Sec Gen of SSudan Liberation Movement urges UN to deploy peacekeeping force

(13 Apr 2012) 1. Wide of news conference
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Pagan Amum, Secretary-General of the South Sudan People''s Liberation Movement (SPLM):
"Why are they attacking us and they are not capable to fight, and they are attacking our civilian population from the air, from a very high altitude, in a very indiscriminate bombing which has no precision. That is what happens."
3. Cutaway of media
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Pagan Amum, Secretary General of the South Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM):
"Deploy a UN force in these contested areas and the UN also to establish a monitoring mechanism to monitor the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement."
5. Mid of media
6. Wide of news conference
STORYLINE
The Secretary-General of the South Sudan Liberation Movement (SPLM) on Friday called on the United Nations to deploy a peace keeping force in the contested border area between Sudan and South Sudan.
"Deploy a UN force in this contested area and the UN must also establish a monitoring mechanism to monitor the implementation of the cessation of the hostilities agreement," said Pagan Amum.
The SPLM leader accused the government of Sudan of attacking civilians indiscriminately.
"Why are they attacking us and they are not capable to fight, and they are attacking our civilian population from the air and from a very high altitude in a very indiscriminate bombing which has no precision. That is what happens," said Amum.
Fighting along the north-south border between Sudan and South Sudan has been near constant over the past two weeks.
Heglig has been the focal point. Both sides claim the area, but Sudan operates Heglig''s oil facilities, which account for nearly half of the country''s daily production.
The town is 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of the disputed region of Abyei, whose fate was left unresolved when South Sudan split last year from Sudan.
The UN Security Council has demanded the withdrawal of South Sudan''s military forces from Heglig and an end to aerial bombing by Sudan.
South Sudan''s president said on Thursday that they will not withdraw.
The UN has also urged Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Salva Kiir to hold a summit to resolve their conflicts.
The fighting has displaced more than 100,000 people, most of whom are still waiting to return.
The continued clashes have dimmed hopes for a resolution between the two countries on a host of issues left over from their July split, including oil-sharing, citizenship issues and the demarcation of the border.

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