September 1, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudan's governing Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) would make reconciliation, unity and forgiveness a top priority during the transitional period of the government of national unity, a leading official said on Tuesday.

SPLM chairman Salva Kiir (R) greets former SG Pagan Amum (L) as Riek Machar looks on, January 14, 2010 (SPLM photo)

Former South Sudanese cabinet affairs minister, Deng Alor Kuol, said Tuesday the work of the secretary general of the SPLM, Pagan Amum, as chief administrator in the party, would be dedicated to organising the party.

“The launch of the national reconciliation would be the priority of the SPLM leadership during the transitional period. This work will be spearheaded and supported by the entire secretariat and the leadership of the SPLM to achieve peace, unity, reconciliation and forgiveness,” Kuol told Sudan Tribune in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

“I am sure comrade Pagan Amum in his capacity as the secretary general will devote time and energy to overseeing any initiative aimed at uniting the party, uniting the ranks of the leadership and our people,” he said.

The leading official underscored that the recently signed peace should not be read as a reward or return to the status quo but rather an opportunity to allow the ruling party to correct itself and accept their actions.

“There can be no agreement with provisions satisfying the wants and desires of all the parties. Agreement world over are means of resolving problems. They are not the end to the problem. We all have to talk about peace and always nurture it for us to success as a nation. We should not let revenge rule our lives,” he added.

While stressing on the significance of the plan for national reconciliation, he left details vague on precise timetable for foreign troops to withdraw from the country, and laws disqualifying former members of the party who may be found to have masterminded and played an important role in fermenting the conflict from important jobs.

He also failed to offer a clear view on any strategy for disarming the militias, which are currently seen as the greatest security threat.

Observers are keen to note that any amnesty for militants will not apply to people who have perpetrated violent acts but would not be possible without mutually transformative engagement with partner organizations and leaders who provide various gifts and resources to the initiative.

He urged state residents to prioritise peace and provide support in the implementation of the peace deal which President Salva Kiir has signed, saying it provides an opportunity to resolving the differences and putting the country on the right path instead of putting personal ambition and interests to jeopardise efforts to bring peace to the country, following the signing of regional backed peace deal.

Kuol was one of former detainees who were detained for months by president Kiir's government following eruption of violence in Juba in December 2013.

He was also dismissed by president Kiir before violence after he was accused of involvement in corruption involving millions of dollars while a cabinet minister.

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September 1, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, his defense minister and members of the government negotiating team have briefed country's top military officers about the peace agreement recently signed with the armed opposition faction.

President Salva Kiir and defence minister Koul Manyang Juuk addressing the press on Monday morning (Photo: GOSS/Thomas Keneth)

The meeting, officials said, took place on Tuesday in the South Sudanese capital, Juba.

According to the army spokesperson, Col. Philip Aguer three officers from the country's two main rival faction are due to take part in a will participate in a military workshop due in Addis Ababa this week.

“Today the commanders of the army in all the sector divisions and specialist units were ordered to come for briefing and the briefing was all about the peace agreement and the implementation particularly the issue of ceasefire,” Auger told reporters in Juba.

The defense minister, in a statement on the state-owned SSTV, urged the military to respect the cessation of hostilities agreement. This notion was echoed by information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth.

“These consultations with the military should have been the first thing to do before signing the peace agreement, but the IGAD [Intergovernment Authority on Development said no,” said Lueth.

On security arrangements, the peace agreement stipulates that thevcapital, Juba, be declared demilitarised zone, with a radius of 25kms. Foreign troops, particularly from the IGAD countries and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) will take charge of Juba for 30 months of the transition period until elections are conducted.

The two rival armies, according to the peace agreement, will also maintain separate commands for a period of transition with president Kiir being the commander-in-chief of the South Sudan army (SPLA) and rebel leader Machar also as the commander-in-chief of his forces until a unification process is completed as per the recently signed accord.

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September 1, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Saudi authorities have arrested the administrator of a Sudanese opposition website and continues to hold him without charges, a media watchdog said in a statement today.

Al-Rakoba website logo

The Sudanese non-governmental Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) network said that Walid Hussein al-Dood was taken by security agents on July 23rd from his home in the city of al-Khobar and was transferred to the city of Dammam.

JHR strongly warned of the consequences of his possible extradition to Khartoum on charges of running al-Rakoba website.

The statement by JHR said that al-Dood's wife visited him three times with the most recent one being on Monday.

Al-Dood told his family that he is being well-treated and that his immigration status is not in question.

However, the statement did not say why he is being held and if he was formally notified of a pending extradition request by Khartoum.

Al-Rakoba started off in 2005 as a discussion forum but has eventually transformed into a news website that carries stories and op-eds that are fiercely critical of the Sudanese government.

The website has attracted wide readership even inside Sudan despite intermittent government moves to block it.

In statements attributed to al-Dood before his arrest he asserted that al-Rakoba maintains “clear positions against dictatorship and corruption .. and has attracted the finest readers and columnists who value human freedom, human rights and equality”.

JHR said it is concerned that al-Dood would be subject to torture should he be extradited to Sudan and vowed to launch a campaign to prevent this.

Relations between Riyadh and Khartoum have improved dramatically this year after the latter shifted its alliance from the Iranian axis.

Sudan is also a member of the Saudi-led military coalition against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

But it remains to be seen whether al-Dood's detention is politically motivated and whether Riyadh could actually send him back to his home country.

In 2005, the interior ministers of Saudi Arabia and Sudan signed a security pact in Khartoum which included clauses related to preventing any activities by residents or citizens on their territories that are hostile to the government of the other side.

Saudi Arabia is generally very sensitive to any foreign political activities on its territory.

In 2011, the Saudi government issued a decree banning any events of political nature without prior permission and warned of consequences to foreign nationals for violating this order which included deportation.

A Saudi foreign ministry cable released by Wikileaks website last June revealed that Riyadh summoned Sudanese opposition figures and embassy officials alike to caution them against non-sanctioned political activities in the country unless an official permit is received.

Al-Rakoba is a US registered website however and has no physical offices in Saudi Arabia or elsewhere in the world.

