GENERAL ATHOR’S LIFE COMES TO AN END, UGANDA’S PRESIDENT ACCUSED OF INVOLVEMENT

FILE - South Sudan rebel chief George Athor Deng (C)

arrives for a press conference in Nairobi

on November 20, 2011 (AFP)

The life of the renegade general George Athor came to an abrupt end on Monday following clashes with Sudan people Liberation Army (SPLA) units at Morobo County in Central Equatoria state.

The office of South Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar issued a statement confirming the death of Athor and adding that the latter was killed after infiltrating the country’s borders coming from Rwanda and driving through eastern borders of DRC and Uganda to recruit new fighters in Central Equatoria state.

Athor was killed instantly with one of his soldiers during the gun battle with “elements” around 18:00 hrs, according to the press release. His body is going to be handed over to his relatives for burial.

Although some questions still remain unanswered, Phillip Aguer, the SPLA spokesman said one of their forces was injured during the fight.

The Vice president called on the followers Athor’s to lay down their arms and join the process of peace and development.

“I appeal to all the followers of George Athor to heed to the amnesty and pardon declared by the President of the Republic on July 9th 2011,” he said.

Following Machar’s press conference, he told reporters that Athor’s death wasn’t planned since the government had declared general amnesty to all rebel groups in the country.

He also reiterated the commitment of the government to the agreement reached with Athor’s South Sudan’s Democratic Movement/Army (SSDM/A) forces last month.

“I call on all those who rebel against the government to lay down their arms and join the peace process,” Machar urged.

The vice president swiftly downplayed fears that incident could impact negatively on the ongoing peace process between government and those who rebelled against the southern regime.

“Why should it affect the peace process? After all we [government] did not agree with him [Athor] that he goes to Morobo County and start recruiting in Central Equatoria,” he said.

Athor has been leading a rebellion against the government of South Sudan since he defected from the SPLA in 2010 after he was announced to have lost the gubernatorial elections in Jonglei State, where he stood as an independent candidate.

His group issued a statement accusing Uganda of standing behind Athor’s killing.

“George Athor was killed by Ugandans. He left from his headquarters on Saturday with Ugandan plane to meet President Museveni to discuss how Uganda could assist the people of South Sudan to resolve the ongoing conflict with Juba’s regime. George Athor left with Major Thomas Duoth Makuach (American citizen), who was his assistant for Kampala. He arrived in Kampala at 2 pm Saturday afternoon. He was scheduled to meet President Museveni on Sunday” said the statement sent to Sudan Tribune by email that was signed by Maj. Gen. Bapiny Monytuil, Deputy Head of SSDA.

“We talked to Athor and Thomas Duoth when they arrived on Saturday. But we lost contact with them from Sunday onwards until we saw their dead bodies on South Sudan TV. President Museveni killed George Athor. The SSDA and SSLA military High Commands will have emergency meeting tomorrow to devise plans to revenge the killing of Athor. He was killed by Ugandans and Museveni will dearly pay for that. The SSLA and SSDA will teach Museveni a lesson he will never forget in his life”.

Monytuil vowed that the SSDA will continue its struggle.

“The war will continue until we liberate South Sudan. George Athor told us before he left that should anything happen to him in Uganda, the rest of the officers must continue the struggle until Salva Kiir is overthrown. The struggle will continue as usual”.

REACTION TO ATHOR’S DEATH

Jonglei state received the news of the death of renegade SPLA general George Athor, who operates mainly in his home county of Pigi, with mixed reactions.

Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk said the death of Athor is “a lesson to betrayers” of South Sudan but extended his condolences to the family of the deceased.

He appealed to Athor’s forces "to respond to the amnesty issued [in July] by the president of the Republic of South Sudan and joined the rest of their brothers and sisters in the development of Jonglei state and South Sudan.”

On the streets of Bor, the capital of Jonglei state, residents expressed different views.

“I wish was captured so that he can defend his action in the court of law,” said Samuel Garang

“It is good that he [Athor] died. He killed many innocent children and women in his military campaigns,” said Awan.

Lakes state Governor Chol Tong Mayay, shortly after news of Athor’s death, called for a press conference in his office and said that the rebel figure’s demise is a signal for peace and rest to people of Jonglei state who suffered from the battle against the insurgency.

He thanked SPLA forces who carried out the attack that resulted in Athor’s death.

“I have to congratulate the gallant SPLA soldiers who have today managed to get rid of the renegade Gen Athor in the bushes of Western Equatoria – congratulations SPLA – SPLA Oyee” the governor said.

John Prendergast, co-founder of the US based activist group Enough Project warned that Athor’s reported death did not mean an end to South Sudan’s divisions.

"The death of George Athor highlights the urgency with which the South Sudan government with international support must address inter-communal divisions within the South. Another Athor will emerge tomorrow unless real progress is made in providing political and economic opportunities that feel marginalized in the process of independence" Prendergast said.

