Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year

I have been keeping busy here in Torit and I am looking forward to a Christmas break. As part of our mandate my goal has been to conduct as many patrols as possible to the 8 counties in our area of responsibility. Some of these places require that we stay for up to five days. I was recently able to send a team to Magwi County. I am planning on a 5 to 7 day patrol in January near the end of my mission. As the Team Site Leader, I do not get to go on patrols and have to ask for permission. My goal is to get on this 7 day patrol before I go home.

Currently we are on evacuation alert here in the south of Sudan. The ICC is set to issue a warrant for the arrest of President BASHIR in early to mid January which will create tension all over Sudan. Among regular duties, we are preparing for a potential evacuation in early to mid January. In addition, Southern Sudan, Ugandan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo military are engaging in a joint military offensive against the LRA. Joseph KONY has continued to stall the signing of a peace agreement and they have had enough of him, although they do say that the door is still open for KONY to come to the table and negotiate. Talk about bad timing. Also, the Government of Southern Sudan has advised it's the citizens to fight back if the rebels carry out revenge attacks in Equatoria region. So much for the Disarmament of Civilians program. What this means for us here in Torit is that we will be limiting any patrols near Uganda until further notice and monitor any reports of LRA movement on the Southern Sudan side of the border.

The locals are doing alot of burning right now clearing the land. About 2 weeks ago during burning in a place in our AOR called Ikotos, a UXO exploded killing one boy and injuring a pregnant woman. This area was not known to be a UXO zone. There are likely several more like this waiting to be found. This area was hit pretty hard during the war.

We recently had a stabbing incident in a small village called Imoruk about 20 kilometers away. The suspect was caught trying to leave Torit in his vehicle. The stabbed victim was left by the roadside. This is one of those examples where it is easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission. The Dutch and Canadian UNMOS and I decided to go and pick up the injured to bring him to the hospital as it appeared that neither the local police nor local hospital emergency staff were going to do anything. We made the mistake of asking our BANBAT Force Protection to assist us with their ambulance. Long story short the word got out and we were ordered not to take any action. My next stop was the hospital. I advised the ambulance driver there that there was a stabbed victim on the side of the road in Imoruk. His first excuse was that it was a Sunday. I could smell the odour of liquor emanating from him. His next excuse was that the vehicle was not driveable. This was total bullshit as well. End result I left fuming and I may have held back from telling him to fuck off, but by the time I was done arguing with him. I didn't have to say it.

We are currently dealing with a 2 year old boy that is being detained in an adult prison. No it is not a typo. It is a 2 year old boy. Here when you are a woman and are put in prison, you take your young children with you. In this case the woman escaped leaving her child behind. I have my UN Corrections officer working on a solution and now have Human Rights on board as well to try and assist in dealing with this matter. The prison guards are usually drunk and people escape all of the time. There reason for keeping the 2 year old boy in prison is so that the mother comes back and turns herself in.

On December 19th at about 0600 hours I was awoken out of bed. The SSPS were at the main gate requesting UNPOL assistance to take photos of a murder crime scene. They don't have any cameras. I got my ass out of bed and went to the scene with them. It was mayhem. Literally hundreds of people on the property where the murder took place trampling all over the crime scene. People were yelling and crying. The body which had been discovered inside one of the tukuls (mud huts) where the victim lived had been dragged outside to the middle of the property and was surrounded by people. The female victim had been shot. Likely by an AK47. A blood trail and drag marks made a trail to where the body was. What a mess I did my best to take the necessary photos of the body, entry and exit wounds, and the rest of the crime scene, but it was near impossible to do a proper job. I advised the SSPS that they need to protect the crime scene to do a proper investigation and not lose any potential evidence. They just shrugged their shoulders. After I snapped a few quick photos, the body was quickly thrown into the back of a truck and taken away.

So this has been Torit. It is a good place and I am enjoying it, but the closer I get to my end of mission date the longer the days seem to take. I am heading to Amsterdam to spend Christmas and New Year. Hoping to maybe head somewhere warm as well. This will be my last trip out before coming home unless they do not let me get back into Sudan because shit has hit the fan.

