DATE=9/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239481
TITLE=SUDAN FIGHTING (L ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=NAIROBI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NEW FIGHTING IN SOUTHERN SUDAN HAS DASHED HOPES THAT A
TEMPORARY CEASEFIRE FOR HUMANITARIAN WORK MIGHT ALSO LEAD TO A
BROADER PEACE. AS V-O-A EAST AFRICA CORRESPONDENT SCOTT STEARNS
REPORTS, IT IS THE SEASON FOR WAR.
TEXT: IT COMES EVERY YEAR ABOUT THIS TIME IN SOUTHERN SUDAN --
THE RAINS STOP AND THE FIGHTING STARTS AGAIN.
TWO MONTHS AGO, BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND SOUTHERN REBELS AGREED TO
A TEMPORARY CEASEFIRE TO PERMIT FOOD AID TO REACH THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE HUNGRY FROM DROUGHT AND INSECURITY.
REGIONAL DIPLOMATS HOPED TO BUILD ON THAT LIMITED TRUCE TOWARD A
MORE LASTING CEASEFIRE IN SUDAN'S 15-YEAR CIVIL WAR. BUT PEACE
TALKS IN ETHIOPIA FAILED TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES OVER A REFERENDUM
ON INDEPENDENCE FOR SOUTHERN SUDAN, AND THE CONFLICT HAS GONE
BACK TO THE BATTLEFIELD.
THE GOVERNMENT ARMY IS MOBILIZING THOUSANDS OF NEW SOLDIERS.
STATE RADIO IS CALLING ON "EVERY SON OF THE NATION WHO IS ABLE TO
CARRY A GUN" TO SIGN-UP FOR WHAT PRESIDENT OMAR HASSAN AL-BASHIR
CALLS A "DECISIVE AND FINAL BATTLE" AGAINST REBELS BACKED BY
UGANDA AND ERITREA.
SUDAN HAS LONG ACCUSED UGANDA, ERITREA, AND ETHIOPIA OF BACKING
THE MAIN REBEL SUDAN PEOPLES LIBERATION ARMY -- OR S-P-L-A -- A
CHARGE ALL THREE COUNTRIES DENY.
NOW THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT IS ACTUALLY FIGHTING UGANDAN TROOPS IN
SOUTHERN SUDAN WHO IT SAYS HAVE INVADED THE STATE OF EASTERN
EQUATORIA AS PART OF A CAMPAIGN TO CAPTURE THE TOWNS OF TORIT,
LIRIA, AND THE SOUTHERN CAPITAL OF JUBA.
S-P-L-A REBELS SAY THERE IS NEW FIGHTING IN EASTERN EQUATORIA,
BUT THEY ARE NOT BEING HELPED BY UGANDAN TROOPS.
THE UNITED NATIONS ESTIMATES MORE THAN 50-THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE AT
RISK FROM THIS RENEWED VIOLENCE. THE FIGHTING HAS NOT CROSSED
INTO AREAS PROTECTED BY THE HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE, BUT AID
OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ITS IMPACT WITH JUST ONE MONTH TO
GO BEFORE THE LIMITED TRUCE EXPIRES.
WORLD FOOD PROGRAM DIRECTOR CATHERINE BERTINI SAYS FIGHTING COULD
THREATEN THE DELIVERY OF HUMANITARIAN AID IN SOUTHERN SUDAN. THE
RED CROSS SAYS ADMISSIONS AT ITS HOSPITAL ACROSS THE BORDER IN
KENYA HAVE RISEN MORE THAN 25 PERCENT SINCE THE RESUMPTION OF
FIGHTING, MOSTLY GUN-SHOT WOUNDS.
SUDAN'S STATE-RUN RADIO IS APPEALING FOR BLOOD DONORS AND CASH
CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE WAR EFFORT WHILE CALLING ON RETIRED
SOLDIERS TO RE-ENLIST TO DEFEND THE COUNTRY AGAINST OUTSIDE
AGGRESSION. (SIGNED)
NEB/SKS/JWH
30-Sep-98 10:48 AM EDT (1448 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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