More than 20 victims of sexual violence and armed robbery on Thursday started receiving cash as compensation from the SSPDF administration in South Sudan’s Yei River County.
The payment was part of the compensation accorded to victims following a ruling by the military’s general court-martial which tried SSPDF soldiers who committed crimes against the civil population in June.
Some of the crimes committed by some of the convicted SSPDF soldiers included rape, looting, theft, beatings, and murder among others.
Addressing the media in Yei on Thursday, Lt. Col. Michal Machar, the director of civil-military relations in Yei said they received the cash compensation package from the SSPDF headquarters in Juba. He announced that 10 victims have been compensated so far and the process is continuing.
Col. Machar said the move is the implementation of the military court’s ruling as well as the promotion of justice, healing, reconciliation, trust building, and peaceful co-existence between the military and the civil
“The money brought is for the level of serious injury cases, looting and rape cases. Last year’s victims were paid and those who were not, will be paid this year after completing the payment for the cases of June 2022,” he said. “The compensation is very important in building trust and restoring good relations between the civilians and the military.”
He said the exercise will continue until all victims receive their compensation and appealed to the citizens to promote peace and reconciliation with the military.
Meanwhile, a 30-year-old woman who identified herself only as Sunday welcomed the court’s decision and said although she felt poorly compensated, she has forgiven the soldiers who looted her family’s belongings.
“The government is trying to help us but as a beneficiary, this money is too small and it is not helping us when we compare it with the current prices in the market,” she said. “I got SSP 120,000 and it is not enough compared to what we have lost but for now it can promote healing and reconciliation.”
Sunday urged the military in Yei River County to work for peace and respect civilians’ rights and protect the civil population and their properties.
Charity Emelia a local women’s rights defender in Yei appreciated the compensation accorded to the victims but strongly urged the military to end sexual violence and human rights abuses against women, girls, and men.
“We want all of them to be paid because it is their right. They have been subjected to rape or looting by the army in the past, therefore, they deserve compensation and this will also let citizens know that justice is real and there is respect for rule of law,” she said. “I am happy with what the government has done and this will tell the rest that there is justice and rule of law prevailing in this country.”
This is the second time victims of sexual violence, rights abuses, and robbery are receiving compensation from the military justice wing after the establishment of the military court-martial in Yei River County in April 2021.