SSRA Speaks Out on Reporting Integrity on the South Sudan
News Article by PR posted on April 09, 2001 at 12:56:45: EST (-5 GMT)
SSRA Speaks Out on Reporting Integrity on the South Sudan
ST. SIMONS, Ga., Apr 9, 2001 (PRNewswire) -- South Sudan Relief Agency today announced the following:
We, the South Sudan Relief Agency, are a non-political, independent organization registered in East Africa and with representative offices in Europe and the United States. We have long been involved on the ground in the Southern Sudan with the interest of supporting the human rights and improved living standards of the people there.
Until now, we have sought no public forum for our thoughts, but now see a real need to clarify some of the information and misinformation being put out by conflicting elements in South Sudan and eagerly spread by very anxious human rights groups and other interest groups regarding the current conditions there.
First of all, we fully understand the concerns and frustration of some organizations that are rushing to denounce the oil companies in the area of western Upper Nile of the South Sudan. While it is true that oil exploration and development operations have added a new element to the conflict for all sides, the presence of these companies such as Canada's Talisman Energy and the Swedish Lundin Oil Company has been very positive for the people of the South. They have been active in building schools, health clinics, water purification systems and agricultural projects. We sincerely appreciate their work and efforts in these regards. In all the years of this conflict, we have never seen anyone else undertake such major developments. Therefore, to say that they must leave because some revenue will benefit the Khartoum government in the North would be a significant loss to the people. Were they to be forced out by negative media and overwhelming public relations headaches, it would not curtail profits to the North; they would simply be replaced by interest from the People's Republic of China who already seeks participation there. It is most unlikely, however, that anyone would step up and fill the humanitarian and development "shoes" vacated by the existing companies or that the new interests would bow to public pressure of any kind when confronted with allegations of abuses of the people of the South by the distant northern capital.
Credibility of reporting agencies must be tied to the accuracy of their reports and not to the emotions they can produce among their readers. While it is true that some confrontation occurred between forces loyal to the SPLA and those of the UDF, resulting in destruction of some private property, this damage was in no shape or form done for the benefit of, or with the help or approval of the oil companies. Quite to the contrary, these companies had given assistance to those who lost their homes and property. Furthermore, contrary to recent reports in Western press, there is no village by the name of Rire and it was never displaced by the encroachment of the oil company's exploration.
We feel it is our responsibility to state for the record that people that report such stories ought to be responsible to independently verify the information fed to them before simply drawing conclusions and printing them as fact. We also appeal that those who mean to help without political interference not be discouraged. They should not leave their good works incomplete for fear of unjust criticism by uninformed media outlets and groups purporting to know what is best for the people of the South Sudan but do not understand the many forces at play there and their respective motives.
Finally, we now also announce the formation of SOUTH SUDAN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL. This group will monitor human rights abuses in the whole territory and will work with all the organizations that are involved in that field. It will be funded privately by the sons and daughters of the South Sudan in diaspora and seek to bring about the best possible results from the many and varied resources expended by caring people around the world.
SOURCE South Sudan Relief Agency
CONTACT: Riek Riek of South Sudan Relief Agency, 615-822-5774
sudan.net
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