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September 1, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The national dialogue coordination committee (7+7) on Tuesday formed an ad hoc committee to mull over a decision of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) in favour of holding a pre-dialogue meeting outside the country.

At the same time, the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) renewed its rejection for this preparatory meeting and accused AUPSC's diplomats of lacking neutrality by holding a meeting with the holdout opposition parties.

Speaking after a meeting of the dialogue mechanism on Tuesday, the head NCP political sector Mustafa Osman Ismail told reporters that the 7+7 committee formed a panel to study the recent activities of peace and security body and its decision backing the opposition demand for the pre-dialogue meeting.

Ismail further said they demanded the ad hoc team to submit its findings within 48 hours pointing that its report will be deliberated in a meeting to held on Sunday.

President Omer al-Bashir, since last Sunday, has categorically rejected the AUPSC's decision supporting the organization of a meeting at the African Union headquarters to discuss matters related to the internal political process.

Before to take this decision, the 15-member body organized a hearing for the opposition "Sudan Call" forces on 24 August 2015. In Khartoum; the government immediately condemned this "outrageous" initiative by the inter governmental regional organization and declared its refusal for any foreign involvement in the process.

Initially in September 2014, the NCP accepted to take part in the meeting which will be brokered by the AU High Level Implementation Panel of chaired by Thabo Mbeki. In March 2015 the government refused participate in the meeting, insisting it was not appropriate to hold it two week before the general elections.

Only the opposition Popular Congress Party (PCP) of Hassan al-Turabi declined the invitation for the pore-dialogue meeting when they received it last March.

PCP political secretary and its representative at the dialogue boy, in statements to the press after the meeting reiterated their rejection for Addis Ababa's meeting saying "the transfer of dialogue out of Sudan is next to impossible".

"The dialogue is an inter-Sudanese process. We will not accept moving it to outside the country and we do not accept the any tutelage from anybody. We are ready to accept all people and to hear all views," added Kamal Omer.

In separate statements after a meeting of the national unity government parties on Tuesday, Ismail directed his criticism to "some ambassadors" of the peace and security body and accused them of partiality and taking the side of the opposition.

The (Sudanese) people will not accept that three parties impose to hold the dialogue outside the Sudan," he added.

NCP political secretary Hamid Mumtaz who attended the meeting went to say all the political forces inside the country agree in their rejection of the transfer of the political process to outside the country.

"It is not necessary that the armed groups and holdout parties trust the government. The government extended them an invitation, decided a ceasefire and provided guarantees," he said.

Mumtaz was referring to the topics that the parties should discuss at the pre-dialogue meeting.

The National Umma Party (NUP) and the SPLM-N recently said they are willing to join the dialogue process inside the country but stressed on the need to hold a two-day meeting to agree on "procedural matters relating to the Dialogue".

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September 1, 2015 (KAMPALA/NAIROBI) – A South Sudanese human rights entity has urged the country's two main rival factions to respect the recently-signed peace deal and immediately cease the continued military hostilities.

SPLA soldiers sit at the back of a pick-up truck in Malakal, Upper Nile state January 12, 2014. (Photo Reuters/Andreea Campeanu)

Biel Boutros Biel, the executive director for South Sudan Human Right Society for Advocacy (SSHURSA), said it was important for the warring factions to adhere to the agreement signed on 26 August.

He condemned what he described as renewed violations of the ceasefire allegedly by government following attacks on the armed opposition strongholds in Fangak, Payinjiar, Leer, Koch and Malakal areas.

“This is waste of South Sudanese human resources on both sides. President Salva Kiir should reign on his warlike generals. The SPLA/IO generals should also never behave like their counterpart in Juba. We urge all warlords to desist from belligerent attitudes,” said Biel.

The renowned human right advocate called on the mediators and Troika countries to ensure president Kiir withdrew his forces allegedly stationed along the River Nile to avoid further clashes with the rebels.

“War must stop and South Sudanese must now stand together for peace,” he said in a strongly-worded statement issued Tuesday.

CALLS FOR STABILITY

Meanwhile, a group of South Sudanese living in Kenya have urged the country's two rival factions to quickly resolve their difference to that peace and stability can be restored in the war-ravaged nation.

Dak Buoth, a South Sudanese in Kenya, said they fully supported the recently signed compromise peace agreement to end the conflict.

“We expressed our happiness and appreciation to the signatories of peace deal inked by the two rival leaders on 17 and 26 that dedicated positive hope to South Sudanese for a better solution to ongoing political turmoil,” Buoth told Sudan Tribune from Nairobi.

David Atem Mayuel urged president Kiir and rebel leader, Riek Machar to prioritise peace to save thousands of those suffering.

Lino Madit, on the other hand, urged the country's two rival leaders to commit to the recently signed peace deal demanded by citizens.

According to Kujiek Ruot Kuajien, South Sudanese citizens are already tired of the war that has killed thousands and forced nearly two million people into displaced camps in neighboring countries.

“The world is competing toward technological advancement while we are shading more blood to ourselves,” said Kuajien.

He advised the country's leaders to focus eradicating extreme poverty, reduce illiteracy rates and steer economic development.

The group further called on the African Union Commission of Inquiry into South Sudan crimes to publicise their findings on atrocities committed in the young nation during its months of violent conflict.

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September 1, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir held talks in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Tuesday amid criticism by the United States which noted his status as an individual wanted on charges of war crimes and genocide.

Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir (C) pictured with Chinese President Xi Jinping before their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on September 1, 2015 (AFP Photo/Parker Song)

Jinping described the Sudanese president as an "old friend" declaring his country's welcome to Bashir and his delegation which included the ministers of foreign affairs, oil and transport among others.

"China and Sudan are like two brothers that are also good friends and partners. Mr Bashir coming to China shows our partnership is strong" Jinping told Bashir according to Chinese media.

In contrast, the United States expressed its displeasure over the visit saying that Bashir should not be welcomed by countries but should rather face justice.

