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Sudan Tribune

Plural news and views on Sudan

Garang Insurers in Kampala

Aug 24, 2005 (Kampala) — The United States-based Life Insurance company, Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company, has sent a team here to investigate the July 30 helicopter crash, which killed Sudanese First Vice President John Garang and 12 other people.

Three officials, one from Aetna and two hired aviation experts are in Kampala to gather information about the crash, sources told Daily Monitor on Monday.

The insurers now join a host of other experts including aeronautics and avionics from Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, United States, Russia and the United Nations, who officially began investigating the crash last Thursday.

The late John Garang de Mabior was a client of Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company. Daily Monitor could not establish exactly how much money Garang’s life policy is worth, but life assurance benefits, payable to the deceased’s next of kin, are not taxable income.

The insurance company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aetna Retirement Holdings Inc. To make any payments to Garang’s family, Aetna has to carry out a conclusive investigation into what caused the Mi-172 presidential helicopter crash.

Garang died on his way back to Sudan on July 30 after visiting President Museveni.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has said the Khartoum government has asked for help in the investigation of the helicopter crash.

The UN mission will provide transportation and other logistical support for the inquiry team, said Farhan Haq, a UN spokesman. “We are willing to provide it (the assistance) and we’ll see what kind of things are requested from us.”

He added that the International Civil Aviation Organisation could also help out.

Deployment

Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport John Nasasira, who is also the national chairman of the Ugandan team investigating M1-172 helicopter crash, announced last weekend that Sudan and Uganda had each deployed at the crash site to ensure the scene was not tampered with until completion of the inquiries.

He also said the wreckage would be collected from New Site in Sudan and its final destination will be Uganda. He said the wreckage was found in Zuria Mountain ranges near Kidepo Valley National Park.

The chief investigator of the US National Transportation Safety Board, Dr Dennis Jones, told journalists the investigation may last up to January next year.

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