Seven people killed in South Sudan’s Rumbek cycle of revenge attacks
August 21, 2015 (RUMBEK) – At least seven (7) people were killed in separate killing in the South Sudan’s Lakes state’s capital, Rumbek this week after clashes over cattle raiding between rival communities in the state.
Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) confirmed the incident, saying they have little to do to contain the situation because majority of the state citizens have refused to share security information with them that makes it difficult for them to apprehend the suspected people involved in killings.
“We are informed of four people killed in Gum-mac cattle camp and 3 people killed in Wulu county of Lakes state. All those killed are believed to be cattle thieves. We have made attempt to track information to identify who got involved but local resident at the scene refused to tell us what happened- they usually told us to ask the governor,” officer Moses Malual told Sudan Tribune on Friday.
Lakes state civil activist Moses Ater said that state government was not doing enough to control insecurity because populations believed state government was harassing anyone that provided information to security personnel.
He urged the state government and central government in Juba to work for peace and harmony of civil population to restore trust in their government. He warned that Lakes state will end up having no public support to central government or state government if their concerns were not addressed.
“If central government or state government does not address concerns of Lakes state public, there are high chances of public to be disloyal to government instructions. The public needs peace and harmony to be restored,” Ater said.
Lakes state minister of local government and law enforcement agency, Samuel Wel Maciek, however said that the state administration was working hard to improve security in the state and he urged state inhabitants to cooperate with government to provide useful information that would help security personnel to capture those involved in crimes-making in the state.
Following the appointment of the military caretaker governor Matur Chut Dhuol in January 2013, he introduced a series of tough new measures, with critics accusing him of ruling the state with “an iron fist.”
Despite the measures, his leadership has been marked by ongoing unrest amid a cycle of inter-clan clashes and revenge killings. The state has been the scene of a fresh wave of violence.
There are growing calls among Lakes state residents for Dhuol’s removal, but president Salva Kiir has so far overlooked the demands.
Local police say state authorities have become increasingly isolated, with the public refusing to share information with law enforcement officers, making it difficult to investigate killings and maintain law and order in the region.
(ST)