An organization calling itself Anuak Justice Council AJC headed by Mr. Ochalla Abulla, as Chairman and based in Canada has issued a statement a copy of which The Citizen has access to claims that the Ethiopian authorities were trying to return seventeen Anuak who are refugee from the Ethiopia side of the tribe from a camp called Alari Refugee Camp in Pochalla County inside South Sudan back to Ethiopia.

The organization further claims that if returned these refugees are likely to face imprisonment, torture and their safety cannot be guaranteed in the hands of the authorities there.

The document says returning refugee will be a violation of international law.

The organization says fifteen of the seventeen refugees are alleged to be former rebels in their country and two others were former government security officers who have fled to South Sudan as refugees.

But it further claims that when the UNHCR officials in Juba became aware about the issues it got involved in negotiations with the Ethiopian Embassy officials and South Sudan authorities leading to temporary halt to the return of the said number of refugees pending further talks.

AJC claims that the said refugee have been flown from the refugee camp to Juba on their way to Ethiopia and had some concerned members of the Anuak tribe on the ground not alerted the UNHCR.

The organization appeals to the Government of republic of South Sudan to protect Anuak refugees under its care because there are international laws which place the safety of refugees in the hand of the host country.

Recently South Sudan and Ethiopian signed deportation agreement and this involve criminals not refugees.

Contacts to verify the AJC claims with the South Sudan Foreign Ministry, the Ethiopian Embassy and UNHCR proved futile yesterday.