South Sudanese security forces prevented the Red Army Foundation from holding a planned celebration to commemorate 16 May, known as SPLA Day, which marks the anniversary of the launch of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement.
Some 350 members of the Red Army Foundation met and planned to march from downtown Juba through the ministries area to the Dr John Garang Mausoleum. They intended to hear speeches delivered by war veterans and officials.
However, security agents blocked the group from marching to the Mausoleum despite the Foundation having received prior registration to do so.
The Red Army Foundation represents former members of the Red Army, a group of child soldiers recruited during South Sudan’s liberation struggle who were trained in Ethiopia and fought in South Sudan.
A member of the Red Army Foundation said that security personnel told the group that following a directive from high authorities, the commemoration must be rescheduled to take place jointly with this year’s Independence Day celebrations on 9 July 2015.
The stated reason for the postponement was that the population was not adequately informed about the event, the Red Army member said.
16 May SPLA Day marks the day in 1983 when the 105th Battalion in Bor and the 104th Battalion in Ayod, Jonglei state launched a rebellion against the Sudanese government in Khartoum, beginning the Second Sudanese Civil War which culminated in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the South’s eventual independence.