South Sudan army vows to clear LRA rebels

June 26, 2010 (JUBA) — The regional government of Southern Sudan has intensified its military operations to uproot the Ugandan rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) from the state of Western Equatoria.

This came following a report released from the office of the governor of Western Equatoria state that a group of armed men suspected to be from the LRA rebels carried out a latest attack within Yambio County which hosts the state capital.

The SPLA Spokesman, Major General Kuol Deim Kuol, told Sudan Tribune that for peace and concentration of efforts on farming by the local people, the SPLA has increased military operations against some armed elements associated with the LRA in Western Equatoria state.

“Our forces in the area have increased military operations in coordination with local people to clear LRA,” said General Kuol, explaining that the army gives priority to maintaining domestic and border security in order for peace and development to prevail in the region.

Kuol however acknowledged logistical challenges and the nature of thick forests in which the LRA hides, saying it makes the fight difficult because if limited access into the jungle. “You know most areas of Western Equatoria state where presence of some armed groups associated with LRA are not accessible by road. They do not have roads leading to. They are deep inside the forests where human presence is rare or none existence,” he said.

About four armed men suspected to be from the LRA abducted people after they suddenly entered the compound of a native villager identified as Santo David at about 10:00hrs, in Basipangua village, Lirangu Payam in Yambio County. David was reportedly sitting together with his sister, Margret Michael and her husband, Awad Baribari preparing to go to the farm when the armed men raided them.

The report seen by Sudan Tribune alleges that armed men reported to have ordered the captives to follow them. Awad Baribari in the report described the armed men to have worn green new uniforms and were also speaking in Arabic. They tied David, his sister and brother in-law on one rope and walked them into the forest.

A little while later on they met another group comprising men and women and could not speak Arabic. They all had the same uniform and each person had magazine holder with four magazines.

They continued to walk further into the forest for many hours before reaching the place they were supposed to be killed. According to Margret, it was approaching noon and the armed men ordered them to sit down. One of the armed men told Margret, her brother and husband that the place where they were sitting was their last place and they were going to be killed there.

The armed group told their female colleague that the three were hers. Two other men were also left behind together with the female colleague to finish with the three villagers. “Shoot them, kill them;” said one of the armed men to the female colleague. Unfortunately before the female soldier opened fire, another group from a different direction started shooting. The three villagers did not know who were shooting from that direction.

Through the confusions of the shooting, all the armed men and women ran away and David was shot on the knee while his sister was shot on breast. The marks of the rope could be seen on the arms. Awad escaped with wound on the head. They were later on rescued by the Wild Life Forces who brought them to Yambio hospital. Until the time of interview yesterday, no one had taken care of them. They had no money for medicine and did not know where they will go when they are discharged from the hospital.

In another related incidence, the Wild Life forces reported that their forces in Nadiangere, who were sent on patrol into the Southern Park on 22 June, 2010 were attacked by the LRA and they lost two of their men. Those who are reported killed by the LRA are, Sgt. Peter Vura and Sgt. Phillip Benjamin.

The report about the death of the two Wild Life forces reached Yambio Wednesday morning. It is also reported that 20 arrow boys have joined the Wild Life Forces in Nadiangere and a re-enforcement has been sent to the area. It is not clear if this is the same group that attacked the villagers the previous day.

(ST)