“As you know, he's been charged with – by the ICC, International Criminal Court, with war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, and warrants for his arrest remain outstanding. And we strongly support the ICC's efforts to hold accountable those responsible for those acts. Our position is clear: We oppose invitations, facilitation, or support for travel by persons subject to outstanding ICC warrants,” US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner told reporters on Monday.

He stressed that "the International Criminal Court request to arrest al-Bashir still stands," and stressed that "the United States strongly supports the efforts of the international tribunal to hold accountable those responsible for such acts."

“[W]e've called on all countries to join the international community in its call for Sudan obviously to fully cooperate with the ICC, and requested that governments, including China's, not invite or facilitate or frankly support travel by President Bashir. And we have a longstanding policy of urging other nations to refrain from lending political or financial support to persons subject to ICC arrest warrants in Darfur. So it's a serious cause for concern that he remains at large,” he added.

“[W] e believe China, like any nation, as you say, as a member of the Security Council, should weigh its concern – or weigh the world's concerns about President Bashir and the fact that, as I said, he's got an active warrant out for his arrests for war crimes.

However, the spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Hula Chunying said that people were “over thinking” the issue of Bashir's attendance at the commemoration of world war II event where war crimes were committed

"The people of Africa, including Sudan, made an important contribution in the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War. China's invite to President Bashir to the commemoration activities is reasonable and fair. While he is in China we will give him the treatment he should get," Chunying told reporters.

“As China is not a member of the ICC, relevant issues will be handled "on the basis of the basic principles of international law," she added.

Bashir is wanted by the Hague tribunal for alleged war crimes committed in Darfur. China is not an ICC member and had made it clear in the past that it does not approve of the warrant even though it chose not to veto the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 2005 resolution empowering the Hague-based court to investigate crimes in Sudan's western region.

China's non-veto on that resolution has angered Sudanese officials who expressed shock that despite their close relationship with Beijing, the latter did not stand up at the UNSC to defend Khartoum at that instance.

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September 1, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The newly appointed spokesperson for the military wing of the armed opposition faction led by former vice president, Riek Machar, claimed their forces have destroyed one military barge and five gunboats which have been attacking their bases along the River Nile in Unity and Jonglei states as the government troops were moving towards Malakal, capital of the oil-rich Upper Nile state.

Rebel fighters greet one another at a rebel camp in South Sudan's Jonglei state on 1 February 2014 (Photo: Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)

“To our dismay, in the course of restoring peace and stability, our forces came under attacks at several locations in Jonglei by forces that could not have acted alone if [President Sava Kiir] Mayardit sincerely consented to bringing peace to South Sudan in collaboration with SPLM/A-IO. Government convoy which comprise of barges and gunboats attacked our forces at Wathkech, Nyiew and Tonga county yesterday [Monday] evening and the fierce battle ended at 5am this morning [Tuesday],” said rebels military spokesperson, Colonel William Gatjiath Deng, in a press statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.

He said the opposition forces fought back in self-defense and in those battles destroyed one government's big barge and five gunboats carrying troops and heavy weapons, all burnt and sunk in the River Nile.
He also claimed that they captured in good condition another big barge loaded with heavy weapons.

“The other barge was captured in good condition with all military hardware after the protection unit which guarded it surrendered themselves. Our mighty forces captured the following from the government. One tank, two Zuu 23 and six 12.7 machines guns as well as different motor shields,” he said.

Colonel Deng further explained that only one barge and two gunboats survived the Tuesday fierce battles on the Nile and the government's remnant forces retreated back towards Unity state and to Juba from where they launched the military convoy.

The retreating barge and two gunboats will also be moving in reverse through rebels controlled territories in Unity state, fearing further clashes before they could reach Bor in Jonglei state.

South Sudanese rebels earlier accused the government of launching these three military barges and seven gunboats which they said were moving aggressively through territories controlled by the rebels along the River Nile, shelling the rebels bases as they moved northwards towards Malakal.

But the rebel spokesman said the river offensive had now been neutralized as most of the boats have been destroyed and sunk in the river with the forces and weapons they carried.

Government military's spokesperson, Colonel Philip Aguer, on Monday confirmed that their forces with barges were moving from Juba to Malakal through rebels controlled territories along the Nile even before the peace agreement was signed on 26 August to resupply government forces in the oil-rich Upper Nile state and warned to fight back in self-defence should the rebels attack them on the way.

Last month, government announced closure of river transportation between Juba and Malakal, saying rebels had been attacking boats. It was not clear if the military convoy was attempting to forcefully open the Nile corridor.

Rebels claimed they were provoked when the government forces attacked Tayar Port and Adok Port which they control in Unity state, sparking their response to fight back, saying the “divided' government was trying to derail the implementation of the peace agreement.

“We should not be distracted by our political stand in regard to Compromise Peace Agreement since we all know that Juba is bent to dishonour it using unnecessary excuses,” Deng said.

He said the opposition forces had remained calm in full implementation of the ceasefire but will fight back if attacked.

The rebels called on IGAD Plus and the international community at large to monitor and verify the ceasefire violations and to urge the government to respect the peace deal.

(ST)

September 1, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The two groups signatory of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) reiterated their demand to remove the chairman of Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) Tjani al-Sissi from his position till its reshuffle and casted doubts over the political neutrality of the state minister chairing the peace implementation follow-up office.

FILE PHOTO - DRA's chairman and NLJP leader Al-Tijani Al-Sissi (L) with the head of Darfur peace follow-un office Amin Hassan Omer

The Liberation and Justice Party (LJP) of Bahar Idriss Abu Garda and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) of Bakheit Dabajo on Tuesday signed a joint memorandum increasing political pressure on the federal government requesting a performance audit for the DRA during the past four years and to investigate allegations of corruption levelled against it.

In a press conference held on Tuesday, LJP leading member Tadjadine Bechir Niam, told reporters "the joint memo demands al-Sissi's dismissal and the appointment of a governor at the chairmanship of the authority till the end of reshuffle process".

Niam further stressed on the need to consult all the peace partners before the appointment of new DRA chairman.

The two groups announced last week the suspension of their participation in the meeting of the regional authority after a brawl between the supporters of Abu Garda and Sissi in Khartoum.

