by Denis Elamu
JUIBA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- South Sudanese army (SPLA) on Tuesday started trial of 20 soldiers accused of raping foreign aid workers, looting and murder at the Terrain hotel in Juba during the violence in July 2016.
"The first hearing of the General Court Martial (GCM) to try soldiers suspected of committing crimes, rape and looting at Terrain hotel on the July 11, 2016 has taken place this morning," SPLA Acting spokesman Colonel Santo Domic Chol told journalists in Juba.
He added that 13 of the 20 suspects were paraded before the army court after President Salva Kiir ordered thorough investigations into the crime that led to massive international pressure on the government after it emerged that a sizable number of victims were U.S. citizens.
"So far 13 suspected soldiers who were identified through witness testimony, physical evidence and confession were presented before court during the first hearing," he revealed.
Chol added that majority of victims and witnesses were not presented before the court leaving the Terrain hotel manager Michael Woodward as the only witness to testify in court, which was later adjourned until June 6.
Woodward's testimony before court revealed that on the afternoon of July 11, between 50 to 100 soldiers broke into the Terrain compound after overpowering the security guards on duty.
He disclosed that the soldiers then went on rampage raping women, looted property and murdered a local journalist for his Nuer ethnicity within the 72 hours they spent at the hotel.
"Physical attacks began, this includes the murder of John Gatluak working for Internews, the rape of five women working for international organizations and unknown number of my staff," Woodward said.
He added that besides systematic beatings and vandalism, a total of 18 vehicles were looted including nine that belonged to the hotel.
"We would expect justice be served, compensation for the vehicles stolen," he said.
He also added that any sentence to the suspects would act as deterrent against future crimes.
South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar led to fighting that pitied mostly Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.
The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital forcing Machar to flee into exile.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people in South Sudan and displaced over millions of others.
