Abducted child returned to his family in South Sudan’s Bor
By Philip Thon Aleu
January 18, 2008 (BOR) – Local authorities have succeeded to recover an abducted child and return him to his family in Bor while the Murles legislators deny the responsibility of their tribesmen.
A child taken by unknown abductors three months ago is returned to their parents in Bor town. Kher Dhor Riak was taken in his mother’s presence in an area close to Bor town in November 2007.
The parents believed their son was taken by Murle tribe, an allegation denied by Murle Members of Jonglei state assembly. “Till found in Pibor county, no one is absolutely sure he is taken by my people,” a source speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue told Sudan Tribune today that it was how the Murle leaders reacted.
Nonetheless, the child was found in Murle village, an area which is a part of Pibor County. The disarming force of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army or SPLA found Kher Dhor in possession of an old woman who claimed was taking care of a sick kid.
But it is now clear that the right people who took the child are arrested and confirmed to be Murle tribe men. The young boy bears threatening wounds on both thighs and his arm is broken.
“I was shot when I tried to escape,” he narrated when visited by Sudan Tribune adding that another child was killed in the family he ran to. “I tried to take refuge in a certain house in Anyidi payam and they open fire after me.”
The killed kid was ten years old according to the information from the parents of the deceased.
“It is terrible, how you can shot into the house without knowing the occupants,” said Madhor Alier whom child was killed in the house. Madhor said it is better they took the child than killing him. “Sometime you hope your child will return, but when dead you feel bad because young people are close to God,” Madhor added nearly dropping tears when he told about the effort the SPLA are making for possible compensation.
The commanding officials of the SPLA were unavailable for comment due to Pibor’s lack of network. However, informed source said some progress is being registered and security will be restored in Jonglei.
“There are no many challenges at the moment, but very few young people are found in the villages. They are able to hand over guns peacefully through their leaders and more are expected in a matter of days,” said the source.
The new governor of the state, Lt. Gen. Kuol Manyang told a gathering during the celebration of New Year that effect of insecurity were interfering with development.
“You can’t collect tax in an unsecured area. And if so, then there will be no funds for road construction of roads, officials’ residents and building of schools. Simply, there will be no development,” said the governor stressing insecurity was his main challenger.
The return of the abducted child is seen as a come back of security and purely attributed to the effort made by Government of Southern Sudan through the disarmament policy.
(ST)