JEM-Dabajo political secretary, Nahar Osman Nahar called on the Sudanese government to reshuffle the regional authority before a meeting of the international follow-up committee for the DDPD implementation, on 8 September in Doha.

Nahar who was speaking in the press conference with Niam, said the Sudanese presidency stands at an equal distance from all the DDPD parties, adding that the head of the national follow-up office for the DDPD implementation state minister Amin Hassan Omer is not neutral in his positions and tend to support al-Sissi.

He further warned against ignoring their joint reservations adding that will make difficult the continuation of their participation in the DRA.

"We made our observations on the DRA's performances. Unless it's corrected, it will be very difficult to continue. Everything is expected," Nahar said.

"We have reservations on the Authority and the organs tasked with the coordination because they are not neutral," he added.

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September 01, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and its refugee agency (UNHCR) have agreed with the Sudanese government on an initiative to enhance self-reliance of refugees and asylum-seekers in Eastern Sudan through skills-building and sustainable rural livelihood strategies.

A Sudanese farmer harvests sorghum produced from seeds donated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through the "Improving Seeds" project. 11 December 2006 (UN Photo/Fred Noy )

The joint pilot project is reportedly designed to improve access to food and income opportunities for low-income households in refugee camps in the region.

A joint statement issued on Tuesday said the project will enable low-income households meet local market needs by providing skills development in sustainable agriculture and livestock production.

Through the project, hands-on training will reportedly be provided to refugees and asylum seekers in land preparation, production and harvesting processes for sorghum, sesame, horticulture, fodder and poultry, production, packaging as well as marketing best practices.

“This project comes at a critical time. Eastern Sudan is facing a protracted refugee situation that is characterised by limited humanitarian aid resources, a lack of livelihood supports and chronic poverty in the refugee camps there,” said the FAO representative on Sudan, Abdi Jama.

“The project is an important component of FAO and UNHCR's joint efforts on a renewed Self-Reliance Strategy to address the situation by enhancing economic self-reliance in order to reduce refugee aid dependency and promote a sustainable co-existence between the refugees and host communities in Eastern Sudan,” he added.

The eastern part of Sudan remains one of the most protracted refugee situations worldwide, but reportedly witnesses an ongoing influx of new arrivals with an average of 1,100 individuals per month being registered at the border entry points in Sudan so far in 2015.

Since the 1960s, however, the semi-arid region has generously hosted more than 1.5 million refugees, while also being one of the poorest in Sudan according to a 2009 national poverty assessment.

Currently, the UN says, there are more than 90,000 refugees living in the region's nine active refugee camps and urban areas in Kassala, El Gezira and Gedaref states. The majority of refugees who are from a protracted caseload have lived in the region for up to 40 years, with close to 60% of the camp population having been born in Sudan.

Nearly 50% of refugees and asylum-seekers in Eastern Sudan are estimated to live in chronic poverty, the UN said in its joint statement.

“Refugees are often seen as passive recipients of aid, and an economic burden to the host communities, but in reality, the refugee population is not homogeneous. Although in extreme poverty, some are ready to build on their livelihood assets. Through this project, UNHCR will look at each refugee carefully, and assure that the right assistance reaches the right persons, based on not only their vulnerabilities but also on the capabilities of each refugee,” said the UNHCR's representative in Sudan, Mohammed Adar.

There have also been concerns, over the lack of sustainable livelihood opportunities in Eastern Sudan, which has reportedly contributed in pushing new arrivals to engage in onward movement.

“FAO is well-placed to address the livelihood challenges that refugees and asylum seekers in the region face,” said FAO's Jama.

“By providing people with the skills and tools they need to increase agricultural and livestock production, this project will benefit entire households and will help pave a way out of chronic poverty and steer these communities toward a more sustainable and healthful future,” he stressed.

FOOD SECURITY PROVISION

Since 2006, the UN food agency has reportedly provided food security and livelihood supports to refugees and asylum-seekers in Sudan, with projects currently underway in White Nile and South Kordofan states to support South Sudanese arrivals.

The project, in its pilot phase from August to December 2015, will reportedly target refugees and asylum-seekers living in the Fau 5, Kilo 26 and Um Gargour camps. Upon successful implementation of the pilot, should additional resource be available, the project can be replicated to other camps, as well as to the host communities, with a particular focus on local value chain development and partnership with private sectors.

“With increasingly limited resources available, a strong collaboration and partnership among all the concerned parties towards a common objective will be more and more important in the East”, said Adar.

“The pilot project is an important investment to show that the humanitarian assistance to the refugees, if provided correctly in good partnership with the Government and the right development partners, can positively contribute to the socioeconomic development in the region,” he added.

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September 01, 2015 (JUBA) – The governor of South Eastern Equatoria state, Louis Lobong has called on citizens to fully support the recently-signed peace deal between government and the armed opposition faction led by former vice president Riek Machar.

Eastern Equatoria state Governor Louis Lobong speaks at an event in Torit, March 2, 2012 (ST/Ijjo Bosco)

Speaking during a public rally held in the state capital, Torit on Tuesday, Lobong equally urged the population to welcome members of the armed opposition faction and forgive them for mistakes committed.

Lobong said the recently-signed compromise peace deal apportions 15% of state government positions to opposition parties.

We are waiting for the implementation of the democratic reforms in the signed peace deal to benefit all parties in the country, he said.

The governor, however, revealed that state political parties have been excluded from the power sharing agreement at state levels, but would be involved at the national level.

Lobong, also the ruling party chairperson in the state, further disclosed a meeting would soon be convened under his leadership to discuss so as to ensure other political parties are also represented.

“We shall not only want those who have taken arms and have chosen undemocratic means to be rewarded, but also those parties that have remained within the country and are sorting democratic channel, not to be punished,” he told the rally in the capital, Torit.

According to the governor, those who choose violence to attain power cannot be rewarded at the expense of agitators for peace.

William Odingila, the representative of political parties in the state, said they were ready to offer better alternatives of the government.

He urged the citizens to prepare for elections due in three year and ensure they voted wisely for those who will deliver services to them.