Have a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year,

Rory

(Photos Top to Bottom: 1) Magwi police office, 2) Magwi exhibit room, 3) Magwi cell, 4) UNPOL Tesfaye DEFEGA (Ethiopia) with the Chief of Police in Magwi at the back of the Magwi cell...notice the large hole!, 5) UNPOL Fatai AMAKOEJA (Nigeria) teaching the Basic Police Course), 6)Local woman and child. The orange colouring in the childs hair is indicative of malnutrition, 7) Torit Bridge. Up front and to the right is a minefield/uxo zone, 8) Local children. Right behind them is UXO/Minefield territory. Apparently there is a painted rock indicating this somewhere, but I haven't found it yet, 9) After lecturing the JIU (Joint Integrated Unit - SAF/SPLA), 10) A video of Latuko tribal people performing dance the day President Salva Kiir arrived in Torit.

President Salva Kiir

We were paid an impromptu visit from the President of Southern Sudan (also the First Vice President of Sudan) Salva Kiir MAYARDIT. Salva Kiir was one of the founders of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and was a key figure in the peace process that ended the Second Sudanese Civil War in January 2005.

I attended the Torit airstrip with one of the Civil Affairs staff and watched the helicopter carrying Salva Kiir land. It seemed as if the entire town of Torit was waiting at the airstrip for his arrival including a group of Latuko tribal people wearing traditional dress and engaging in traditional dance. I noticed a cow in the middle of the air strip laying on the ground being held by three men. It did not take long to figure out what was going to happen next.

Salva Kiir walked off the helicopter with his entourage in tow and as he approached the cow, one of the three men started cutting it’s throat almost taking it’s head right off. Then they sliced open the belly and started pulling the guts out. Salva Kiir said his hello to these men and proceeded to a greeting line of government officials shaking hands with each person. After a quick wave to the crowd and a short dance with the Latuko tribal people, he was whisked away in a vehicle to start a long day of governmental meetings.

We were invited to a dinner for the President Salva Kiir. I was asked if I had my traditional dress uniform to wear. I didn’t. Too bad. It would have been great for PR. Dinner was at eight, but of course it did not get started until 10:30 Sudanese time. Probably over a hundred people were in attendance eating and drinking. All free on the governments dime of course. The dinner was brief and then President Salva Kiir went behind closed doors again for more governmental talks.

Torit is going well for me. I am spending my time right now organizing and implementing new training initiatives and coordinating and planning long range patrols. Long range patrols are important to our mandate. These are places where police stations and posts exist, but there is no UN presence which is why it is necessary that we visit these places, unfortunately we have not been to any of them in over a year.

Torit is a little different than Yambio especially when going on patrols and there are several factors to take into consideration. Cattle raiding is prominent and usually includes a gun fight. Torit and it’s surrounding counties which are in our area of responsibility are also riddled with landmines and UXO‘s (Unexploded ordnance). I was able to obtain a detailed map of landmine and UXO sites in and surrounding Torit from a colleague in Juba that works for UNMAO (United Nations Mine Action Office). It should come in handy.

All in all things are good. I am planning my last and final leave to Amsterdam which is where I will be spending Christmas. Hopefully fly to somewhere warm from there. On the downhill slide now with only a couple of months to go.

Cheers,

Rory

(Photos from top to bottom: 1) Salva Kiir MAYARDIT, 2) South Sudanese men awaiting presence of Salva Kiir to sacrifice cow, 3) Just after the cow was sacrificed, 4) Latuko tribal dancers, 5) Salva Kiir again waving to the crowd.)

From High Rollin Back to Patrollin

It was quite a whirlwind trip to Las Vegas. A good time for sure, but after the long trip which I did not get alot of sleep on I hit Vegas hard. Saw the sun come up on at least a couple of occasions. I paid for it though and caught my first cold of the year. It was still worth it. My first day was took a bit of an adjustment. Not in a bad way, it was just alot all at once. People, lights, showers that don't smell like a sewer, water, green salads, beef, pavement, real orange juice...the list goes one. The best part was seeing some old faces as well.

