SOUTH SUDAN: Hotel Attack Trial, Victims Absent Making The Trial Difficult

Witnesses described looting and finding a dead body, but the trial of 12 soldiers accused of raping foreign aid workers in Juba proceeded Thursday in the absence of the victims.

The chilling attack on a hotel compound during fierce fighting in the South Sudanese capital a year ago cast a spotlight on atrocities by government troops in the country's three-year civil war.

And the military trial, now in its sixth week, has highlighted the difficulty in bringing perpetrators to book.

First there were 22 suspects, then 13, now 12 as the accused were dismissed one after another for lack of evidence. Witnesses have only identified three of them.

They are charged with looting and raping at least five foreign aid workers and murdering prominent journalist John Gatluak during the attack on the Terrain compound.

Some admit to the first charge, while others say they were not even present.

On Tuesday and Thursday, two Ugandan and two Kenyan witnesses who worked at the hotel described how soldiers entered the compound, asking if there were "rebels" inside, and proceeded to strip hotel rooms of money and mattresses.

One witness said they found a victim shot in the head which is how Gatluak was said to be murdered during the attack.

But they cannot prove it was him, and on Tuesday the court rejected Gatluak's death certificate as evidence, saying the doctor who signed it had not even seen the body.

As for the rape charge, on Thursday presiding Judge Brigadier General Knight Brunney said the "presence of the victims is a legal requirement" for the judgement of the case.

"The absence of the victims in the court will mean no case," defence lawyer Peter Malual Deng said.

During a previous hearing the court evaluated email testimony and medical records from the foreign victims who have remained anonymous but deemed these insufficient.

Co-judge Colonel Deng Mayiel demanded to see medical reports from the victims.

We need the names of those who were raped,we want to clean the image of the army because we are taken wrongly and there are negative allegations against government, said Mayiel.

The atrocities at the Terrain were documented in reports by the United Nations and Human Rights Watch.

During the attack the aid workers made multiple appeals for help from nearby UN peacekeepers, which were turned down, a UN special investigation found.

The trial will continue on July 11.


Tourism Observer
www.tourismobserver.com

SOUTH SUDAN: Suri Stick Fighting & Museum Collecting Safaris In 12 Days

SAFARI DATES:
- Dec 20-31, 2016
- Jan 3-14, 2017
These dates will give the participant the chance to see the stick fighting of the Suri, help collect for a new museum in Juba and see the wildlife of South Sudan.

MUSEUM COLLECTING

Suri girl

A Museum will eventually be opened in Juba and we will be slowly collecting and documenting artifacts and costumes. Then these collections will be put on display in the museum.
Individual tribal people will be approached on these safari dates, who are in traditional dress, to purchase their entire costume. Clothing, jewlery, weapons for a man or stone food grinder (metate) for a woman. We will photograph the person with the clothing and tools. Discuss with the person about each item. And then purchase everything. Camera skills, documenting skills, and curating skills are needed.
On the same safari you will be involved in documenting the stick fighting among the Suri.

STICK FIGHTING AMONG THE SURI

The Suri have some extremely dangerious rituals such as stick fighting. Some anthropologists see this as a kind of controlled violence to get young Suris used to feeling pain and seeing blood. These are, after all, people who live in a volatile, hostile world, under constant threat from their enemies around them.
The Donga stick fighting occurs after the harvest is in.
Referees make sure the rules are followed.The only rule is that it is forbidden to hit a man on the ground. A fighter can challenge whoever he wants to a duel and hit any part of the opponent's body. If a fighter kills his opponent then he must pay the family of the dead figher 20 cows or a girl.

Before the fights some men drink cows blood, thinking it strengthens them. Donga fights attract the most beautiful girls of the area, hoping to be chosen by the champions. Groups of fighters always arrive on the field together carrying the strongest man and singing.

The average man owns beween 30 and 40 cows. In order to marry, he needs about 60 cows to give to his future wife's family. Suri men will fight to the death to protect their herd.

THE ROUTE OF THIS SAFARI IS AS FOLLOWS:
Day 1 Dec 20 or Jan 3: arrive Juba Airport, pass through immigration and drive to Torit about 3 hours and stay at Torit Hotel. Picnic Lunch enroute and dinner at the hotel.

Day 2 Dec 21 or Jan 4: After breakfast visit the Lotuko people then drive 4 hours to Kapoeta and stay at Mango Camp. Picnic lunch and dinner at mango camp.

Day 3 Dec 22 or Jan 5: Stay at Mango camp this night. Visit the Toposa/Jie people during the day.

Day 4 Dec 23 or Jan 6: Drive 8 hours to Boma Park Headquarters and put up tents for the night.

Day 5 Dec 24 or Jan 7: drive 3 hours to Mewan among the Suri people and set up camp

Day 6 Dec 25 or Jan 8: Watch and photograph the Donga Stick Fighting of the Suri. Same camp

Day 7 Dec 26 or Jan 9: Watch and photograph the Donga Stick Fighting of the Suri, Same Camp

Day 8 Dec 27 or Jan 10: Watch and photograph the Donga Stick fighting of the Suri, same camp

Day 9 Dec 28 or Jan 11: Break camp and depart for an 8 hour drive to Pibor. Set up temporary camp

Day 10 Dec 29 or Jan 12: Drive 5 hours to Bor. Stay at Freedom Hotel.