Sudan Tribune

MUNUNSHI BANANA SCHEME RUN DOWN

Government has expressed concern at the ran down Mununshi Banana scheme in Mwense District of the Luapula province.

Luapula Province Deputy Minister Davies Mwila said this when he made a spot check at the site accompanied by Finance deputy minister Alfridah Mwamba who is also Lukashya member of parliament.

Mr. Mwila said the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA )  should come in and help find the way forward in the matter because the project was too important to be wasted.

He said it was the cry of the people that the Banana Scheme should start operating to its full capacity because it was one of the three major Companies in the province.

He said the Mununshi Banana Scheme, Mansa Batteries and Kawambwa Tea Estate were the main drivers of the economy in the province and the three Companies should be revived in order to create employment for the people.

Efforts to get ZDA spokesperson Margret Chimanse for comment on the matter proved futile by press time as her mobile phone was unreachable.

And ministry of Finance and National Planning deputy minister Alfridah Mwamba was saddened that such a promising project went under after being privatized.

She said it was Government’s desire to seek ways of how such Companies could become viable again.

“We want to see how we can uplift the living standards of the people again,” she said.

And Mwense Central member of  Parliament David Mabumba  also expressed his concern after learning that 17 hectares of the scheme was destroyed by fire due to poor management.

He said Government needed to protect such projects because they were huge investments.

And Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Gabriel Kaunda said he was surprised that the scheme had gone to waste despite the weather conditions in the province being favourable to the growing of bananas as everyone wanted to buy them.

“In fact, the new varieties that are there now can even mature in three months,” he said.

And Mwense District Commissioner Henry Mg’omba said the Banana Scheme was an opportunity for the people in the area for income generating and its going under was a big blow to the local people.

The scheme, if properly managed could offer a great opportunity for job creation for the local people in the district once revived and operating at full capacity.

This in turn could contribute to enhanced food security and economic development for the people in the area.

And an Accounts Clerk at the Scheme George Chibwe disclosed that the 316 hectare Banana scheme was sold at 500,000.00 US Dollars during the Privatization of State owned Enterprises period to a Ndola businessman called Findlay who failed to run it and instead turned the Plant into a brewery which did not go far and closed.

He said the last time bananas were harvested from the scheme was in 2008 after which period the 17 hectare field which was under banana stands cover got burnt due to poor management.

And an Area Development Committee Secretary Moses Mushiwe disclosed that the Ndola Businessman came with some Zambia National Service Officials from Lusaka in March this year with a view to selling the Scheme to them but have not come back since.

ZANIS

TOUCHLESS SMARTPHONES AND TVS COULD BE ON SALE IN 2012

A communications company Israeli company called XTR3D says it will soon put on the market a mobile phone where customers will just be able to flick through channels and adjust the volume using only their hands.

The BBC reports that customers will just have to turn their palms towards the screen, and zap away without ever getting off the couch.

And no need for under-the-skin electronics or fancy microchips.

Instead, the TV - or rather gesture recognition software installed inside - will "read" your moves and execute appropriate commands, without any need for physically pressing any buttons.

Based in Tel Aviv, XTR3D is one of the developers of such motion capture technology, and it has just received $8m (£5m) investment bound to give "touchless" tech another push - and according to the firm, bring the first motion control smartphone into the market as early as next year.

US electronics giant Texas Instruments is among the investors. Although the Israeli firm follows in the footsteps of Microsoft's Kinect, the multi-directional gesture control gaming console that was launched last year and has since been selling like hot cakes despite the average $200 price tag, its technology is quite different.

The Kinect has depth sensors, multi-array microphones and RGB cameras that provide the software with the information it needs to track both voice and gestures.

XTR3D, on the other hand, uses ordinary 2D cameras - such as a webcam of a computer or the one in your smartphone - to extract 3D out of a 2D image.

This creates the same three-dimensional effect as on the Kinect.

According to the Tel Aviv start-up's spokesman Roy Ramati, XTR3D's technology has all the advantages of a 3D camera without any of the disadvantages - it can work in broad daylight, is much cheaper and uses a lot less power.

"And it can be installed into any consumer electronics device," adds Mr Ramati.

Dor Givon, XTR3D's founder and chief technical officer, adds that it is even possible to play a proper Kinect game on a regular laptop that has the software, touchlessly controlling the device from a distance of a few centimetres to up to 5m away.

And, he says, anyone will be able to afford it.

"Our target is to penetrate the market, so it will be something for everyone to try out," says Mr Givon.

"New devices will have the interface embedded in them, with older ones you will be able to download the software from the app store."

Besides gaming and switching TV channels, the existing prototypes include a PC where it is possible to flip through a PowerPoint presentation just by waving your hand, a tablet and a smartphone that have features such as using gestures to create the effect of a joystick, to click, swipe, zoom in and out with a pinch gesture, and a GPS device that can be controlled touchlessly while driving.

ZANIS