30 killed in Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria after Ugandan LRA attacks
By Isaac Vuni
Jan 15, 2007 (KAPOETA) — Eastern Equatoria State has witnessed for the second time in New Year simultaneous ambushes on cars and villages along Magwi Nimule and Torit – Juba roads by Ugandan rebels, Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) that left 35 people dead and 30 seriously wounded.
In Grievances against LRA addressed to First Vice-President Riek Machar Teny, who is also the chief mediator of peace talks between Ugandan Government and the rebel LRA, Eastern Equatoria Stat Governor, Brigadier Aloisio Emor Ojetuk urges the top leadership of GOSS to urgently address LRA atrocities on the innocent people in his state.
Governor Ojetuk accused the LRA of uprooting cassava and simsim in and around Magwi area after chasing the people from there own homes.
The petition further stated that the populations of Magwi are now living in great fear of LRA’s frequent infiltration and abduction, unless the GOSS takes urgent military action o LRA, there will be no free movement in the affected areas of Magwi and Torit -Juba road, remarks Governor Ojetuk.
The Governor said the operations by both the Ugandan army (UPDF) and the rebel LRA in his territory is a clear violation of the cessation of Hostilities the warring parties claimed to have signed recently in Juba, the capital of southern Sudan. Otherwise, he say, the people of Eastern Equatoria state are bearing the consequences of LRA and UPDF present in their state. Yet the warring Ugandan parties were both permitted to use Eastern Equatoria Territory by the current ruling GONU government! Therefore the same people who allowed the LRA and UPDF present in southern Sudan should take the leads in ensuring peace in the LRA affected states.
Governor Ojetuk emphasized that LRA frequent infiltration through Sudan-Uganda border prompted UPDF to pursue and attacked LRA position at Hulai, and the fleeing LRA unleashing their anger with enormous atrocities on civil population in Magwi, Ikwotos and Torit Counties.
The grievances petition was copied to President Salva Kiir Mayardit, SPLA Chief of Staff, and the Minister of Interior in the Government of Southern Sudan. But the LRA delegations pulled out of peace talks on Friday, January 12th 2007, claming their security was threatened by hosting GOSS and Sudanese president Omar al Bashir.
Available statistic of people killed by LRA and UPDF from 1993 to January 10th 2007 in Greater Equatoria state stood at 5200, but LRA leader, Joseph Kony has denied killing any southern Sudanese. However, his spokesman at Juba peace talk, Mr. Obonyo Olweny has admitted that the victims were killed in crossfire. Nevertheless, he demanded for details prove on those claimed to have been killed by their forces.
Yet additional 21 equatorians have either limps or ears chopped off and 111 girls abducted by the same LRA and are the living example of LRA brutalities on innocent civilians of Equatorians.
Meanwhile the UPDG killed seven and the government of Uganda has accepted to compensate family of the victims through construction of either health or school in Eastern Equatoria state. But the Gulu RC5, Mr. Norbet Mao said in an interview that the question of compensation will have to be forwarded to Africa Union because, he said, there were also many Ugandan who died alongside with SPLA during southern liberation struggle.
The following are chronology of recent LRA ambushes in Eastern Equatoria state released by embittered Governor Ojetuk on 13th January 2007:
On Saturday, January 13th 2007, LAR forces commanded by Captain Oyenga came to Panyikwara and Magwi and looted food distributed by authority of Eastern Eqatoria State on pretax that their food given under the cessation of hostility by GOSS has been poisoned.
On January 10th 2007, WFP driver was killed and three passengers wounded when their car was attacked by unknown gunmen who opened fire on the vehicle at about 11.30 am on Juba- Torit road, twenty miles from Juba capital of south Sudan.
On January 2nd 2007 four people were killed and another four seriously injured when The LRA ambushed a tipper lorry carrying more than 50 passengers to Nimule. The incident took place near Panyikwara area and the injured were brought to Torit Civil Hospital later referred to Juba Teaching Hospital for specialized treatment.
Captain Oyenga led the attack on Panyikwara road and the lorry belong to Mr.Walter Ochang,the sources of information from field administrators of Magwi payam, Mr. Johnson Okello Anthony, Celestine Oryem Jino of Palotaka and Iyire and Olweny Shaifa Butrus of Nimule payam.,
On December 30th 2006 an SPLA Officer plus a civilian were killed and four others were seriously injured by Suspected LRAwho ambushed a small car they were traveling in near Lolere area.
On December 24th 2006, an Italian relief worker, Mr. Rocco Angele who brought and delivered drugs for Torit Civil Hospital, was robbed at gunpoint between Langairo and Khor Inglish, 27 miles from Torit, while transporting some office equipments to their Juba office.
The looted items were; a passport, three Desktop and one Laptop computers, one photocopier, two boxes full of personal effects along with ten thousands American dollars (US$10,000)
On December 14th 2006 at around 8.00 pm the suspected LRA attacked and killed a woman in Lolere village and looted food of the entire villagers who are now camping as displaced persons in Torit town.
Similarly, another ambushed took place along Langairo-Juba road by the same suspected LRA who killed one of the passengers and injured another in a small mini bus. This incident took place on the same day at 6pm Sudan local time. The wounded person is still undergoing medical treatment at Torit Civil Hospital.
On December 11th 2006 at around 9.00 pm Pura Lowoi village were attacked, twenty people killed and twenty six wounded by suspected LRA. The 300 survivors in great fear hence they deserted and took refuge in SPLA military post at Khor Inglish while some 104 managed to reach Torit town but have nothing to feed on.
Again on the same day at around 6 pm, a lorry full of business goods was attacked and burnt by suspected LRA who also took hostage four people (2 traders, one civilian and a driver of the lorry) who later were found killed in the nearby bush.
(ST)