The military situation in the oil regions of Upper Nile Province continues to grow more ominous for oil development companies. Moreover, there is now independent confirmation of the devastating attack on a major convoy of military and oil development equipment between Wankai and Mayom southwest of Bentiu (June 9, 2001). A Swedish journalist for Gteborgs-Posten (Sweden) has published this week his eyewitness account of the attack (which Talisman Energy has denied; National Post, June 13). The journalist has also confirmed to this source the enormous number of vehicles destroyed and Government of Sudan forces killed. Additional attacks in the region have been reported today by the SPLA/M, suggesting a further deterioration in the military defense of the oil regions.
Eric Reeves [June 29, 2001]
Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063
413-585-3326
ereeves@smith.edu
Perhaps the most significant military news comes from central Upper Nile, where the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) reports significant military success (June 23) against Government of Sudan (GOS) forces. What is so striking about the attacks described is not the level of destruction, but the fact that they reflect increasing military reconciliation and rapprochement between the SPLA and the Nuer military commanders with whom they have been at odds in Upper Nile:
“These successful victories in the Central Upper Nile command are the result of the recent Agreement reached between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLM/SPLA) [predominantly Dinka] and Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) [predominantly Nuer].”
Further consolidation of Nuer and Dinka forces could very rapidly increase military threats to oil companies in the concession areas.
Also clear from today’s SPLA/M news release is another sharp defeat for GOS forces near the garrison of Wankai (it was on the road between Wankai and Mayom that the large convoy attack took place earlier this month). Details of the attack (also of June 23) are in the full SPLA release (attached).
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The June 9 convoy attack on the road between Mayom and Wankai (reported by this source, June 22; available upon request) highlights the degree of distortion and prevarication that attends GOS accounts of their military defeats, and Talisman Energy’s complicity (willing or unwilling) in these accounts. According to the National Post (June 13 article; attached), Talisman spokesman David Mann declared the following:
“[Mann] estimated there were between four and six civilian casualties, but none were Canadian or Talisman employees.”
“[Mann said] there were only two or three company trucks stolen,
with some damage to bulldozers and other road construction equipment. He would not comment on the presence of military vehicles.”
One reason that Mr. Mann “would not comment on the presence of military vehicle” is that Talisman has undoubtedly been told by the GOS, in no uncertain terms, that they are never to speak about military “developments.” Still, the prevarication in which Talisman has made itself complicit is made obvious by the account that appeared in a Swedish newspaper this Tuesday (June 26), which was based on the fortuitous eyewitness account of the convoy attack by journalist Peter Strandberg of the Gteborgs-Posten (www.gp.se).
In an email to me today, Mr. Strandberg indicated that casualties in the convoy attack included “370 government soldiers and oil workers.” He also indicated that a massive number of vehicles were destroyed by the SPLA (the SPLA catalog of captured or destroyed vehicles appears in the June 22 report from this source). He indicated to me that his full account, along with pictures, will be appearing soon in a Canadian newspaper.
There is clearly an imminent threat to oil workers in the more exposed parts of the concessions. In response, Talisman has chosen to ally itself with distortion and prevarication; the Government of Canada seems to have no particular concern or policy response. But the southern opposition is now clearly ascendant in many areas of Upper Nile, and fatal consequences for Canadian and other foreign nationals loom closer.
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PRESS RELEASE.
SPLM/SPLA REPULSE ENEMY ATTACKS IN WESTERN AND CENTRAL UPPER NILE
Forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) have successfully repulsed unwarranted two enemy attacks on their positions in two locations in Upper Nile region.
On 23rd June 2001 SPLA forces of Western Upper Nile (WUN) command under Cdr. Peter Gadet repulsed a combined Government of Sudan (GOS) army and allied militia units. These combined GOS forces and the militias were ambushed and repulsed five (5) kilometers from Wangkai enemy garrison. The enemy was attempting to capture SPLA liberated areas in WUN. The enemy forces were completely defeated and dispersed with heavy losses in men and equipment. The enemy suffered the following losses:
150 enemy soldiers killed in action and their bodies left on the battlefield;
80 AK-47 Rifles in good condition
Five PKM machine guns in good condition
Five RPG-7 Anti-Tank launchers
Three Motorola Walkie Talkies.