When I arrived in back in Juba en route to Torit, I was approached at the airstrip by a fellow UNPOL from Sweden asking if I had read an email from my Sector Commander. I had not checked my email since I had left for Las Vegas. He said it was something to do with the Team Site Leader position in Torit. I went immediately to see my Sector Commander and sure as shit, I am now the Team Site Leader of Torit. His instructions, "Fix it. And don't plan on making friends, it goes with the job." Something to that effect anyway. So much for enjoying my last few months of the mission. He quickly briefed my on what needs to be done. He didn't have to. After a week in Torit I already knew.

I have to admit it was hard to come back to Sudan, but once I got to Juba and was on my way to Torit, I was back in my comfort zone. I landed in Torit by chopper at the local air strip and we were greeted by a crowd of school children all happy to get their photo taken. The next morning I went for my daily routine run. The dust from the roadway making my eyes squint. Women laughing wondering why the hell I am running. Children yelling "Kawaja" (white person) as they walk to school. A 2 year old boy squatting on the side of the road getting rid of last nights kasava root and bean dinner. Ahhh home again.

So I am in Torit now preparing to take over the Team Site from the current Team Site Leader. I officially take over on December 10th. At least my last few months will go by quickly as I will be pretty busy. Once things are in place, I am hoping to get out on a few final patrols during my last month as this is where the most action and exitement is. I have never been much of an office guy.

Cheers,

Rory

(Photos from top to bottom: 1) Roby & Chris at

their wedding, 2) Alita & Amanda aka "AA", 3) Jaz and I at Ghost Bar in Vegas, 4) Me trying to get Shawn to try the shisha at Myst in

Vegas, 4) After landing at the Torit Airstrip.)

Who Am I to Judge

I am feeling somewhat remorseful. A thought swept over me during a Remembrance Day memorial while in Juba awaiting my last and final deployment to Torit. It happened during a conversation I had with a UNMAO (MINE ACTION) employee just before the event begun. “People seem to forget that it was only a few years ago that this place was at war. People being killed everywhere. Bodies lying out on the roadways left to rot. Families torn apart.” I have at times become frustrated, angry, upset at the lack of will to change and also the lack of trust, faith, and respect that some of the people of Southern Sudan have towards the United Nations presence. The latter I relate more to higher ranking officials in SSPS, SPLA, and the government.

A Rwandan UNPOL told me, while we were working together in Yambio, that they felt the same way towards the UN in his country, driving around in their fancy vehicles, not really understanding what they were there for. Not able to help them when they really needed it. He said that it was only until years later that he and his people were able to look back and understand it. Who am I to judge the people of Southern Sudan. I should simply be pleased with being given the opportunity to help in any way I can and keep pushing forward. Hopefully something we have done here will have made a difference and I should be happy to have been a part of it. And maybe they to will only realize our purpose and accomplishments when we have left. When that will be I do not know. Part of me believes that I will be sitting at home one day watching the news and seeing places that I have been to at war yet again. There are too many issues that remain to be resolved. Who am I to judge…I get to go home to a condo, big screen tv, a fridge full of food and drink, clean water, pubs and restaurants, surfing and campfires, and relative peace. I get to go home in February. I have to go home in February.

I started working in Torit on November 11th. I was not sure what to expect when I got here. I am in Eastern Equatoria now. The climate is much warmer. The UN camp the same. My container a carbon copy of the last two I have lived in. There is no chemically treated water here for the UN personnel. The Bangladesh Battalion, our force protection, have chemically treated water, however, it is not always available to us so I have dug my water purifying equipment out of my barrack box, dusted it off, and set it up so I can drink the water here when I have to.

