Jonglei’s legislators deny Uror responsibility in Twic killing
By Philip Thon Aleu
August 1, 2009 (BOR TOWN) — Members of Parliament (MPs) at Jonglei Assembly, from Uror County, dismissed claims that their people have been behind Twic East’s assault were five civilians died on Thursday, July 30.
In a press statement released on Friday evening, Uror representatives say the accusation “is not true” based on borders and distance.
“The Twic East incident [attack] of which Lou of Uror are suspected is not true because they [raiders] could not leave Duk behind [immediate neighbor] if they had to do so,” reads in part, a statement handed over to Sudan Tribune by Hon. Kuony War Jok [SPLM]
Clashes erupted Wednesday between Twic East cattle keeping youths and “heavily armed” gunmen allegedly from Lou Nuer [based on language and interaction during the clashes] at Nyaken, east Nyuak Payam, when a heifer stolen at Baping was found and rescuers had been ambushed.
Twic East Commissioner Diing Akol Diing told the Sudan Tribune by phone at the time that five people are dead and 9 others injured in “suspected militia” attack “because they [raiders] were more than 200 and….heavily armed.”
Speaking during the celebration of Martyrs’ Day in Bor Town, Deputy Gov. Hussein Mar Nyuot said MPs from affected areas would be sent to convince their people to cease conflict. Mr. Mar also accused politicians of inciting tribal clashes without naming perpetrators.
Deputy Gov. Mar Nyuot told the Sudan Tribune today Saturday that whoever carried the attack in Twic East “is considered a criminal. That’s all.” Mr. Mar was responding when asked who is really responsible for the assault.
Uror MPs, on the other hand, accused Duk Commissioner Mayen Ngor of “false information announced that a huge force organized from Uror County was ready to attack Duk on July 25. That is not true.”
Commissioner Mayen Ngor, who is currently in Duk, was not reachable to comment on the said announcement.
The MPs claims that Duk have established an administration in Uror County and “due to the problem created by [Commissioner Mayen], he suspected reaction.”
The legislators confirm their commitment to building peaceful co-existence between the two Counties which represent Bor and Nuer ethnic groups by saying “we do not mean to protect Uror against Duk but to settle whatever is wrong.”
The MPs have a word to Jonglei government: “We appeal to Jonglei leadership to have a critical look over this issue and implement resolutions of [peace] conferences by forming committees” in accordance with the provisions of the reconciliation agreement. Deputy Gov. Mar says he concurs with MPs at this point but argued that Jonglei state is not behind the implementation of peace conference resolutions.
Mr. Mar cited logistics difficulty from the Government of South Sudan though Jonglei had requested for a “neutral organized forces.” Local communities “are accusing individuals within the organized forces here [Division 8 SPLA battalion operation in Jonglei state] over fears of impartiality, Mr. Mar underlined.
Five Counties led by Duk and Uror signed a peace deal on May 14, 2009 with pledges to allow disarmament, cessation of hostilities and amicable resolution of tribal conflicts among others. Twic East, Nyirol and Ayod Counties were party to the ‘John Garang Institute Peace Agreement’ as the peace deal is called. A change brought by the accord is yet to materialize.
So far no resolution has been implemented in the MPs’ view. A three implementation period is to expire by mid August. Mar says there is no worry; “we still have time to execute the resolutions.”
(ST)