Day 11 Dec 30 or Jan 13: visit Dinka cattle camps within driving distance of Bor and the hotel. Sleep at and have meals at the hotel.

Day 12 Dec 31 or Jan 14: Drive 5 hours to Juba in time for your afternoon flight departure.

Cost $4100 usd per person

Included:
- 3 meals per day in camp or hotel restaurants, First meal lunch day 1, Last meal lunch Day 12.
- Tented camp as indicated for 6 nights (1 person to a tent)
- Hotel room as indicated for 5 nights ( 2 people to a room)
- Boiled water for drinking. Sodas, beer, juice as long as it lasts
- Ice maker
- In tented camp full field kitchen, showers and latrins
- When in hotels all meals
- Translators
- Armed park rangers
- Park fees at $70 usd a day a person
- Ministry of Tourism cultural area fee
- 4x4 vehicles & drivers
- tips to Suri dancers you photograph
- battery recharging points
- camera permit at $50 usd and costs to obtain the permit
- laundry as weather permits
- our bank fees to receive transfers

Not Included:
- Airfare to Juba
- South Sudan visa or entry permit
- Any health expenses for illness or accidents
- Any costs for delays caused by airlines, weather, mud, political occurences, lost luggage
- Any costs for rescheduling
- Any costs for arriving in Juba early or departing later of scheduled dates
- Hard liquor
- Tips
- Use of SAT phone in camp $4 usd per minute
- Canteen for boiled water. "Stop plastic pollution"
- Your bank fees to send transfers, any fees charged by intermediary banks or bank uses and any currency losses created by your bank transfer.

Don't miss this tour.

CONTACT: happytoursug@gmail.com

SOUTH SUDAN: One Day Fly Over Of The South Sudan Migration

Migration of Tiang Antelope from the air.

1 Day, 2 night Flying Migration Safari

We have arranged special 1 day safari to fly out and see the migration for a few hours, from the window of an aircraft. The dates are scheduled the day prior, to the actual ground safari that departs by vehicle for 7 or 15 days to the migration.

Description of flying safari:

Day 1- arrive into Juba international Airport. Airport pick up and drive to your hotel. Dinner at Notos. Night in hotel.

Day 2- Breakfast. Transport to the Juba International Airport to the Y-12 aircraft. In June, July and August the flight will go to Bandigalo National Park. In Jan, Feb and March the flight will go to Boma National Park. Bandigalo is reached in about 15 minutes flying time, Boma is reached in about 1 hour flying time. The aircraft will not land, but find the migration, follow it allowing photographs and then return to Juba international Airport. We will stay out over the migration as long as possible, but it will depend on several factors - how long it takes to find the migration, weather, weight of passengers and the aircraft must land with reserve fuel on return to Juba. Generally the Y-12 has fuel for 3.5 hours flying time Juba to Juba + reserve fuel.

Lunch at Davinci's on the Nile River. Dinner at Notos.

Night in your hotel

Day 3 - Breakfast.

Lunch not included.

Transport back to the Juba Intl Airport for your flight out. Or pick up at your hotel to start your safari with us by vehicle.

Price $1900 usd per person (limited to 10 people)

Includes:

Pick up at the airport day 1, return to the airport day 2, return to the hotel day 2 after the flight and day 3 return to the Airport.
Transport to restaurants night of day 1, for lunch day 2 and for dinner day 2.
2 nights air conditioned hotel
2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Flight out over Bandigalo or Boma Park to see the migration as long as fuel and weather permit

Does Not Include:

tips
airfare to Juba
visa or entry letter
medical costs
lunches on arrival day or departure day
$50 camera permit + cost to obtain the permit. If you are not going on the ground safari after the flying safari, you will need to add the costs of a camera permit.

Dates:

2016-

June 18-20 Bandigalo Park

July 6-8 Bandigalo Park

July 30-Aug 1 Bandigalo Park

2017-

Jan 1-3 Boma Park

Feb 1-3 Boma Park

Mar 17-19 Boma Park

Y-12 Chinese Built STOL 2 engine turbo prop used in the safari


For Inquiries Contact

Happy Tours Africa
happytoursug@gmail.com

SOUTH SUDAN: Amarula Lodge Wau

Accommodation
Amarula Lodge offers fully furnished self-contained, air conditioned long term and stop over accommodation - an oasis for weary travellers, surrounded by undulating vegetation which blends seamlessly against a backdrop of eternal skies with stunning sunrises and sunsets. Amarula Lodge makes for an ideal stop over en route to Juba and other South Sudan destinations.


Buffet Meals
Having a Buffet Meal
Facilities
Amarula Lodge is a sanctuary where all your needs are catered for – accommodation, food, security, laundry, internet, and a shuttle to and from town in the morning and evening, for a nominal charge.
Amarula Lodge is a tranquil and spacious place where you can retreat from the heat and bustle of Wau town and market.


Bar & Restaurant
Where we are Located
We are located near the Airport, next to UNMISS Compound Wau Southern Sudan.
Wau Town is in northwestern South Sudan, on the western bank of the Jur River, in Wau County, Western Bahr el Ghazal State. It lies approximately 650 kilometres, northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in South Sudan

Contact Details

reservations@amarulalodgewau.com
+211 957 251 008
+211 955 581 690
+211 955 465 570
Amarula Lodges Limited
Wau Town
Western Bahr El Ghazal State
South Sudan