“We have given the SPLM [Sudan People's Liberation Movement] a length of time and it's only the SPLM that is fighting for leadership. This time, may one of the political parties also try to lead this country and we see if there is going to be a wrangle”, said Odingila.

Hundreds of Eastern Equatoria state community members, including, cabinet members, lawmakers, women and school children graced the rally at the Freedom Square in Torit.

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September 01, 2015 (WASHINGTON/JUBA) - The United States has condemned the recent fighting in parts of South Sudan's Jonglei and Upper Nile states, warning that any of the parties violating the recently signed peace agreement would “face consequences”.

South Sudanese soldiers patrol the streets of Unity state capital Bentiu on 12 January 2014 (Photo: Simon Maina/AFP)

Both the government and the armed opposition faction have traded accusations of ceasefire violations, days after declaring a permanent ceasefire after last week's signing of the peace accord.

Mark Toner, the deputy spokesperson for the US Department of State, said Monday that the recent ceasefire declarations by the government of South Sudan and the opposition, ordering all forces to cease military operations on 29 August, were welcomed as a step toward implementation of the agreement that now binds South Sudan's two warring parties.

“However, recent fighting by forces on both sides runs contrary to those orders and the terms of the peace agreement,” said Toner.

“We call on all parties to immediately cease provocative action and hostile engagement, and to further develop security arrangements at the planned security workshop starting September 5,” he stressed.

The US government, Toner further said, would work with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) partners to pursue, as needed, sanctions as authorised by UNSC resolution 2206. He, however, added that Washington would continue to stand with those who choose peace and are committed to faithful implementation of the agreement.

TRADING ACCUSATIONS

The South Sudanese military spokesman, Colonel Philip Aguer, told reporters on Monday that government forces were attacked by the armed opposition fighters in parts of Unity and Upper Nile states.

But the newly-appointed military spokesperson for the rebels, Col. William Gatjiath Deng, said the opposition forces came under separate attacks from government forces in Upper Nile and Unity states.

“The government troops attacked our forces in Tonga county [Upper Nile state] this late afternoon [Monday]. One of the government's barges has been burned by our forces and the fighting is still going on now,” Deng said in a statement on Monday.

Deng accused army of carrying out military offensives, despite a peace deal.

“We want to inform the people of South Sudan that government is sabotaging the implementation of the peace deal,” he stressed.

The rebel spokesperson called on the IGAD-Plus, African Union and the international community to investigate the continued violation of the ceasefire by government forces.

(ST)

September 2, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan's armed opposition faction of the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) said they are ready to fully implement the recently signed peace agreement with president Salva Kiir's government, urging their counterpart to also do the same.

South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar, center, greets unidentified participants after lengthy peace negotiations in Addis Ababa, Aug. 17, 2015 (Photo AP/Mulugeta Ayene)

Former vice-president, Riek Machar, who leads the SPLM-IO signed with president Kiir a final peace agreement on 26 and 17 August, respectively, committing the two warring parties to the compromise peace deal brokered by the East African regional bloc, IGAD, and its international partners, including Troika countries (US, UK and Norway), AU, EU, China and UN).

The two leaders also declared a permanent ceasefire which came into force on 29 August, Saturday midnight, in accordance with the provision of the transitional security arrangements in the peace agreement.

However, fighting has resumed this week in Unity, Jonglei and Upper Nile states in violation of the ceasefire, with rival forces trading accusations over who was responsible for the violations that threaten to derail the implementation of the deal.

But the armed opposition led by Machar said they are committed to full implementation of the agreement to bring to an end the suffering of the people through the agreement as it addressed most of their concerns, saying it was the government that had reservations.

“We are fully committed to implementing the peace agreement without reservations. We want to alleviate the suffering of the people of South Sudan,” said the top opposition leader's spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak, on Wednesday.

Dak said the IGAD Plus compromise peace agreement has addressed issues of governance, including the road to federalism, institutional reforms and given the opposition leader the responsibility to coordinate its implementation.

“The First Vice President, in accordance with the peace agreement, has the responsibility to ensure full implementation of the agreement by coordinating it with national, regional and international stakeholders and guarantors,” he said.

“His office shall also be initiating reforms with various institutions. He will be in the driver's seat,” Dak stressed.

He further explained that since the armed opposition faction was all along demanding for reforms in the country, and they will have the responsibility to initiate the reforms and make coordination for the implementation of the deal, it would be the other side led by president Kiir that may be reluctant to commit to its implementation.

“We will be implementing what we have been demanding for the good of the country. So there is no reason for us to refuse its implementation. It will be the other party which signed the agreement with reservations that may be implementing it reluctantly with the reservations,” he said.

The peace agreement divided executive powers between the president and the first vice president in which they will be making joint decisions through frequent consultations in the presidency.

The two will also split the cabinet with president Kiir taking 16 national ministers out of the fixed 30 cabinet ministers, while Machar will have 10 national ministers, former detainees 2 and other political parties two.

The process for selection of the cabinet ministries will likely result to the government losing many key ministries to the three opposition groups.

Also, the president will have no power to appoint or remove any of the other 14 ministers. According to the agreement, Machar will nominate his 10 ministers and he alone has the power to remove and replace them.

Transitional governors for the only two oil producing states of Unity and Upper Nile will also be nominated by Machar, who will form the state governments according to the power sharing ratio provided for in the peace accord.

The opposition leader will also command a separate army for at least one and half years as their commander-in-chief before completion of unification process. His army's chief of general staff will only report to him and not to the president.

However, president Kiir will enjoy almost full control of the other seven states in the two greater regions of Bahr el Ghazal and Equatoria.

Unlike the previous powers to appoint and relieve vice president, president Kiir has no power to appoint or remove Machar, according to the peace agreement. He will only take oath of office before the president.

Observers say the two rival leaders, but peace partners, will act like co-presidents during the 30 months of the transitional period leading to elections.

Fighting erupted on 15 December 2013 when internal debates over reforms within the ruling SPLM turned violent.

United States government on Tuesday renewed statements calling on the two parties to stop fighting and begin the full implementation of the peace agreement, warning that any party that will be seen to be spoiling its implementation will be punished.

