DATE=10/14/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-41596
TITLE=SUDAN SECURITY SITUATION
BYLINE=CAROL PINEAU
DATELINE=PANTHOU, SUDAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE SUDANESE GOVERNMENT AND THE REBEL SUDAN PEOPLE'S
LIBERATION ARMY, THE S-P-L-A, HAVE AGREED TO EXTEND THEIR
CEASEFIRE IN SOUTHERN SUDAN FOR ANOTHER THREE MONTHS. BUT AS
CAROL PINEAU REPORTS, AID OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED THE AGREEMENT
DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH.
TEXT: THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT FOR SOUTHERN SUDAN COVERS ONLY THE
BAHR EL GHAZAL REGION WHICH WAS HARD HIT LAST MAY BY DROUGHT AND
FOOD SHORTAGES.
THE AGREEMENT WILL ALLOW AID WORKERS TO CONTINUE TO DELIVER FOOD
ASSISTANCE. BUT THE SECURITY OFFICER FOR THE U-N'S OPERATION
LIFELINE SUDAN, BILL SIMPSON, SAYS THE AGREEMENT DOES NOT MEAN
PEACE IS ANY CLOSER.
/// SIMPSON ACT ///
NORMALLY AT THIS TIME, THERE'S VERY LITTLE MOVEMENT BY
EITHER SIDE. IT IS THE RAINY SEASON. GOVERNMENT TROOPS
CAN'T MOVE FROM THEIR GARRISON AREAS AND A LOT OF THE
MOVEMENT OF THE REBELS IS HAMPERED. SO IT IS QUITE
CONVENIENT AT THIS STAGE TO HAVE A CEASEFIRE.
/// END ACT ///
A COORDINATOR FOR THE U-N'S WORLD FOOD PROGRAM, W-F-P, CLAUDE
GIBIDAR, AGREES. HE NOTES THE CEASEFIRE HAS BEEN EXTENDED
THROUGH MID-JANUARY, BUT THE DRY SEASON ONLY BEGINS IN
MID-DECEMBER.
/// GIBIDAR ACT ///
WITH THE HEAVY RAINS IN SOUTHERN SUDAN, NO MAJOR
MILITARY ACTIVITY CAN TAKE PLACE. IT'S GOOD FOR US TO
HAVE THE CEASEFIRE, BUT IT WOULD BE TEN TIMES BETTER,
ONE-THOUSAND TIMES BETTER, IF WE HAD A CEASEFIRE IN
JANUARY WHEN IT DRIES UP, WHEN IT'S EASIER TO MOVE ON
LAND.
/// END ACT ///
THE SECURITY OFFICER, BILL SIMPSON, ALSO SAYS THE THREAT OF FOOD
SHORTAGES EXTENDS BEYOND BAHR EL GHAZAL -- THE ONLY REGION
COVERED UNDER THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT.
/// SECOND SIMPSON ACT ///
THERE'S BEEN SOME INTERNAL INSECURITY, ESPECIALLY IN
WESTERN UPPER NILE. BECAUSE OF THAT, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
DISPLACED AND THEY HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY GET
INVOLVED IN FARMING. WITH THIS INSECURITY, PEOPLE HAVE
TO MOVE ON AND THEY WON'T GET THE BENEFIT OF CROPS.
/// END ACT ///
THE S-P-L-A REBEL GROUP HAD PROPOSED THE WESTERN UPPER NILE AREA
BE INCLUDED IN THE CEASEFIRE. BUT SUDAN'S GOVERNMENT REJECTED
THE IDEA. THE AREA IS HELD BY A GROUP FRIENDLY TO THE SUDANESE
GOVERNMENT.
THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM'S CLAUDE GIBIDAR SAYS RELIEF WORKERS HAD
HOPED THE AGREEMENT WOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE WESTERN UPPER NILE.
HE SAYS THE SITUATION THERE IS PRECARIOUS.
/// SECOND GIBIDAR ACT ///
WE HAVE TODAY NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS UPPER WESTERN
NILE SINCE THE MONTH OF JULY. THE LAST W-F-P TEAM THAT
WAS THERE HAD TO RUN FOR THEIR LIVES, 10 HOURS IN THE
SWAMPS WITH WATER UP TO THEIR CHESTS, AND WE HAVE NOT
BEEN ABLE TO GO BACK. AND WE FEAR WHAT THE SITUATION
WILL BE.
/// END ACT ///
THE SECURITY OFFICER, MR. SIMPSON, SAYS BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND
S-P-L-A REBELS HONORED THE ORIGINAL CEASEFIRE WHICH STARTED IN
MID-JULY. BUT HE SAYS BOTH SIDES CONTINUED TO PREPARE FOR WAR.
/// OPT /// ONE REBEL OFFICIAL, CELESTINO MAWINGA, ADMITS THE
S-P-L-A IS TRAINING TROOPS -- JUST IN CASE.
/// OPT // MAWINGA ACT ///
THEY ARE DOING SOME TRAINING SO THAT WHEN THE WAR
RESUMES AGAIN THEY MUST BE READY TO RETALIATE. BUT IF
THEY (KHARTOUM) AGREES, IF THEY RESPECT THE CEASEFIRE,
WE'LL RESPECT THE CEASEFIRE TOO.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// MR. MAWINGA SAYS THE WAR IS FAR FROM OVER.
/// OPT // SECOND MAWINGA ACT ///
WELL, IF IT DOESN'T END, IT WILL DRAG ON LIKE OMAR
(BASHIR, P RESIDENT OF SUDAN) LIKES IT. WE CANNOT
ACCEPT DEFEAT. NOW OUR FORCES ARE NEAR KHARTOUM. OUR
FORCES IN THE OIL FIELDS, THEY ARE THERE ALSO. THAT IS
OUR INCOME. WE HAVE TO TAKE IT. WHETHER THEY LIKE IT
OR NOT.
/// END ACT // END OPT ///
AID WORKERS SAY THAT WITH CONTINUING SECURITY PROBLEMS IN THE
REGION, THE FOOD SITUATION WILL BECOME MORE CRITICAL.
A WORLD FOOD PROGRAM WORKER, JASON MATUS, SAYS A NEAR-FAMINE THIS
YEAR WAS PRECIPITATED BY DROUGHT, BUT THE UNDERLYING CAUSE WAS
INSTABILITY.
/// MATUS ACT ///
PEOPLE HAVE SURVIVED DROUGHT BEFORE, BUT WE'VE HAD FOUR
YEARS OF CONTINUOUS INSECURITY IN THIS AREA. YOU THROW
IN ANOTHER FACTOR LIKE DROUGHT, AND YOU CANNOT COME
BACK. YOUR COPING MECHANISMS ARE NOT THERE. I THINK
DROUGHT HAD A FACTOR, AND IT WAS KIND OF THE LAST STRAW.
BUT I THINK INSECURITY IS THE ONE THAT KEEPS PUSHING
PEOPLE.
/// END ACT ///
MR. MATUS SAYS AID AGENCIES CAN FEED THE HUNGRY, BUT ONLY PEACE
WILL BRING A LASTING SOLUTION TO FOOD SHORTAGES IN SOUTHERN
SUDAN. (SIGNED)
NEB/CP/JWH
14-Oct-98 10:37 AM EDT (1437 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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