CONTINUOUS RIOTS CLOSE JUBA UNIVERSITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001063 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI SU SUBJECT: CONTINUOUS RIOTS CLOSE JUBA UNIVERSITY REF: Khartoum 00547 ¶1. SUMMARY: After a series of riots over the student's right to form a union, the government has again closed Juba University in Khartoum until further notice. As a university founded to support the advancement of the South, many southerners want the university to return to its home in Juba, but believe the North intends to maintain its control over the institution and keep it in Khartoum. End Summary. -------------- Background -------------- ¶2. Juba University was established in 1977 as a result of the Addis Ababa Agreement signed in 1972 between the Government of Sudan (GOS) and South Sudan Liberation Movement (SSLM) that granted Southern Sudan limited regional autonomy. It is a national institution particularly established to train southern manpower for the development of Southern Sudan. Throughout its history, Juba University has had recurring riots on the formation and reformation of the Student's Union. The last elected union was in 1986. It was dissolved in 1987, when clashes occurred between the Juba University for Southern Sudan Association (JUSSA) heading the union alliance and Jamaa El Dawa el-Islamiya of the National Islamic Front leading the opposition alliance. The university was closed for 2 years. In 1989, the university was reopened and moved to Khartoum due to insecurity in the south. Since then, the university has not had a union. The issue of reforming the unions was once again raised, which led to the recent riots and closure of the university (reftel). -------------- First Riot -------------- ¶3. On February 6, 2006, the students of Juba University presented a memorandum to the administration requesting the formation of the union, return of the University to Juba, and asking that the institution put a stop to building new facilities in Khartoum, with a threat of violence. The administration was given 3 days to respond to students' demands. After the administration failed to respond, students at the Kadoro campus (home to nine colleges) rioted on February 11, burning 12 cars and destroying four electronic generators, a laboratory containing 14 computers, and several offices. Many students were arrested and detained by police and security forces. After the incident, the Dean's Board issued a press release explaining the incident in Kadoro campus, condemning it, and suspending lectures indefinitely. -------------- Second Riot -------------- ¶4. Classes resumed in late March, at which time the students again presented a memo to the administration demanding immediate release of detained students, reinstating of the expelled students, and extension of examinations. The administration was given three days to respond to the memorandum. After the three days passed, the administration ordered that students were prohibited from entering the Kadoro campus without prior notice and the campus was besieged by police and security forces. Students immediately held a rally outside the campus, which was violently broken up by the police and security forces. Several students were arrested, and there are allegations that others were detained in ghost houses and tortured. After the incident, the Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research issued a decree closing the university. -------------- -------------- Amnesty International, GoSS Speak Out; GNU Silent -------------- -------------- ¶5. The Government of National Unity (GNU) has not commented on the riots, while the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) has urged for the return of the university to Juba. Amnesty International condemned the use of excessive force by police and security forces in ill- treating the students. Amnesty International also urged the government to allow the families of detained students access to visit them. -------------- Southerners Want Their University KHARTOUM 00001063 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶6. The students feel they should be allowed to form a union as part of their right to free association, a right denied to them for almost 20 years. Many southerners believe the ruling party, the National Congress Party (NCP),wants to control higher institutions of learning in order to propagate its program of Arabization and Islamization. They fear that the NCP is attempting to block the return of the university to Southern Sudan, revise Juba University's policy of admitting 75% southern students, and transform the university into a completely Muslim institution. The establishment of a student's union is considered the best approach to maintaining and expanding southern control of the university. STEINFELD