I feel re-energized and have hit the ground running. My official duties here are still being decided so for now I am out on patrols taking as much of it in as I can. I enjoy patrols because I see more of the countryside and get to interact with the locals. Landmines are an issue here. I was warned before coming, but did not realize the seriousness until one of the patrols I went on. We are encouraged to try and keep on well used roadways as much as possible. Once in a while a shortcut is necessary. Torit was hit hard during the war and there was a lot of fighting between the SAF (Sudan Armed Forces) and the SPLA. A lot of people were killed and landmines placed everywhere. Rarely were the landmine sites ever documented making it difficult to know where they are. Torit was hit with a lot of rain during the rainy season which has limited travel on some of the roads. My Zambian patrol partner and I were about to take a short cut the other day when a local stopped us and told us that it was not safe. We turned back. There is a lot of work yet to be done in Torit regarding mines. No more shortcuts for me. My morning runs are not down any trails either. It is the road for me and nothing more.

The main local tribe in Torit are the Latuko. They feel like Torit belongs to them. Many of them can be seen naked in the local stream bathing. Men and women together. When someone dies, they walk naked to the funeral. A tradition of their people. The local food is similar to other places I have been. A lot of imports from Kenya and Uganda. The odd local fruits and vegetables are also available. The same stench of raw meat, dried fish, and body odour fills the air while I walk through the market saying, “Salaam Alykum” to as many of the locals I can. Arabic is the main language used here. As I walk back to my UN vehicle, a physically disabled man drags himself down the street. He has legs, but they are severely distorted. Probably due to polio for which he never received treatment. No wheel chair for him and I can not give him a ride. It is a little heart wrenching. I pull my camera out and hold it by my side away from wandering eyes and snap a quick photograph. I do not feel guilty about it.

I have witnessed first hand where the local governments tend to spend a lot of their money. I have been to parties at the Governor’s House in Yambio. Hundreds of people being served with food, beer, whiskey, children singing, long self serving speeches that seem like they will never end simply to commemorate the arrival of a new government official. And yet the local hospital is in ruins, the mentally challenged roam the streets with no food or drink, the physically challenged use their hands to drag themselves from place to place.

The local population is generally happy to see the UN around. If they only knew that the likelihood of more war could be just around the corner. It is a love/hate relationship with this place. I can not wait to go home to…well, home, friends, and family, yet I am also starting to have a difficult time thinking of leaving this place. It has become somewhat comfortable here. A home away from home. It is probably good that the RCMP will not give us the opportunity to extend our mission. So I sit here in my container smoking my shisha filling my lungs with the cool sweet smoke of apple flavoured tobacco (it is quickly developing into a habit). It relaxes me. I am looking forward to tomorrow, the next week, and the next few months.

Peace from Torit,

Rory.

(Photos from top to bottom: 1) My home in Torit, 2) My water purifying set up, 3) Torit Market, 4) Local at the market, 5) Women hard at work...where can I find a woman like this)

"Bangaladeshi Bangaladeshi!!!"

Well I am in Maridi for now. It is very similar to Yambio and is still part of the Western Equatoria State approximately 60 kilometres from the Congo border, but is maybe a little more rustic or let's just say, a step further back in time. The main tribe here is the Baka tribe, but the most common language is arabic. The threats are the same, however, the last time the LRA was in Maridi was in February 2007. They entered the town abducted approximately five people and killed two. They were spotted just outside the team site before the SPLA gave chase and they escaped into the jungle. This is according to our Language Assistant, Moses, who was born and now lives here with his family. The chance of the LRA coming into Maridi again is minimal. As the case is in Yambio, there is a very strong contingent of SPLA soldiers here and it would be too great of a risk for the LRA as they would likely lose any type of battle and suffer great losses.
The UN base is nice. As in Yambio, the remnants of old Britsh buildings established during Britsh-Egyptian rule between 1899 and 1956 can be found everywhere. Here in Maridi, several of them are located within the UN Base. Leftovers from when Sudan gained it's independence and before the first Sudanese Civil war. We use these old buildings for our generators, vehicles, and general storage of other equipment.

Some of the differences between Maridi and Yambio are the food. When I first arrived, there were people on the side of the road covering large mounds of dirt with with a tent like structure made of twigs and blankets. I asked what they were doing and through gestures and broken english they told me they were collecting bugs to eat. They are kind of like termites. They also make a dough out of kasava and fry it. It kind of tastes like polenta fries. Other than that the food at the market is the quite similar to that of Yambio.

