Subject: Salva Kiir and his divisive group (South Sudan –Juba).
We are writing to you as a concerned group of citizens originally from South Sudan. Our concern regards the following situation:
The President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, while recently addressing members of the government and the military, accused South Sudanese diaspora of causing trouble in South Sudan. He directed that visa applications from those considered “trouble-makers”, including some Australian citizens, be not considered. The “trouble” apparently is in reference to disquiet regarding his government’s behaviour and legitimacy. Diaspora South Sudanese are accused of planning coups against the Government of South Sudan (GOSS). Certain South Sudanese officials, including senior army officers and SPLM members, are regularly granted visas by the Australian Government to visit Australia and we are concerned about the purpose of their visits. South Sudanese in Australia appear to be under surveillance by these individuals and in effect are being spied on by a government whose legitimacy is indeed questionable. Some South Sudanese who are citizens of Australia and have returned to South Sudan have been subjected to gross human rights violations, including being unlawfully imprisoned, tortured and killed.
We consider this situation, apart from the fact of its extrajudicial nature, to be extremely divisive of the South Sudanese people who live outside South Sudan, including Australia, and therefore it has negative ramifications for Australia generally. That the GOSS is, for reasons of lack of democratic processes and accountability and also increasing suppression of dissent, losing support in South Sudan and among the South Sudanese diaspora, should be taken into account by Australia and critical consideration given to compliance with visa applications by GOSS representatives. The transfer of South Sudanese public funds to private hands in Australia (as well as other countries worldwide) is of additional concern, especially as ordinary Australian South Sudanese, helpless to prevent such corruption, are appealed to to support and initiate essential services such as desperately-needed infrastructure projects in South Sudan that the GOSS has the means to provide for. It is a betrayal of the independence of South Sudan and the suffering so many have endured and continue to endure, that some South Sudanese families who are citizens of Australia are enjoying wealth which should properly have remained in South Sudan and be used to benefit its citizens.
This situation is, further, an affront to the Australian Government which sends money via Ausaid to assist development in South Sudan; not only is it a mockery of Australia’s generosity but of Australia’s democratic principles which do not align with surveillance and associated actions designed to prevent free and democratic opposition to what amounts to a kleptocracy. It is hoped that the Australian Government and Opposition can use the relevant institutions to uncover illegal transfer of funds to this country and reconsider the granting of visas to South Sudanese who have agendas which are detrimental to the development of democracy in South Sudan, to harmonious relations of the South Sudanese living in Australia, and to the integrity of the Australian Government. We repeat that this situation is not exclusive to Australia, and encourage liaison with countries similarly affected. We are willing to work with the Australian authorities towards a resolution of these problems immediately, and encourage prompt action.
Presently we are working on a proposal for a new transitional government in South Sudan in which all political parties and the armed forces will be involved. This government will be formed with a view to the establishment of a fully democratic, representative system. A matter of interest to us, which is related to the above problem, is our desire to establish a political party in South Sudan which adheres to the values and structure of the Australian Liberal Party. It is hoped that you, or a suitable colleague, might be prepared to meet us to discuss this possibility. Yours faithfully, Sign: Aguer Rual For/South Sudanese concern group Australia-Melbourne
CC to: • The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Prime Minister Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 • H.E. Mr David Daly, Ambassador of the European Union to Australia and to New Zealand 18 Arkana Street Yarralumla, ACT 2600 Australia • Jeffrey L. Bleich , Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Australia. Embassy of the United States of America Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600 • Mr Paul Madden, British High Commission Canberra, Commonwealth Avenue , Yarralumla, ACT 2600 • Ban Ki- Mo, United Nations Secretary -General , General headquarter –Geneva • African Union • Salva Kiir and senior SPLM individual member • All South Sudan Political Parties • Member of the South Sudan armed forces and other armed forces group • All South Sudan communities • All tribes of South Sudan and community organisations • All Human Rights organisations • All media organisations • All Christian and non-Christian in the South Sudan • All local Chief Administration Affairs South Sudan • All South Sudan diaspora community group and individual • SPLM South Sudan and diaspora representative • All States Governor of the South Sudan • All our friends
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