Lakes: Security officers investigate arrest of 23 in Yirol West
October 4, 2013 (RUMBEK) – Three intelligence officials visited Yirol West county of Lakes state on Thursday to investigate allegations that David Deng Athorbei, a member of the South Sudanese national parliament, paid local people to attack the office of the county commissioner after he banned from addressing an event.
The local MP had been invited to address students at te third anniversary of Yirol Boy Primary school on September 17 but was asked not to visit the school by the Yirol West commissioner.
After the news reached the students that their local MP would not be speaking to them they attacked and set fire to the office.
At least 23 people were arrested after the demonstration. As well as students, those detained for questioning are reported to include area administrators, teachers, chiefs, hospital staff and a soldier.
Three members of the South Sudan National Intelligent security Services (NISS) are believed to have questioned the headteacher of the school and members of staff over whether Athorbei had paid any money to school or had in any way instigated the protest that resulted in the burning of the commissioners office.
The headmaster of Yirol Boy Primary school James Mabor Ikau and a number of his staff have been moved from a police prison to secret military location, local sources told Sudan Tribune.
The top security officers returned to Juba on Friday but have not spoken to the media about the case but local sources say the allegations are being manufactured to suit the interests of the Lakes state government.
Eyewitness and various official sources who requested anonymity say that Yirol Boys Primary school has not operated since the violent protest erupted.
“Only military, police and security agent are in control of Yirol Boy primary school – no lesson or any pupils allowed to come to school compound,” said an official.
In letter signed on Saturday, the local government secretary-general, who is also serving as chairman of unions of administrative officers, asked the governor to urgently launch an investigation into the arrest of local government administrators.
Yirol West county commissioner Colonel Majak Ruei Angong had ordered the mass arrest of teachers, chiefs, county police inspector, as well as executive director Thon Rengu Majaok and his deputy Mayom Riak.
(ST)