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| South Sudan Expels a U.N. Rights Officer | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| KAMPALA, Uganda — South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan last year after decades of civil war, has expelled a United Nations human rights officer after the government objected to a report raising allegations of atrocities by South Sudan’s army. | KAMPALA, Uganda — South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan last year after decades of civil war, has expelled a United Nations human rights officer after the government objected to a report raising allegations of atrocities by South Sudan’s army. |
| Hilde F. Johnson, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, described the expulsion as a “breach of the legal obligations” of South Sudan’s government “under the charter of the United Nations.” | Hilde F. Johnson, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, described the expulsion as a “breach of the legal obligations” of South Sudan’s government “under the charter of the United Nations.” |
| Human rights monitoring “must be protected,” Ms. Johnson said in a statement on Sunday. “Human rights violations and discrimination were at the core of the South Sudanese struggle during decades of civil war.” | Human rights monitoring “must be protected,” Ms. Johnson said in a statement on Sunday. “Human rights violations and discrimination were at the core of the South Sudanese struggle during decades of civil war.” |
| The report, published by the United Nations in June, said South Sudan’s military had committed widespread abuses while trying to disarm civilians in Jonglei State after a surge of ethnic violence. South Sudan condemned the report as one-sided. | The report, published by the United Nations in June, said South Sudan’s military had committed widespread abuses while trying to disarm civilians in Jonglei State after a surge of ethnic violence. South Sudan condemned the report as one-sided. |
| According to the United Nations statement, one of its human rights officers was recently given 48 hours to leave the country. | According to the United Nations statement, one of its human rights officers was recently given 48 hours to leave the country. |
| The officer — who was identified by a colleague outside the United Nations as Sandra Beidas — is now in Entebbe, Uganda, according to the statement, “pending a decision on her future status.” | The officer — who was identified by a colleague outside the United Nations as Sandra Beidas — is now in Entebbe, Uganda, according to the statement, “pending a decision on her future status.” |
| “This expulsion raises serious concerns,” said Jehanne Henry, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch in the region, “and we hope it does not represent a step backward for human rights in South Sudan.” | “This expulsion raises serious concerns,” said Jehanne Henry, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch in the region, “and we hope it does not represent a step backward for human rights in South Sudan.” |
| “With so many challenges ahead, South Sudan needs to make sure it upholds and protects civil and political rights,” Ms. Henry said. | “With so many challenges ahead, South Sudan needs to make sure it upholds and protects civil and political rights,” Ms. Henry said. |
| Officials from South Sudan’s Information Ministry and the president’s office could not be reached for comment. | Officials from South Sudan’s Information Ministry and the president’s office could not be reached for comment. |
| Talks over Ms. Beidas had gone all the way to South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, the statement said, but “the order has not been rescinded.” | Talks over Ms. Beidas had gone all the way to South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, the statement said, but “the order has not been rescinded.” |
| For decades, South Sudan was the scene of a brutal civil war and ethnic fighting. The United States helped broker a peace deal that led to independence. Since then, the United States has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the country and has even considered sending Peace Corps volunteers. | For decades, South Sudan was the scene of a brutal civil war and ethnic fighting. The United States helped broker a peace deal that led to independence. Since then, the United States has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the country and has even considered sending Peace Corps volunteers. |
| But the generations of civil war have left a legacy of abuse. | But the generations of civil war have left a legacy of abuse. |
| Diplomats, researchers and police recruits have recounted cases of sexual assaults, torture and other harsh treatment of police trainees, leading to numerous deaths. Last year, the South Sudanese police beat up a United Nations human rights official, and last week they opened fire on secondary school students, according to Reuters. | Diplomats, researchers and police recruits have recounted cases of sexual assaults, torture and other harsh treatment of police trainees, leading to numerous deaths. Last year, the South Sudanese police beat up a United Nations human rights official, and last week they opened fire on secondary school students, according to Reuters. |
| South Sudan’s security forces — a patchwork of national soldiers, local militiamen, intelligence officers and police troops — have also been accused of abuses as the government tries to consolidate control over South Sudan’s vast expanse of territory. | South Sudan’s security forces — a patchwork of national soldiers, local militiamen, intelligence officers and police troops — have also been accused of abuses as the government tries to consolidate control over South Sudan’s vast expanse of territory. |