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Bodies of crashed plane arrive in Juba |
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Saturday, 03 May 2008 |
The Southern Sudan Government officials and hundreds of citizens gathered Saturday at the Juba international airport to pay tribute to caskets of the late Presidential Advisor on Decentralization, Dr. Justin Yac Arop and the Minister of the SPLA Affairs in the Government of Southern Sudan, Lt. General Dominic Dim Deng.
The President of the Government of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit headed the mourning ceremony at the airport, but did not make any public statement. The SPLA Chief of Staff Lt. General Oyai Deng described the incident as tragic and added that he believes “there was no human hand involved in the incident”.
Other bodies that were also brought to Juba included the two crew members of the crashed plane and the wives of the Presidential Advisor and the Minister. The Governor of the Lakes State, Daniel Awet Akot, said that the other people who died in the plane crash will be transported to Wau and later to different counties for burial.
GoSS declares three day mourning in the south
Burial of the Minister of the Presidential Advisor and the Minister of the SPLA Affairs is expected to take place on Sunday in Juba. The Government of Southern Sudan declared three day public mourning in the south for the victims of the plane crash.
Speaking to Miraya FM, the Director General of Governance Affairs in the Government of Southern Sudan, Afram Wani Peter, called on all the governmental institutions in the country to lower down all the flags on top of their infrastructures. Mr. Peter also called on all the FM stations broadcasting in the south to cease airing joyful music as a respect to the victims of the crash.
The First vice President and President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, called on for investigations on the plane crash. Mr. Kiir said “there is no meaningful reason for the plane crash, besides the engine technical problem”. SAlva Kiir also said that “this is saddest plane crash for Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement."
Presidency sends condolence delegation to Juba
In Khartoum, the Presidency of the Republic expressed deep sorrow over the death of the Presidential Adviser of the Government of South Sudan, Justin Yac, and the Minister of the Sudan People's Liberation Army Affairs, Lt. Gen. Dominique Dim Deng, who died in the plane crash on their way from Wau to Juba. President Omer Al-Bashir and the Chairman of the National Congress Party, and his deputies expressed condolence to the families of the victims, the Government of Sudan and the southern Sudanese people on the death.
A military and political delegation from the Government of National Unity is expected to leave Khartoum today for Juba to pay their condolence to the Government of Southern Sudan and the SPLM leading officials. On Friday, a plane belonging to Southern Sudan Air Connection Company (Beech-craft 1900) crashed and burst into flame when approaching Rumbek in the Lakes State.
No survivors on crashed plane
According to a senior air operations official in Rumbek, there is no survivor among the 21 passengers on board. The pilot of the Kenya registered plane had told the control tower in Rumbek that one of the engines had developed technical problems and asked for permission to land in Rumbek.
But after few minutes later the tower lost communications with the plane. Lt. Gen. Dominque Dim Deng, the Minister of the SPLA Affairs in the government of southern Sudan is considered as one of the most prominent figures in the south which died in the plane crash.
Salva Kiir not participating in Oslo Donors Conference:
irst Vice President and President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, will not participate in the Donor Conference which is to take place in Oslo, Norway, on Sunday. Mr. Alor said that Salva Kiir will attend the funerals of the Presidential Advisor and the Minister of the SPLA Affairs in the Government of Southern Sudan.
The Donor Conference which will start on Sunday aims to pledge support for the construction of southern Sudan.
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