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