United Nations also said it will impose targeted sanctions on individuals that will be responsible for lack of implementation of the deal.

(ST)

September 2, 2015 (WASHINGTON) – The plane which carried Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir to China this week was forced to make an emergency landing in northwest Pakistan according to newspaper reports.

A Chinese honor guard waits as a plane carrying Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015 (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Pakistani newspapers said that the plane's fuel levels reached critically low levels forcing it to land in Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore.

It is not clear why the unexpected shortage occurred for a trip that had to be planned beforehand.

The Governor of Punjab province Rafiq Rajwana and Lahore's District Coordination officer (DCO) Muhammad Usman went to the airport to greet Bashir before he left after the refueling stop.

Stringent security arrangements were made during the plane's stop at Lahore airport, Pakistani media reported.

Sudan Tribune could not confirm speculations that the situation came about because one or more countries denied air passage to the plane. Sudanese state media made no mention of the stop.

Bashir was subject to an embarrassing situation in June 2011 on his way to China for a state visit when Turkmenistan and Tajikistan refused to grant permission to his plane. As a result, he was forced to return to Tehran where he was attending a summit there in order to decide on a new route to reach Beijing.

Last April, government sources told Sudan Tribune that Bashir was forced to cancel a trip to Indonesia at the last minute after several countries refused to grant passage to his plane. The names of these nations and reasons behind their decision were not disclosed.

Also in August 2013, Saudi Arabia blocked his flight to Iran citing failure to obtain prior clearance.

Bashir's trips are generally carefully planned in light of him being wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

PROTECT CHINESE INVESTMENTS IN SUDAN

In Beijing, the Sudanese president pledged to protect Chinese companies and investments in Sudan and to undertake all necessary measures to ensure their success.

Bashir witnessed on Wednesday in Beijing the signing of several agreements and memorandums of understanding between Chinese and Sudanese companies, describing the establishment of the strategic partnership between Sudan and China as a “great leap forward in relations between the two countries”.

“China is the largest investor in Sudan and it is a true friend and partner who seeks to secure the mutual benefits without imposing conditions that could negatively impact on the interests of the African [countries]”, he added.

The Sudanese president added that ties between his country and China have been growing in various political, social, trade, cultural and military areas since 65 years ago, describing relations between the two countries as an excellent and successful example for cooperation among nations.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese president told the Chinese Central Television (CCTV) that national dialogue conference would convene on October 10th and continues for three month at the latest.

He reiterated that dialogue is open for all political forces without pre-conditions, stressing his government's commitment to offering the necessary guarantees for the rebel groups and political opposition abroad to take part in the national dialogue conference inside Sudan.

Bashir further said that his country plays important role alongside the African Union (AU) and the neighbouring countries in resolving the ongoing crisis in South Sudan.

Sudan's president and his accompanying delegation including ministers of foreign affairs, oil and transport among others arrived in China on Monday to participate in celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Despite the ICC warrant and criticisms of the visit by the United States, Chinese president Xi Jinping described Bashir as an "old friend".

The spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Hula Chunying told reporters that people were “over thinking” the issue of Bashir attendance at the commemoration of world war II event where war crimes were committed

"The people of Africa, including Sudan, made an important contribution in the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War. China's invite to President Bashir to the commemoration activities is reasonable and fair. While he is in China we will give him the treatment he should get," Chunying told reporters.

“As China is not a member of the ICC, relevant issues will be handled "on the basis of the basic principles of international law," she added.

China is not an ICC member and had made it clear in the past that it does not approve of the warrant even though it chose not to veto the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 2005 resolution empowering the Hague-based court to investigate crimes in Sudan's western region.

China's non-veto on that resolution has angered Sudanese officials who expressed shock that despite their close relationship with Beijing, the latter did not stand up at the UNSC to defend Khartoum at that instance.

(ST)

September 2, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government on Wednesday said it will launch a major media campaign to promote the national dialogue during the next three months.

3rd meeting of the national dialogue national assembly in Khartoum on Thursday 20 August 2015 (Photo - SUNA)

Sudan's state minister of information, Yasir Youssef, said the coming three months would witness the unification of the media discourse, pointing its message to the actors will underscore that national dialogue is a strategic choice.

He noted that the information ministry would implement the presidential decree number 158 which gives all political parties participating in the dialogue opportunities to appear on the state-owned media.

Youssef, who spoke at the meeting of the information secretariats of the political parties which are part of the dialogues' coordination body known as 7+7, stressed that the national radio and TV and the official news agency (SUNA) besides Ashorooq and the Blue Nile TV channels would be devoted to activate the dialogue in the coming period.

The minister further announced that a website for the national dialogue will be launched besides several pages on the social media sites, adding the campaign budget amounts to 150,000 pounds (SDG).

Meanwhile, the member of the 7+7 mechanism form the opposition side, Fadl al-Sid Shuaib, emphasized the media would be dedicated to national dialogue, denying that the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) is controlling as is commonly believed.

He stressed that all political parties are free to use the media, saying the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) doesn't have the powers to prevent them.

“If [the NISS] prevented any party [form using the media], it should complain to the 7+7 subcommittee for creating conducive environment for the dialogue”, he added

The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir launched the national dialogue initiative more than a year and a half ago in which he urged opposition parties and rebels alike to join the dialogue table to discuss all the pressing issues.

But the initiative faced serious setbacks after the government refusal to create suitable atmosphere by releasing political prisoners, ensuring freedoms, and postponement of elections.

The rebel groups and the opposition alliance of the National Consensus Forces (NCF) refused to join the process from the beginning while the National Umma Party (NUP) led by al-Sadiq al-Mahdi withdrew from the process in protest of al-Mahdi's arrest in May 2014.

Later on, several political parties including the Reform Now Movement (RNM), and the Alliance of the Peoples' Working Forces (APWF) announced they had decided to suspend participation in the national dialogue until the requirements of a conducive environment are met.

