Kiir says application of law on those who attempted to assassinate late Kwaje

By Ngor Arol Garang

August 5, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The President of the semi-autonomous Southern Sudan has urged for application of law to bring to book those who attempted to assassinate late Dr. Samson Kwaje Lukare during the campaign for the April elections this year.

General Salva Kiir Mayardit, on Thursday urged for trial of culprits accused of trying to assassinate the former minister of Agriculture and forestry, Kwaje, who died last week in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

The late’s convoy was attacked on the road as he was returning from the elections campaign in his home area of Wonduruba, in Lanya county. The ambush left him wounded on his right shoulder while his driver and a bodyguard were killed on the spot.

Kwaje who died of kidney failure and lung disease, nine months after he narrowly escaped that assassination attempt by armed group was also a senior member of the southern ruling party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). The assassination attempt was linked to territorial rivalry.

A man who was seated next to him and believed to have been his official bodyguard, identified as Jacob Lumori, was equally shot in the left leg near the joints while others at the time received stomach, hand and leg injuries. Others died instantly.

Kwaje was in the area to drum up campaign and voters registration for last April elections in his constituency. Culprits were immediately found after the launched of joint operation hunting for them by Central Equatoria state and Southern Sudan police forces in collaboration with local authorities and security elements. They are in the custody in Juba main prison awaiting trial.

However, in the early hours of Sunday morning of August 1, Kwaje succumbed to death shortly after being hospitalized for kidney and lung complications at Agha Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. He died of something unrelated to previous assassination attempts over territorial rivalry in the area.

KWAJE’S FAMILY TABLES REQUESTS TO GOVERNMENT OF SOUTHERN SUDAN

Responding to some of the nine issues presented by the relatives requesting government of southern Sudan to do in honor of late Samson Kwaje, Kiir said a high level ministerial committee will be formed to study all the issues raised for the family of late minister and figure in the SPLM leadership.

“A committee will be formed to study these issues and we shall sit down as a government to solve some of them,” he said.

While appearing committed to give attention to issues raised by the relatives for families, he said those who were involved in the assassination attempt that injured Dr. Kwaje will be brought to book. “Those who injured Dr.Kwaje in assassination attempt should know that law will not sleep; one day it will take its course,” assured Kiir.

Also in the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, President Kiir before members of parliament described Kwaje as true member of the SPLM who dedicated his life to the movement and never wavered since he joined.

“Dr. Kwaje was a symbol of unity in all his work during war and after peace in the government. He is indeed a hero. Heroes don’t die, they remain alive and so Dr. Samson Kwaje is not dead,” he said.

Speaking to mourners in the august House, the Chief Whip in the parliament, Peter Bashir Gbandi, said he was in tears after receiving the news that Samson was dead. And seeing the President of the Government of Southern Sudan in tears over the fallen hero shows how important Kwaje was to the government and particularly to the SPLM and the people of Southern Sudan,” Gbandi told mourning members of the House.

Acting Speaker of the Assembly, and a former Lakes state governor, Daniel Awet Akot, equally described late Kwaje as a dedicated and simple servant who died of hard work and continues commitment being a noble son of Southern Sudan.

The leadership of the Assembly offers their sympathy for him and his family. “He has gone in body but he will be with us in spirit,” said Awet.

Nine requests for family of the deceased presented to the government of southern Sudan by the relatives include the need to maintain close and constant contacts. Support in terms of education, bringing up of the children and completion of his two houses for the two wives and establishment of a technical school in Moje Boma Wunduruba Payam in memory of the late.

Continuation and completion of the projects he had initiated such as construction of a basic school in his village. The school has already started with four classrooms and needs additional four more. Upgrading of a Primary Health Care Unit in his Boma to a hospital and establishment of an agricultural institution anywhere in Central Equatoria state in the name of Dr Samson Kwaje.

That the SPLM strategy in Moje Boma should continue so that it becomes and remain a strong hold of the party. That the Agricultural farm he started establishing should be maintained. Another point raised and regarded as the thorniest issue was the Wunduruba issue where Dr Kwaje was shot in an ambush during the elections. This matter remains big in the village and that the government of Southern Sudan should put together best thoughts to resolve it peacefully.

The last was request calling on the government of Southern Sudan to speedy trial for those who wanted to kill late Kwaje in Wunduruba payam.

(ST)