The level of violent crimes here is very low. The most substantial crime is adultery. There are tribal laws still in effect here as well despite the New Sudan Penal Code (NSPC). These are normally handled by the local chief of the Payam or district where the incident occured unless it is a serious matter such as a murder whereby it is then handed over to the SSPS to investigate. There was one case, however, that I recently reviewed whereby the complainant accused the suspect of having sex with his daughter without paying a dowry...let's just say that the investigation is ongoing. The SSPS here are quite friendly. It has not been the first time that a local grabs my hand while we walk together, but the other day at the Maridi Police Station, I held the Duty Officer's hand for about 10 minutes while he gave me a tour of the place. There are alot more weapons here which may be directly associated the the low level of crime being committed. Several of the locals here can be seen carrying around AK 47's. They are ex-solidiers that have hung onto their weapons and now use them for personal protection.

I have been trying to absorb as much of Maridi as I can and was able to go on a Medium Range Patrol here to a small villaged named Kuanga. We met with the local boma Chief, Daniel MORJAN, who advised us that there were no serious crimes being committed in his area and that there were no threats to security. His only complaint was that they had no bore hole for water and had to drink from the stream and also that the Primary School was under mango tree and that when it rained, school had to be cancelled. I went to the school and there it was under a mango tree with a sign nailed to it with "Kuanga Community School" written on it.

I was able to find another run route. I don't know if they have every seen anyone running for no other purpose than exercise here. On my first run I had some children pointing and laughing yelling "Bangaladeshi Bangaladeshi!!!!". As is the case in Yambio, all of the children think that anyone that looks different is from Bangladesh. It is quite amusing. On the way back from my run I was stopped by an SPLA soldier and another man in civilian clothes. They asked me what I was running from. I tried my best to explain that I was just getting some exercise. I think they understood.

We have a Sri Lankan, two Egyptians, a Nigerian, a Pakistani, a Kenyan, and an El Salvadorean working here. As far as work goes, it is painfully quiet and is comparable to Yambio when we first arrived. The UNPOLS are very friendly, however, I am having some issues with the one fellow that I had to report on when he was in Yambio which ended up in him being re-deployed to Maridi. I am no longer a Team Site Leader and don't really have any control over him or the kind of work that is done here so I have been left to follow the status quo...for now. It is truly painful and the end of my mission would have seemed like another year if this is what it was going to be like, but I have to assume it is somewhat the same everywhere.

After two days of being in Maridi, I received word from the Acting Sector Commander for Sector 1 that I was re-deployed to the Torit Team Site. Torit is located in the Eastern Equatorial State with Uganda sitting to the south and Kenya to the southeast. There are reasons for my re-deployment that I will not speak of now, but I am sure you can put the puzzle pieces together. So, I will start travelling to Torit on November 7th and arrive on the 10th. I am looking forward to it as it is in a different southern state and I hear there is a little more action there. I will find out what that means when I get on the ground.

I have some photos of Maridi, but they will have to come later as I have already sent my equipment including my laptop to Torit and am not able to upload photos here.

Cheers for now,

Rory

(Photos from top to bottom: 1) Last day in Yambio, 2)Welcome to Maridi Team Site, 3)One of the old British buildings at the Maridi Team Site, 4) Me with the Kuanga Chief to my right, his assembly, fellow Egyptian and Phillipino UNPOL officers, and an SSPS officer, 5) The Kuanga Community School, 6) A female SSPS officer on security detail, 7) A couple of locals collecting bugs for food, 8)Tamia – a local dish made from kasava root flour, 9) A local woman with her baby)

Reunion

Well I have to say that I really enjoyed my break. It was somewhat short, but worth it. I first met with my contingent in Juba for a little reunion. It was the first time our whole group had been together since being deployed. We exchanged war stories over beers and gave each other the gears. We then had our medal parade which was perfect. Short and sweet without alot of press. After some post reunion/medal parade partying, myself, three members from my contigent and a retired member that is now working for UN Security headed to Egypt.
Our first destinations was Sharm El Sheikh. It was great. A resort town in the middle of nowhere right on the Red Sea. The water was clear and warm, the beach and scenery was great, the nightlife was rocking. Did I mention that the scenery was great? From there we headed to Cairo. Cairo was not as relaxing, but I did get to see the pyramids which was as amazing as I had imagined it would be when I was a kid.

