South Sudan army accused of killing and raping civilians in C. Equatoria
March 23, 2010 (JUBA) – Southern Sudan army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) has been accused of killing and raping civilians in Central Equatoria state.
The army is also accused of killings and causing insecurity in the town. “SPLA soldiers always come at night searching for our wives and our daughters to rape,” a resident was reported as saying.
He described the attitudes of the SPLA soldiers as “inhumane” following the disarmament in the area.
“We never experienced these inhumane practices [but] only after disarming us just two months ago that they had moved to rape our daughters and wives. They know we are weak to react,” said another resident.
One elderly woman who claimed to be the only elder mother in town alleged that two soldiers entered her tukul and demanded sex and food, but she forced them to leave when she cried.
The Commissioner of Terekeka County, Clement Maring, said the deployment of over 2000 SPLA forces in the County without notice of the authorities was causing insecurity to the citizens.
He said he last week noticed the sudden deployment of the forces in the area from Yirol County in Lakes state without consulting him or the state governor, Clement Wani Konga.
The county commissioner said daily reports about harassment, rape cases and looting of shops has been a phenomenon creating life threats to the citizens.
He said a resident was shot dead last week but nothing has been done up to now.
Efforts to contact the forces commanding officer in Terekeka and comments from the SPLA official spokesman, Major General Kuol Deim Kuol, have failed.
“The Citizen [staff] contacted SPLA spokesman Gen. Kuol Deim who admitted that there are new forces in Terekeka town that returned from disarmament…but declined to comment on atrocities,” revealed the report, saying he would only comment after further findings.
RENEWED INTER-STATES TRIBAL ATTACKS ON THE COUNTY
In a related development, renewed inter-states tribal joint attacks against the Mundari of Terekeka by cattle raiders from Dinka Bor of Jonglei state and Dinka Aliab of Yirol County in Lakes state were reportedly launched on Friday night.
Over 11,130 heads of cattle were confirmed looted, four people killed, five wounded and many others mostly children are still missing.
Coupled with acute hunger, several villages have been deserted as populations have scattered in the bushes, according to the published news report by Nhial Bol’s led team that visited the area.
The villages affected include Yari, Wujunyani, Tukoro, Nyikabor, Gabota, Bale, Mijur, Maraka, Jayi, Babari, Bekat, Pojur, Buranga, Yabisa, Giging and Boko, among others.
“Our people are dispersed, suffering under trees in the bushes because of Dinka from Yirol and Bor,” said Paramount Chief of Muni Payam, Anderia Warnyang.
“We are suffering, people are sitting under trees and Dinka Aliab and Dinka Bor have raided us with guns. We want our cattle back,” Warnyang said.
Residents and traditional leaders said the joint raiding by Dinka Bor and Dinka Aliab came soon after disarmament was concluded in the area.
SPLM Muni Payam representative said the two communities have now occupied most areas extending from Gumeza, Muni and Tombe Payams of Terekeka County.
He said local police had to withdraw after discovering dead bodies because of heavy presence of the raiders around Kejijuba Island of Muni Payam.
The authorities are worried that the coming elections may find people still scattered in the bushes where they are hiding and able to feed on wild foods.
“The elections exercise will not get voters in their respective villages because hunger situation and consistent cattle raiding are threatening their lives,” said the area’s Paramount Chief.
Commissioner of Terekeka County Clement Maring blamed the situation on the communities from Lakes and Jonglei states that have been involving in counter inter-communities attacks over the years.
Mundari community of Terekeka County, which is less than 50 kilometers away north of Juba town, the capital, is bordered by Bari in Central Equatoria state to the south, Dinka Bor of Jonglei state to the north and Dinka Aliab of Lakes state to the west.
Maring lamented that the people of his county have been disarmed; giving the neighboring communities an advantage to raid their cattle, which he said forced him to write a petition letter to the President.
“I wrote a letter to President of Government of Southern Sudan [Salva Kiir] through our state Governor [Clement Wani Konga] that disarmament should be extended to other neighboring areas that still remain a threat to our people,” he added.
(ST)
Gatwech
South Sudan army accused of killing and raping civilians in C. Equatoria
Dear readers,
This situation is very serious and I can understand why the so-called SPLA spokesguy, Kuol Dim Kuol is reluctant to make a comment on such inhumane acts.