(ST)

September 2, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese president Salva Kiir has dismissed as “utopian” reports quoting his former deputy in government and party turned rebel leader, Riek Machar, accusing his government and army loyal to him of allegedly slaughtering more than 600 political prisoners.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir voices his reservations before signing a peace deal in the capital Juba, South Sudan Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015. (Photo AP/Jason Patinkin)

President Kiir, a statement from his office noted, was puzzled and could not believe the serious allegations labeled against his administration at the time his leadership had demonstrated political will to implement the peace deal which he signed with the rebel leader, despite reservations.

“The office of the president has received the news of the press conference recently in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by the rebel leader, Riek Machar, in which he accused the government for slaughtering more than 600 political detainees with disbelief and utter puzzlement,” the statement dated September 2, 2015, and bears the official seal and logo of the office of the head of state reads in part.

The truth of the matter, according to the statement, is that South Sudan had no political detainees.

The statement explained that the only time when South Sudan had political detainees was in the aftermath of the failed coup attempt when 10 former government officials believed to have perpetuated the attempted coup were detained but later on released on bail and handed over to Kenya more than a year ago.

“Since then, South Sudan did not have any single detainee. This is a serious negative campaign even at the time when the government has expressed political will in the implementing the compromised agreement. The allegations of the rebel leader against the government of slaughtering more than 600 political detainees are utopian and exceedingly farfetched and wanting,” it added.

Kiir, according to the presidential spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny, challenged the rebel leader to disclose the names of the alleged slaughtered political prisoners, the family of the victims and where the alleged political prisoners were kept before being slaughtered without being felt by the population of Juba.

“It is unfortunate for the rebel leader to accuse the government of slaughtering none existing political detainees,” the statement noted.

South Sudan's rebel leader, Machar, was quoted in the media as saying that over 600 prisoners were slaughtered on 25 August in Juba, a day before president Kiir signed the peace deal. Howver, no details of evidence about this serious allegation has come out from the rebels' leadership.

VICTIM OF MASS TORTURE SPEAKS OUT

However, one of the survivors of an alleged mass murder on 25 August said he narrowly escaped death after all his colleagues were killed by security agents in the country's capital, Juba.

A 42-year old victim from Eastern Equatoria state's, Buddi county, said he was arrested with Dominic Lodai and Clement Lokeya, both were killed, together with many others in Juba by government security through collaboration with Ugandan authorities.

The victim, nicknamed John Simon, said they were detained in a place called White House (torture center) for a number of days before the alleged execution began.

“We were arrested in Kabong District of Uganda by Ugandan People's Defence Forces when we were trying to seek asylum in Uganda. We were tortured and taken to Acholi Pii military barracks in Pader District,” Simon, who is currently in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, narrated to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday what he described as a "horrible" scene.

“We were then transferred to Gulu military headquarters where we were handed over to government of South Sudan's security who took us to Juba and detained us in White House military detention center. We found over 900 other inmates. We were subjected to severe torture in the White House including physical assault, arm and finger twisting, burning, cold water. We were forced to sit on chair fitted with needles, they pricked our testicles and they sexually abused us at night,” he said.

He said while in the Whitehouse (torture center) he used to see one of their inmates taken away at night and they never returned.

“At night twenty of us were taken to Rajaf near the River Nile and they twisted the neck of everybody and strangled us and threw us in the river. I was the last to be strangled but I did not die. When I was thrown in the river I struggled and came out alive,” Carter said, with visible wounds below his ribs and eyes, which had turned blood-red.

GOVERNMENT ACCUSED

The rebels newly appointed governor of Imatong state, curved from Eastern Equatoria state also confirmed the arrest and murder of hundreds of innocent civilians from Eastern Equatoria.

“Indiscriminate arrests are going on in Magwi, Torit, Ikwotos, Buddi Lafon and Kapoeta counties. There are also massive arrests in the other two states of Equatoria. The government of South Sudan is guilty of mass extermination. I urge the human rights bodies to intervene and bring perpetrators to justice,” said Oyet Nathaniel, the armed opposition-appointed governor in Eastern Equatoria.

“South Sudan should be suspended from Human Rights Council pending investigation of all cases of genocide and human right violations and torture,” he said.

Rebels said the over 600 killed were people, mostly young men, randomly arrested over a period of two years and accused by government of supporting the opposition group.

(ST)

September 1, 2014 (WAU) – A three-day general cleaning exercise kicked in South Sudan's Western Bahr el Ghazal state capital, Wau on Monday this week.

General cleaning in Wau town September 1, 2015 (ST)

The deputy mayor of Wau municipal council, Santino Manut Akec urged hotel owners, traders and residents to promote good hygiene.

“We moved out with general cleaning in Wau municipal council. Today [Monday], we started at 8:30 [Am] with the cleaning. It is very important to live the life of human beings by cleaning your nearest environment as we are doing today,” Akec told reporters.

According to the deputy mayor, Global Atongdit and Khor-lul companies tasked to undertake cleaning at the site of Wau airport.

He urged the population of Western Bahr state to respect and fully comply with the municipal council regulation on all round cleaning.

“We have to involve ourselves in clearing the garbage on the streets so that we see a clean environment,” stressed the deputy mayor.

A clean environment, Akec said, would prevent outbreak of diseases. He warned residents against improper disposal of wastes.

Authorities have vowed to inspect all residential areas and anyone found to have violated set laws and regulations would be dealt with, in addition to subjecting them to a penalty.

(ST)

September 2, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Somali embassy in Khartoum vehemently denied press reports which claimed that the most recent batch of Sudanese students sneaked out of the country using Somali passports.

A statement signed by the Somali ambassador in Khartoum Mohammed Abdullah Agas on Wednesday, described these reports as “untrue” and “lacking credibility”.

The envoy said that Somali passports are among the most secure in the world and tamper resistant.

Khartoum newspapers reported this week that a group of four female students including twin sisters left for Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and flew to Turkey from there.

According to the reports, names of the female students were among the list of the departing passengers on the al-Arabiya airlines heading to Istanbul via Sharjah, saying that security officers at Sharjah airport sought to stop them but to no avail.

A small but stubbornly steady stream of Sudanese students have been flocking to join ISIS this year including the daughter of a senior diplomat.