After returning to Sudan I had a couple of days of leave left so I spent them in Juba. I was able to grease a few wheels to change my transfer. Nothing in writing yet, but it will happen soon. I had orginally been told I would be re-deployed to Torit or Yei, however, during the Acting Deputy Police Commissioners rampage on the South Sector I ended up with Maridi. I have no desire to work in Maridi as it is in the same area as Yambio with the same issues. My other reason is that I had to kick a Kenyan out of Yambio for having sex with a local prostitute. It's another long story to be told over beers. He should have been repatriated, but our previous Sector Commander made the decision to only transfer him...to Maridi.

I am not sure where I will end up, but I have told the Sector Commander that I want to experience an area different from Yambio. It is kind of exciting waiting for what might come and I am really looking forward to the change. Now I am back in Yambio to pack my things. I will leave Wednesday to Maridi and await my new posting.

I am going to miss Yambio. It has been a great place to work and an amazing experience. I have alot of friends here that I will miss as well. I will definitely miss my running partner sam. One last run with Sam on Wednesday morning and then it's time to hang up my shoes for a while.

Cheers,

Rory

(Photos from top to bottom: 1) Our contingents first meeting in Juba. From left to right - Me, Charles OBENG, Wayne HANNIMAN, Wayne PLIMMER (Mr. Touchy Feely as per usual), Scott BURGE, and the Shisha Man of Juba - Jaskaran PUREWAL, 2) Our UN Medal, 3) UN Medal Ceremony, 4) 3 drunk Mounties at a post medal party, 5) The scenery at Sharm El Sheikh, 6) A close-up of the scenery at Sharm El Sheikh, 7) The Pyramids, 8) Sam wearing his new pair of shoes after one of our last runs together, 9) My dirty stinky running shoes)

Goodbye Yambio

Well folks, it has been quite interesting over the last several days. I left last Friday for a mandatory meeting in Juba with all Team Site Leaders, Sector Commanders, and the Deputy Police Commissioner. The weather was pretty bad last Friday and it was a rough ride in the chopper. We ended up having to do an emergency landing in quite literally the middle of nowhere.

We landed and the helicopter was immediately surrounded. Some people wearing clothes, some completely naked, and there were also several nomad cattle hearders in traditional dress (I had just broken my camera and was hoping to pick up a new one in Juba...crap). A few people could speak English and we were able to communicate with them. We had landed in a place called Ban Agok.

There were a few small tukuls in Ban Agok and a small market where we could buy some biscuits and Fanta. There was a County Commissioner stationed there so we went to visit him to determine the security situation of the area...we were going to have to sleep in the chopper. The County Commissioner advised us that there was nothing to worry about.

I have to say that sleeping in a helicopter with 3 Bangladesh Battalion officers and 4 Russian pilots was a little tight. And no, the pilots were not female. The metal seats were a little hard and I don't think any of us got alot of sleep. The next morning we were able to take off and headed to Bor to refuel and then continued to Juba.

My meeting was at 0900 and I waltz in at 0930 unshaven, wrinkled, and tired. By the time I got there, everyone already knew the story of my flight delay. The meeting was a joke. The mission is suffering a lot of changes due to the newly appointed Deputy Commissioner. It would take me a long time to explain, but basically it has to do with internal politics and egos and several people are unhappy right now.

I had been thinking of a move half way through my mission to see and try something new and I took the opportunity in Juba to speak with my Sector Commander. They told me that they were in the middle of shuffling several people around due to shortages in manpower and he offered me Juba. I declined immediately. Juba is big, has all the food and amenities you need, but it is not as clean and quiet like other smaller team sites. He then offered me Yei or Torit. I said yes.

