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STORY: SOUTH SUDAN/ JOHNSON - LANCER PRESSER
TRT: 3.45
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 15 FEBRUARY 2013, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
15 FEBRUARY, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Wide shot, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Hilde Johnson and Deputy SRSG Toby Lanzer, who also serves as un resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator at press briefing
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Hilde Johnson, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (UNMISS):
“A disturbing trend is evident by recent violence and incidences in Wau, Yei and Rumbek, the clashes in Pibor, cattle raids in the tri-state area, and most recently, the deadly attacks in Walgak Payam, Akobo county on February 8. UNMISS strongly condemns the attack in Walgak and we call on all communities, their leaders, and the authorities, the government of South Sudan and that of Jonglei state to put an end to such deadly violence. We also call for maximum restraint to prevent the occurrence of additional attacks. The cycle of violence has to end.”
3. Cutaway, journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Hilde Johnson, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (UNMISS):
“But there are also limits to what we can do, and where we can operate. Threats from cattle raids are particularly challenging. Despite these challenges, however, we have been protecting civilians under imminent threat.”
5. Cutaway, Hilde Johnson and Toby Lanzer
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Hilde Johnson, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (UNMISS):
“Ongoing violence and instability in parts of the country, including the recent events in Gaer, have deeper roots. Historical grievances continue to affect relations between communities and individuals. Also new tensions emerge from old wounds. They need to be addressed. That is why the UN welcomes the Government’s initiative to launch a process of national reconciliation and healing. Such a process has great potential for nation-building in South Sudan, creating the space to deepen understanding, trust and respect. The leadership of the process and the approach that is taken will be decisive for its possibility to succeed.”
7. Cutaway, journalists
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Hilde Johnson, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG):
“It is therefore positive that South Sudan has agreed to become a pilot country for the UN Plan of Action on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity. UNMISS, UNESCO and OHCHR will work together with other national and international partners to support this process, aiming for a free and safe environment for journalists and media workers. We need to see this positive commitment be followed up in practice.”
9. Cutaway, Journalists
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Toby Lanzer, Deputy SRSG, UNMISS:
“Together, what the UN is trying to do here is really enhance the chances for peace, to avoid any slippage backwards we know that there are hotspots, there are things that flare up all over the place, but actually overall what we are trying to do is make sure that South Sudan, its institutions, its people are on a more solid footing and can move forward to become what we all hope a just and a prosperous Nation.”
11. Cutaway, journalists
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Toby Lanzer, Deputy SRSG, UNMISS:
“So far the response has been about 185 million US dollars, out of a target of 1.16 billion dollars, so we are roughly 15 per cent funded for the appeal.”
12. Pan right, journalists
UNMISS has been having extensive talks with the South Sudanese government on early conflict warning systems, but also faces challenges in detecting threats, the mission’s head said in Juba today.
Speaking at her first press conference this year, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Hilde F. Johnson highlighted various security and human rights concerns.
She also briefed reporters on the government’s initiative to launch a national reconciliation and healing process, saying that UNMISS would continue to share early warnings, although the organization could not be everywhere at all times.
Johnson said that “a disturbing trend is evident by recent violence and incidences in Wau, Yei and Rumbek, the clashes in Pibor, cattle raids in the tri-state area, and most recently, the deadly attacks in Walgak Payam, Akobo county on February 8. UNMISS strongly condemns the attack in Walgak and we call on all communities, their leaders, and the authorities, the government of South Sudan and that of Jonglei state to put an end to such deadly violence. We also call for maximum restraint to prevent the occurrence of additional attacks. The cycle of violence has to end.”
Johnson stressed that there are also “limits to what we can do and where we can operate”.
Johnson said protection of civilians remained a core priority of the UNMISS mandate, despite the challenges. She added that the main responsibility for protection lay with the government and its national security forces.
She urged the government to identify and bring perpetrators to justice, calling for maximum restraint to prevent reoccurrence of recent violence in several parts of the country. She welcomed the government’s initiative to start a national reconciliation and healing process.
Johnson said also that, “Ongoing violence and instability in parts of the country, including the recent events in Gaer, have deeper roots”.
She noted that that was why the UN welcomed the Government’s initiative to launch a process of national reconciliation and healing. Such a process, Johnson said, “has great potential for nation-building in South Sudan, creating the space to deepen understanding, trust and respect. The leadership of the process and the approach that is taken will be decisive for its possibility to succeed.”
She urged the national legislature to ensure the Constitutional Review process would be given enough time for consultation with people and communities down to the county level.
Ms. Johnson said that “UNMISS is leading the coordination of international partners to support the process. And we are all ready to assist on multiple fronts”, and added that “The Constitutional Review process is a great opportunity for strengthening the national identity. This opportunity should not be missed.”
Addressing the human rights situation, she said UNMISS was disturbed by reports of threats, intimidation, harassment and attacks against journalists, civil society and human rights activists, saying the government needed to tackle this.
“It is positive that South Sudan has agreed to become a pilot country for the UN Plan of Action on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity,” she said. “UNMISS, UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) will work together with other national and international partners to support this process.”
SRSG Johnson said the country’s relationship with Sudan and other security challenges had consumed much energy and resources, but there had been considerable progress in several areas supported by UNMISS and its UN partners.
She highlighted the establishment of institutions that were putting in place a democratic foundation through “core legislation on political parties and elections”, transformation of the South Sudan National Police Service and establishment of a national Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Council.
Deputy SRSG Toby Lanzer, who also serves as UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, said that different agencies had implemented projects of significant value to the people of South Sudan over the last year and a half.
He said the World Food Programme’s food for assets project in 2012 helped communities across South Sudan not only enhance their resilience to shocks but also put food on the table, while the Ministry of Health, with support from UN Population Fund, established the first Diploma Midwifery Education Programme in South Sudan to respond to the gap of skilled midwives and nurses and to reduce maternal deaths.
Other examples included the fully equipped maternity ward which the World Health Organization recently handed over to Jonglei State health authorities and the release of 254 children from the armed forces in 2012 through the joint efforts of UNICEF, UNMISS, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and other government partners.
Lanzer, said that “Together, what the UN is trying to do here is really enhance the chances for peace, to avoid any slippage backwards we know that there are hotspots, there are things that flare up all over the place, but actually overall what we are trying to do is make sure that South Sudan, its institutions, its people are on a more solid footing and can move forward to become what we all hope a just and a prosperous Nation”.
Despite these efforts, Lanzer said vast challenges remained and that the humanitarian community was struggling to respond in areas where it was needed due to a funding shortage.
So far, Lanzer said “the response has been about 185 million US dollars, out of a target of 1.16 billion dollars, so we are roughly 15 per cent funded for the appeal.” He added that “We shall continue to reach out to donors and advocate on behalf of South Sudan, but we also must be realistic. Donors are undergoing their own austerity too”.