A big chunk of the recruits were from the University of Medical Sciences and Technology (UMST) and are holders of western passports.

The manner by which these students were persuaded to join ISIS and ease of their departure from the country remains a mystery.

Last June, several social media websites circulated statements attributed to the foreign ministry spokesperson Ali al-Sadiq in which he confirmed that his daughter left Khartoum without completing travel requirements, alluding to complicity of unspecified parties in helping students run off to join ISIS.

Al-Sadiq, accused unnamed bodies of helping his daughter and other students to join the extremist group, saying “there are some people who [forced her] to leave".

Several WhatsApp groups have circulated text messages alleging that al-Sadiq told a number of journalists at Khartoum airport that unnamed bodies pay large bribes to facilitate departure of students seeking to travel to Syria and Iraq to join ISIS.

He stressed that the students were not screened per the routine procedures for each person departing the country, saying he identified his daughter from the security camera at the airport.

Al-Sadiq further emphasized that his daughter's name was not on the list of departing passengers.

Sudan's foreign ministry later denied the authenticity of these statements attributed to its spokesperson.

(ST)

September 2, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The head of Darfur Regional Authority (DRA), Tijani al-Sissi criticised a recent decision of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) on the national dialogue and accused the African body of interfering in Sudan's internal affairs.

A general view of a meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council (Photo courtesy of the African Union)

Al-Sissi, the National Liberation and Justice Party (NLJP)'s leader, is a signatory of a political partnership with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP). Also, his party participates in the national dialogue process like the two other groups from Darfur region and co-signatory of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

"The communiqué of the Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) in some paragraphs may have mixed between the negotiation process to achieve peace in the country, national dialogue, and the problem of tribal conflicts," he said on Wednesday.

He further urged the government to deal with the matter "within the framework of foreign policy", reported the official news agency which covered an encounter with the media al-Sissi organized in his house in Khartoum.

On 25 August, the AUPSC went against Sudanese government's rejection of a roadmap adopted in September 2014 to facilitate national dialogue process. The African diplomats reiterated their call to hold a meeting at the headquarters of the African Union saying it is vital to agree on the issues related to this process before to hold it inside the country.

Observers say Sissi used in the past to not comment on such matters as he is keen to have the regional and international support while he is heading the DRA, which is tasked with the DDPD' implementation.

However, he recently sought to forge political alliances to strengthen his position and to face the growing opposition of his peace partners: Liberation and Justice Party (LJP) and Justice and Equality Movement - Dabajo (JEM-Dabajo). The two group demand his dismissal and accuse him of nepotism and corruption.

Last Monday he signed a political coordination agreement with a faction of the Justice and Equality Movement led Abdel-Rahman Banat who spited from JEM-Dabajo in November 2014.

JEM-Dabajo, this week, accused the head of Darfur peace implementation office, state minister Amin Hassan Omer of supporting al-Sissi and questioned his neutrality.

(ST)

August 2, 2015 (TORIT) – The governor of South Sudan's Eastern Equatoria state, Louis Lobong has questioned the country's armed opposition faction's commitment to the recently-signed peace deal.

Eastern Equatoria state governor Louis Lobong Lojore talks to communities in Bari and Omorwo villages (ST)

Lobong, while addressing reporters on Wednesday, claimed the rebels had captured several places in the state, but did not name any of the allegedly captured areas.

He further said the armed opposition group had embarked on a massive mobilisation anf recruitment campaign, allegations Sudan Tribune could not independently ascertain.

“We are following with great concern the continued negative messages and propaganda issued over media by Dr. Riek Machar and his associates contradicting the peace agreement they signed on the 17 August this year”, said the governor in the capital, Torit.

The question is, why mobilise and attack when the peace agreement had been signed? These serious negative messages explain the lack of seriousness and commitment by the rebels to the signed compromise peace agreement and its implementation, he added.

The governor also questioned claims by the rebel leader that 600 political prisoners were allegedly killed by the government in the capital, Juba on 25 August, and wondered why the latter used media propaganda instead of directly contacting President Salva Kiir.

“Dr. Riek Machar has raised a very serious allegation accusing the government of the Republic of South Sudan of killing 600 political detainees. This allegation is politically motivated and intended to create fear and prevent people from returning to their original homes”, said Lobong, who doubles as chairperson of the ruling party (SPLM) in the state.

A rival faction of the armed opposition movement has voiced concerns over the new peace deal, a matter Lobong said raises eyebrows on Machar's leadership abilities.

The governor, however, said it was time to start building confidence and trust among South Sudanese and the country's two main leaders for the sake of national unity.

(ST)

September 3, 2015 (JUBA) – A new group calling itself Federal Democratic Party (FDP) led by South Sudan's former culture and sports minister, Gabriel Changson Chang claimed destruction of government forces moving in barges along the River Nile towards Malakal on Tuesday.

South Sudanese SPLA soldiers in Pageri in Eastern Equatoria state on August 20, 2015 (Photo AFP/Samir Bol)

The group of defectors from the armed opposition faction led by former vice president, Riek Machar, said their forces were responsible for the destruction of an army convoy of three barges and six gunboats in Jonglei state's Fangak and Tonga county in Upper Nile state.

With their military wing, South Sudan Armed Forces (SSAF) allegedly led by Major General Peter Gatdet Yak, the group said they will be fighting against both the government led by president Salva Kiir and the opposition group led by Machar, saying the latter had already joined the government.

Spokesperson of the group further claimed in a press statement extended to Sudan Tribune that Machar had lost control of his forces in the oil-rich Upper Nile state and that Major General Johnson Olony and Major General Gabriel Tanginya also joined them.

“Dr.Riek Machar has become part of Juba led government after signing the compromised peace agreement and has no control over the forces in Upper Nile state,” said Colonel Lony Thichiot Ngundeng, who claimed to be the spokesman of the group.

He said they have launched their military activity to fight the government, criticizing the peace agreement signed president Kiir and Machar.

However, armed opposition led by Machar also issued a number of statements saying clashes occurred between their forces and government troops moving in the river, saying the river offensive had been destroyed.

(ST)