The Deputy Police Commissioner approached me the next day and told me I had to pick 2 other UNPOL officers to have redeployed immediately. I arrived back in Yambio on Monday and found that I had been transfered to Maridi to take over as Team Site Leader there. So much for trying something new. I then had to select 2 more people to leave. That was a little hard to do because everyone wants to stay in paradise. I chose two Ethiopians based on what made the most sense. They are not too happy with me. In addition, I was told to appoint a new Team Site Leader. This was an easy choice as we recently received two new Australian UNPOLS who were a godsend for me. I was then ordered to appoint a black African national no matter the qualifications. I feel like I should have stayed here now, but hopefully things will work out the right way in the end.

So Maridi it is. I head back to Juba this Friday for our contingents medal parade and then we head to Egypt for some time off . When I get back to Yambio, I pack my things and head to Maridi. It will be hard to leave Yambio for several reasons, but I am looking forward to the change. I will definitely miss my running partner Sam. Now it is time for a week of rest and relaxation.

Cheers,

Rory











(Photos from top to bottom: 1) Training Officers Hugo MONTALVO (El Salvador) and Sergey Russia, 2) Patrol Team lining up to in preparation for Long Range Patrol, 3) My motorcycle (Wayne and I bought it together. The only thing good about going to Maridi is that I will be able to have it transported there), 4) Southern India Onam Festival feast, 5) Virender JAIN (India) and I during transfer party, 6) My good friend Abhinesh PRASAD and I getting drunk at the party, 7) Just a big fucking moth.)

Third World Behaviour for a Third World Country

I had a meeting last week with the State

Commissioner of the SSPS and the soon to be appointed County Commissioner. Things did not go so well. What had sparked the meeting was that he demanded that some of the UNPOL officers stop conducting their duties telling them they he did not want them asking questions about detention lists and ongoing investigations anymore. He accused them of being spies as well.

I tried my best to negotiate with him to no avail. The State Commissioner basically told me that he has evidence that the UN is providing information to the media in Khartoum. He also stated that the UN has no right to be looking at ongoing cases, reports, or detention lists. In fact it is part of our mandate to do this as part of our duties. I explained this to him and he stated simply that if we continued this, that we would not be allowed near the Yambio County Headquarters or any Police Posts and that we might as well just go home.

There are definitely changes that are happening here that can not just be mere coincidence. Since my arrival, all of the high ranking SSPS officers that we had good relationships have been transferred and replaced with strictly arabic speaking Muslims. While this has been happening over the course of several months, the State Commissioner especially, has been consistently making it difficult for us to do our job.

At this time, our UNPOLS show up for their duties, shake a few hands, provide a simple lecture and then leave so as to not create any further resistance until the matter is resolved. Yesterday I showed up to have some routine forms filled out. The State Commissioner’s armed guards drove by and saw me there so they drove up, jumped out, and started asking me what I was doing there. I told them and they left.

To help resolve this problem we have a legal advisor coming to Yambio and I have arranged a meeting with the Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement and the SSPS State Commissioner to attempt to resolve this problem. Bottom line there is a clearly stated agreement with the UN and we have a mandate to fulfill. It should be interesting. The SSPS State Commissioner and I still have a good relationship which I hope to continue, we just have very different views on what the UN should be doing here in Southern Sudan.

The LRA are around, but quiet. The belief is that they are organizing themselves and that there will be another attack in the future. Right now in Nabia Pai (21 miles from Yambio) there are approximately 1000 refugees from the Congo camped out there. Many of them are family of the several children that were abducted from a school in Nduro on the Congo side of the border after the attack on Sakure.

We are still relatively safe in Yambio. The last time they attacked the UNMIS team site was in 2006 and they lost. Two Bangladesh Battalion soldiers (our force protection) received minor injuries. We are pretty well protected and the likelihood of them coming into Yambio is minimal.

Peace from Yambio,

Rory

(Photos from top to bottom: 1) To my left former SSPS County Commisioner, Lt/Col. Light ELINAMA, and to his left the newly appointed SSPS County Commissioner, Cpt. Ismael MAHDI, 2) Cell at the Masia Police Post, 3) Yambio Town roundabout, 4) On patrol with Banbat (Bangladesh Battalion)