In the Second military engagement, SPLA forces in Central Upper Nile (CUN) under the command of Cdr. Michael Top repulsed another combined GOS and militia attack on the same day 23rd June 2001. These enemy forces were ordered by the National Islamic Front (NIF) to attack SPLA positions in Old Fangak (Gezira). The enemy attempt was repulsed and a counter offensive was launched by Battalions 326 and 329 of the New SPLA 47th Brigade. This resulted in the capture of GOS and militia positions of Kuerkan, Bichuol-Kuon and Ruok-Gok. The same provoked SPLA forces proceeded to the NIF held garrison of Pam-Zeraf along the River Nile which they raided and burnt part of the town. The enemy sustained 15 killed in action (KIA) including four (4) officers. Many more enemy soldiers are reported wounded. These successful victories in the CUN command are the result of the recent Agreement reached between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLM/SPLA) and Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SPDF).
Finally the SPLM/SPLA Leadership congratulates the officers, NCOs and men of both the WUN and CUN commands. The Movement’s Leadership further warns the NIF that the revival of the SPLM/SPLA in Western and Central Upper Nile will not tolerate provocative attacks on their positions and on unwarranted ethnic cleansing in the area to create “Free Zones” for oil exploration and exploitation by international oil companies.
SIGNED:
Dr. Samson L. Kwaje
Commissioner for Information and
Official Spokesman SPLM/SPLA
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from the National Post (Canada), June 13, 2001
“Calgary oil firm denies convoy attacked in Sudan”
244 soldiers killed: rebels;
Talisman says incident involved 20-person road crew
John Chipman
National Post, with files from news services
Rebels in Sudan claimed yesterday to have killed 244 government soldiers and captured three tanks after ambushing a convoy escorting oil company equipment near the country’s oil fields.
Calgary-based Talisman Energy, which has oil operations in the East African nation, confirmed an attack but said it was on a road construction crew, not a convoy.
David Mann, a Talisman spokesman, said a crew of 20 was attacked early last Friday in southern Sudan, about 150 kilometres south of the Heglig oil field.
He estimated there were between four and six civilian casualties, but none were Canadian or Talisman employees. The crew was subcontracted to the Greater Nile Petroleum Company, 25% of which is owned by Talisman.
Mr. Mann disputed the claims, saying there were only two or three company trucks stolen, with some damage to bulldozers and other road construction equipment. He would not comment on the presence of military vehicles.
Mr. Mann said he did not know how many soldiers were protecting the construction workers, but he questioned the accuracy of the rebels’ claims.
“Based on past reports, it’s exaggerated,” he said.
There was no independent confirmation in Sudan.
Critics, including the Canadian government, claim the Sudanese government is using proceeds from the country’s foreign oil producers to fund its war against the rebels that, along with a heavy drought in the region, has claimed two million lives.
Talisman paid more than $306-million in royalties to the Khartoum-based government last year.
But the Canadian government has been reluctant to bring in legislation that would force Talisman out of Sudan, fearing the company may retaliate by leaving Canada.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) said it had ambushed and destroyed a large convoy between the villages of Wankai and Mayom in Unity state in the south of the country.
“We are determined to shut down the oil exploration in south Sudan,” said Samson Kwaje, an SPLA spokesman. “We are not going to allow more equipment to come into the oil fields for exploration.”
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Rebels said the battle lasted for more than five hours last Friday, with the government deploying three helicopter gunships and two Antonov bombers.
As well as the tanks, the SPLA said they captured two armoured personnel carriers, four bulldozers, 46 heavy duty trucks and 21 pickup trucks belonging to the oil company.
Mr. Mann disputed the claims, saying there were only two or three company trucks stolen, with some damage to bulldozers and other road construction equipment. He would not comment on the presence of military vehicles.