Executive: 17,613 killed in South Sudan violence, BNFA

April 08, 2014 (Nyamilepedia) — As the South Sudan conflict continues to engulf the three states, predominated by the Nuer ethnic group, Nuer Community living in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum has filed a new report, estimating the death toll of Nuer ethnic group at 17, 613. The meeting, attended by professor David De Chand and professor James Mabur Gatkuoth, revealed the new report with data gathered using FGDs methods.

This is the first official estimate released by the Nuer community since the targeted killings began in December. Senior Nuer officials on both sides in South Sudan agree with the international community reports on the massacres, however, neither sides presented their own estimate.

Nuer officials loyal to the government of Salva Kiir, who hardly mention the death of their relatives, are likely to underestimate the death toll while the freedom fighters who are fighting the allied forces of Salva Kiir are likely to overestimate the death toll. The targeted killings of their relatives is what drives the white army, who are defending their territories from further destruction.

“We are fighting the government for killing people,” Mr. Wiyual said. “We aren’t fighting for Dr. Riek.”

“They are in defense of their own areas,” he said, “in defense of themselves.” Machar admits.

The Juba government is sensitive to report on human right violations and dismisses most of it, including the UN reports. The death toll is underestimated by the government and inflated by the rebels.

After nearly three weeks of fighting, the commanding general of Upper Nile state, Maj. Gen. Gathoth Gatkouth estimated the death toll at 50,000, calling for Salva Kiir to resign:

“Salva must pay the price of 50,000 Nuers he had killed, dead or alive.” Gen. wrote in his report in January.

The government has estimated the death toll at as low as 500 for the first three weeks until it was abruptly raised to 10, 000 by the International Crisis Group on 6th January, 2014. Since then, no independent research center publish to update the death toll.

On January 6, the International Crisis Group estimated the number of the internally displace persons at over 200,000 and approximated about 30,000 refugees displaced to the neighboring countries like Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan.

Today, more than 1,000,000 people have been reportedly displaced as the UN reports:

“Of these, 803,200 have been displaced within the country, and another 254,000 have fled to neighbouring countries, according to the latest UN report.” BBC report on March 29, 2014

To stop the conflict:

The meeting which was attended by 4,561 members reiterated the following calls to stop the conflict:

•  Kiir must step down since he lost legitimacy by killing the very people who voted him into the office.

• Stop selective killing of civilians based on tribes and political beliefs

• To redeploy purely Dinka presidential guards who committed genocides against the Nuer civilians populations from Juba streets and deploy diverse official national police and military forces to patrol capital city to reduce selective killing and reduce fear until the full calm in the area is sustained.

• The United Nation Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to render vehement protections and provide basic human needs to attain live such as food, water and shelters.

• Recommend the International Criminal Court (ICC) to immediately launhc thorough investigations and brought culprit of these horror crimes, including the President Salva Kiir Mayardiit to book.

Read the original report here