JUBA, June 6 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's trial of soldiers accused of raping aid workers during the July 2016 clash in Juba stalled again on Tuesday before the General Court Martial (GCM) due to absence of witnesses and victims.
"The court hearing has been adjourned until June 20, to provide fair trial for both victims and the perpetrators, give time for the new prosecutor to study the case, and most of the witnesses and victims supposed to appear in this court are outside the country," said Santo Domic Chol, the South Sudan army (SPLA) spokesman.
He clarified that there are 12 suspects before the GCM and not 20 as earlier stated facing charges of rape, looting, and killing at the Terrain hotel in Juba that attracted international condemnation after it emerged some victims were U.S citizens, while the killing of a local journalist for his Nuer ethnicity further tainted the image of the SPLA.
"All the relevant people needed in this case must appear in South Sudan and we do not know how long it will take for the complainant to ensure that all these people are here," Chol said.
The Terrain hotel manager Michael Woodward is the only witness who has so far testified during the first hearing in May in which he pleaded for compensation for the 18 vehicles the suspects looted and also justice for the raping victims.
Chol said South Sudan has the security and legal capacity to protect the would-be witnesses in the trial upon arrival in the nation still embroiled in fighting between the SPLA and rebels.
South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President Salva 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 again 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 South Sudanese and displaced millions of others.