The question is how come the joint Dinka Bor and Dinka Aliab attacks against Mundari was allowed to occur in that magnitude despite the presence of such raping and killing SPLA forces in the area?
Governor Clement Wani Konga should not be a yes man in the face of such violations. Proper investigations should be carried out. Something smelly fishy in that Terekeka situation of Central Equatoria! It looks a conspiracy and has to be clearly and thoroughly investigated.
Pandit
South Sudan army accused of killing and raping civilians in C. Equatoria
it is baseless accusation against Dinka and the SPLA
Critic_Ngueny
South Sudan army accused of killing and raping civilians in C. Equatoria
Dear brothers from central Equatoria,
Please I would like to inform you that a bad brother is better than your enemy.I am totally tired of your nonsenses against our mother SPLA since the war broke out in 1983 up to date for unknown motive.Don’t you know that your being against your people will bring “weet kee” latter? It is a saying in my Dinka language for those of you who are unluck to be born as Dinkas .Anyway,he who does not recognize reason can not be told reason.
I had decided not to make any comment on this website but this report has totally annoyed me to the extent that I cannot even control myself or motion.What is so special about Central Equatoria.I would have bombarded them with words of most destruction but I am not going to do it because Bari are among them and they are not party to the problem.Shame on their representatives for they don’t know what they are doing for all these years of the struggle.
Critic_Ngueny from Bor town
Critic_Ngueny
South Sudan army accused of killing and raping civilians in C. Equatoria
Dear brothers from D ,mother of B square,
I am proud of you people for your so strong enough and I hope they will remain as our “Kaadeems” for ever and ever.They are known for only one thing and that is “rioch”and they will remain a rioi” for ever and ever.
Critic_Ngueny from Bor town
Gatluak Latjor
South Sudan army accused of killing and raping civilians in C. Equatoria
Well! a new form of election propagandas against the SPLM have surfaced. This is intended for the simple minded southern sudanese to belief. This is how it is. Where there are new troops of the SPLA the politicians collect civilians at night, make them wear SPLA uniform and make them try to rape local women. Also there are some PAID civilian made to tell to the media that the SPLA tried to rape them. But for these politicians who designed this act they should know that the cause of southern sudan will never be defeated. They should not waste their time on this.
Sudan virus
South Sudan army accused of killing and raping civilians in C. Equatoria
Do not waste time on propaganda you disreputable editor.
I am in Terekeka since November 2009 up now. Raping in Terekeka is like commiting suicide. If one rapes ,then he deserve to be killed immediately according to the culture on ground.
Time1
South Sudan army accused of killing and raping civilians in C. Equatoria
This is a misleading news, there have been tribal cattle raids between mundari and dinka but that was being brought under control since last year, also this report of killing and raping is not true, there have been isolated incidents but it is not something which is happening everyday. Sudan Tribune should stop trying to mislead readers through reports written by other newspapers or editiors. Am sure that things there in Terekeka will be brought under control very soon without any doubt. Also the army should make sure force deployment is not inside village or in civilian settlements, army should be deployed int he outskirts or borders of the counties, only the police should be within the towns or villages, army has to stay at the borders to gaurd a gainst illegal cattle raiders and other criminal element.
M.Cool.J
South Sudan army accused of killing and raping civilians in C. Equatoria
Dear readers,
Why always when Dinka are touched their big guys go bitter while when they touch other people from other communities people keep queit?
Kuol Deim must not downplay this serious problem because it may give birth to still a biger problem than this.
When big man said that when you catch a dinka by the mouth so that he should not cry he will use his anus for crying and when trying to catch him by the anus he will use his mouth.How can we get rid of this useless community?
Samson
South Sudan army accused of killing and raping civilians in C. Equatoria
Old system keep coming back. This what they used to be when they were in the jungle or bushes. That course the war between civilians with SPLA in part of Nasir town by one of the officers who raped the woman while he told the husband to help him! ASk ? you do not think that I’m working here?. I will that motherfucker like of Nasirian did in 80th.
The Government of south Sudan may take the action before is too late, and were is the court marshal act is?