ACTIVE NEWS OCTOBER - 20th ACTIVE NATION 9th 14th - 15th JANUARY 2012
Page 5
OCTOBER
LOCAL NEWS
Six dead in Sudan chopper crash, fire: army All six crewmen aboard a Sudanese military helicopter were killed when it crashlanded and burned in North Kordofan state on Friday, the army said. Fire broke out because of a “technical problem” aboard the Russian-made aircraft three minutes after takeoff from a base at El Obeid, the state capital, army spokesman Sawarmi Khaled Saad told AFP. The pilot crash-landed in a yard “but the fire destroyed the plane completely and all six crew were killed,” he said. Saad said the chopper was carrying “military equipment” on a logistical mission.
The official SUNA news agency reported that the aircraft was a helicopter gunship. El Obeid is a base for the Sudanese military but there is no known rebel activity in that immediate area. Sudan’s armed forces since June have been battling rebels further south in adjacent South Kordofan state, as well as in Blue Nile state. On Thursday South Sudan’s military spokesman said Sudanese air raids killed 17 people in the border state of Western Bahr al-Ghazal, the second day of stepped-up bombing along the northern frontier. The spokesman also said
bombing had resumed over the previous two days around Jau, a disputed area along the South Kordofan-Unity state border. Khartoum dismissed the allegations of bombing in Western Bahr al-Ghazal as “incorrect”, and accused South Sudan of building up its troops in the Jau area to attack inside Sudan. South Sudan separated from Sudan in July after an overwhelming vote for independence that followed more than two decades of civil war. Each side has accused the other of supporting rebels inside its borders.
Sudanese war helicopters sitting on the tarmac of the ElGeneina airport in West Darfur
“General security situation calm”, Col Aguer Severe
Col Aguer addressing the media forum. The spokesperson of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) Col. Phillip Aguer yesterday in his address to the media said the general security situation in the country is normal and calm. Col. Aguer while briefing the media forum at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting headquarters hosted by the government of the Republic of South Sudan spokesperson Hon. Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin said there are no major events except for the
reported movement of Sudan Armed Forces along the border with the Republic of South Sudan. He said that the SPLA is closely monitoring their movements and maintained that so long as they don’t enter into the territories of the Republic of South Sudan, they will only be monitoring their activities. “We are strictly implementing the policy of the government of the Republic of South Sudan and that is to be on the defensive position”, asserted Col. Aguer.
He said Jua payam, in Unity state, is now under the control of the SPLA after being invaded by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). He said that in Unity State and Southern Korodofan SAF is still maintaining their presence as opposed to their supposed withdrawal from these locations explaining that SAF are about 6km from SPLA positions in Jua. Col. Aguer also said Maban, parts of Blue Nile and the borders of Unity state are
relatively quiet from the remnants of the late rebel leader George Athor. On Jonglei communal clashes Col. Aguer said the SPLA is sending more troops alongside police officers. He said these forces were already on the way to Janglei. He said the by yesterday the reports emerging from the affected area of Pibor was that the Lou Nuer youths were already vacating Pibor towards their territories. He said this is a good gesture that the President of the Republic of South Sudan H.E Salva Kiir’s massage to the two communities is being implemented. President Kiir in his New Year message had asked the Lou Nuer to leave Pibor Murle area. The President had also assured that their cattle, children and wives allegedly taken by the Murle would be returned. He also asked the Murle to return the alleged cattle they had taken. Col. Aguer decried the state of roads that he said have been a major setback for the SPLA in averting such clashes. He called on the government to prioritize the construction of roads so as to provide easy access to save lives in the future. He lauded the support of the UNMISS saying that they are helping with air patrols to see the movement of the communities hence helping SPLA to plan better in stopping the clashes.
water crisis looms in Lakes State By Deng Michael Lakes State is at risk of a sever water crisis as result of the lack of spare parts for the boreholes. The State Director for Water and Sanitation, Barnaba Makuac Magol, on Tuesday told Radio Miraya that more than one thousand boreholes in the state lack spare parts. “We have a problem with the supply chain which is spare parts or rehabilitation of boreholes. At the moment, we do not have stock of spare parts which is a challenge for us. People are reporting breakdown of boreholes,” said Magol. Magol fears this may result into severe shortage of water in the state if remedies are not sought immediately. He said maintenance of the boreholes requires both local and donor support. According to Magol, Lakes State has 1,486 boreholes.