Col. Philip Aguer, the official spokesman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), has firmly dismissed claims that the government forces committed atrocities in an attack on Guit and Koch Counties of Unity State.
This reaction came after the United States Embassy in Juba announced recently that it was deeply disturbed by “credible reports of grave human rights abuses,” including rape, murder, abductions, and burning of villages, following a government offensive in Unity State in the north-central part of South Sudan.
In a statement, the Embassy said that the reports of rights violations emerged “following a Government offensive against Opposition forces,” saying that the renewed fighting was in direct contravention of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed in 2014.
Aguer told Radio Tamazuj yesterday that the reports filed by the United Nations lack credibility, saying the SPLA has laws that criminalize such atrocities like torching of citizen’s houses and killings, as well as rapes.
When asked about the government attack on Pajut area, the army officer said the rebels attacked their positions in Ayod County, prompting them to pursue the attackers until Pajut area.
He confirmed clashes in Mayandiit County in Unity State over the last two days, but denied any clashes with the armed opposition in Leer County.
The spokesman also accused the rebels of planning to attack Malakal town at any time. However, he stressed that the government has a constitutional right to defend the territorial integrity of the country from internal and external act of aggression.
He alleged that the government forces are fighting for self defense in Upper Nile region.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, Rupert Colvill, stated on Tuesday that SPLA and youth militia were responsible for these atrocities, according to witnesses.
He said, “According to interviews with civilians who managed to flee, perpetrators of these atrocities are SPLA soldiers and armed youth. Mobilized youth are reportedly clad in civilian clothes wielding AK47s.”
Related:
Clashes erupt near Uror County in Jonglei state (13 May)
US says ‘credible reports’ of atrocities after South Sudan offensive (12 May)
UN says villages burned in Guit and Koch counties (12 May)
Government troop movements in Malakal (12 May)