Wulu conflict displaces over 600

By Manyang Mayom

June 6, 2009 (RUMBEK) – Over 600 people were displaced by violence in
a troubled part of Lakes state in South Sudan. They received aid on
Saturday from the non-governmental organization Women for Women
International.

In Rumbek East County at a place called Mathiang in the southern part
of Pacong Payam, the organization issued out 80 sacks of sorghum grain
without salt or sugar, though no rain shelters were included.

Since the slaying last week of state SPLM official Sabit Nichola
Majok, immediately Wulu county natives spent night and day ravaging
some households neighboring Wulu county and displaced over 600 people,
most of whom are children and women now staying at a primary school
compound without rain shelters.

Sabit was ambushed and killed by unknown gunmen at Rumpanbuolriak
between Rumbek Central County and Wulu County on May 29, 2009.

According Karak Mayik Nyok, the local director of Women for Women
International (WfWI), the violence involved confrontations between
both sides. She questioned such fighting by the parties saying, “Where
is the CPA now? It is already violated” when we usually see young men
fighting among themselves in a field of gunfire.

Despite the donation from WfWI, need could increase as refugees are
still flowing to Mathiang from Wulu. Those seeking refuge are from
four Dinka chiefdoms of Rumbek East, which neighbor Wulu. The
executive chiefs include Mamer Keer, Dut Marial, Marial Mayom and Ater
Manyiel.

The director of Women for Women International said that since the
displaced also appeared in Alol, another place neighboring Wulu, they
were sent grain in 26 sacks but those were looted at gunpoint in Alol.

Nyok urges all Lakes state youth to avoid inter-clan clashes and she
said that teamwork is better for Rumbek as it is historically the
place for SPLM.

However, on Thursday the newly appointed deputy governor, David Nok
Marial, appeared in Mathiang and affirmed to the Dinka IDPs that “I
don’t need more death again between Dinka Agaar of Rumbek East county
and Wulu at this period.”

According to a Rumbek East youth member who spoke with Sudan Tribune,
daily government disarmament of civilians has failed to keep guns out
of the hands of cattle keepers. Samuel Deng said that guns keep
returning into the hands of pastoralists.

He also rejected accusation of Wulu County inhabitants saying that
Rumbek East youth had a hand in killing Sabit. Deng affirmed that the
SPLM leader was killed by inhabitants of his own area, and said that
since a confrontation last year in which nine were killed, top leaders
had pressured the youth who hence were scared of provoking conflict.

In a separate report, four people were killed on Friday on the road
between Rumbek and Wulu. This includes one woman. Two people were also
shot injured by an irate Wulu native who was staying near the roadside
and firing on any car travelling along their territory.

On June 1, 2009, seven people were reported killed at night at the two
villages neighboring Wulu that include Markebele and Alol. According
to a CID police officer, in the period starting from June 1 until June
5, the number of slain people has reached 21 in the Wulu attacks
targeting Dinka.

Meanwhile, Lakes state government is trying to help the situation by
deploying state police forces along the areas affected by tension, but
police lack equipments.

On Sunday evening to Saturday morning, renewal of inter-clan clashes
between two clans of Thieic and Gony, both from Rumbek East county,
had been initiated by disagreement in a cattle camp called Aguoc and
then fighting extented into the village leaving more injured. The
state government has stabilized the situation over there after combat
involving SPLA commander General Bol Akot Bol

(ST)