south Sudan's, where civil war of more than 18 years had indeed weakened the human resource and other important socio-economic development pillars. In addition, a long standing history of deliberate policies of marginalization by central northern Arab-style governments could not help either. Indeed, we only have extremely few numbers of qualified, trained and educated cadres. Sadly, Mr. Barnaba's abduction incident will deprive the local community of his expertise and community-based contribution through his work. This will surely create a vacuum as Mr. Barnaba has been a CHW with SMC since 1994.

We strongly outcry and deplore the gross human rights violations committed by the GOS in its ruthless war against the Black Africans of the Sudan. To-date, the GOS' continues to kill, abduct, and enslave many southerners, Nuba and Funj people directly through its own troops and through its sponsored militia groups. Shamefully, last night, on GOS' satellite TV, the President of Sudan, Omar al Bashir was not even ashamed to urge his troops that they should pursue all southerners and kill them. This TV channel can be monitored by many world-wide and anyone can see and hear these kind of repeated messages broadcasted loud and clear. In a press release dated 31st October a non-Sudanese international human rights group, Christian Solidarity International (CSI) said that GOS' armed forces has killed 93 civilians and enslaved 85 African women and children between 23rd and 26th of October this year.

New Sudanese Indigenous NGOs (NESI-Network) hereby, appeals to all UN and international NGOs Agencies working in South Sudan to amount a protest and demand the immediate release of Mr. Baranaba by the GOS and hand him over to one of the Toposa chiefs who in turn can free him. We further appeal to the international community to come to the rescue of all southern, Nuba and Funj Sudanese to outlaw the aggressive and injustice GOS Regime.

2nd November 2001

Signed by:
1. Sudan Medical Care: E-mail: [email protected]
2. Sudanese Women Voice for Peace: E-mail: [email protected]
3. Widows, Orphans and the Disabled Rehabilitation Association of New Sudan (WODRANS): E-mail: [email protected]
4. Relief Organization of Fazugli (ROOF): E-mail: [email protected]
5. Nuba Relief, Rehabilitation and Development Organization (NRRDO): E-mail: [email protected]
6. New Sudan Women Federation: E-mail: [email protected]
7. MRDA Mundri Relief and Development Association (Nairobi): E-mail: [email protected]
Mundri Relief and Rehabilitation Association (Arua): E-mail: [email protected]
8. Jonglei Association for Relief, Rehabilitation & Development (JARRAD): E-mail: [email protected]
9. Hope Agency for Rehabilitation and Development (HARD): E-mail: Address(s): C/o [email protected]
10. South Sudan Community Association (SSCA): E-mail: [email protected]
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About NESI-Network
We are a group of local organizations known as New Sudanese Indigenous NGOs (NESI-Network). Our main objective is to work together towards achieving a just and fair Sudan for all regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion/faith etc. We are currently operational in the margenalized areas trying to alleviate the extremely poor conditions under which the people live. Our Motto is self-reliance and a dignified life-style for our people.

For further information contact the Network Desk Officer at: NESI-Network (New Sudanese Indigenous NGOs)
E-mail: [email protected]
Web-site: www.nesinetwork.org