S. Sudan lawmaker relations with Kenya a matter of concern
By Isaac Vuni
March 13, 2004 (TORIT) — A Southern Sudanese lawmaker in the State of Eastern Equatoria said today that relation with Kenya a matter of concern; after attacks carried by a Kenyan tribe against the local population in the area.
The chairman of state Assembly Specialized committee of peace, human rights, relief, rehabilitation, Humanitarian affairs, regional and International Corporation, Michael Losike Lokerui said southern Sudan relationship with Kenya, especially along Lokichoggio border was a matter of great concern that required urgent attention before it could explodes into full scale war.
He says members of Kenya Turkana tribe frequently sneaked into Kapoeta East County, attacked, rids cattle and even killed innocent southern Sudanese that compelled Toposa to retaliate.
The lawmaker says, as peace maker, they would like to return a Turkana child along with 17 camels and 11 calves that were raided by Toposa as a sign of normalizing relationship along the border with Kenyan government.
He appeals to Kenyan District Commissioner along the border to do the same by returning more than 540 heads of cattle raided from Toposa by Turkana at different intervals.
Speaking from Kapoeta town, Hon. Lokerui says it’s the policy of GoSS and of Eastern Equatoria state to address all issues related to cattle raiding that continue to threaten pastoralists community from enjoying the fruit of the CPA that was received through lost of many lives of southern Sudanese, especially people of eastern equatorial whose territory has been the major operation theatre.
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The Lawmaker disclosed data of cattle raids as per community records thus:
On March 18th 2007, Turkana raided 160 cattle of Toposa from Kamto village of kapoeta East County.
On January 13th 2007 Toposa carried out retaliation attacked on Turkana and killed six Turkana, wounded one and captured a Turkana child now under the custody of county authority along with 17 camels and 11 calus that were raided by Toposa during the attacked.
On December 27th 2006 in the same village, Turkana raided 180 cattle from Kanyipi village.
On December 20th Turkana raided and killed five people in Kapoeta east but they were immediately followed and confronted by Toposa who forced them to felt without taking a single cow.
On December 15th 2006 Turkana raided 200 cattle from Kanyipi Village of Kapoeta East County.
(ST)