South Sudan parliament summons ministers, SPLA over Yambio killing
By Isaac Vuni
November 7, 2007 (JUBA) — Southern Sudan parliament decided to summon the South Sudan ministers of Interior and Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) affairs to brief the assembly on the killing of three senior police officers by SPLA elements in Yambio last week.
The Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly has today afternoon voted unanimously and directed the newly sworn in Deputy Speaker, Lawrence Lual Lual to summon the southern Sudan minister of Interior, and of SPLA affairs to appear before the Assembly by Monday November 12th together with the SPLA Joint Integrated Unit (JIU) Commander in Yambio to answers questions on Yambio shooing that led to killing of three senior police officers from among Equatorian on November 4th 2007 including the deteriorating insecurity in the ten states of Southern Sudan.
The lawmakers decision came following a motion raised by MP Pascal Bandindi Uru, SPLM, representative of Nagero county of Western Equatoria state who requested the parliament under the urgent and important matter to seriously deliberate over the killing of three senior police offices by SPLA soldiers of JIU.
He also requested thereafter to condemn the barbaric killing of police officers and to array the culprit soldiers before a military tribunal.
MP Bandindi Uru appeal to the general SPLA headquarters to review the constitution of the JIU and their overall command structure and composition of JIU deployment in Western Equatoria state for the purpose of effecting a mix military personnel that would reflect fair representation from the states of Southern Sudan than staffing JIU with a single ethnicity who controlled and carry out subversives act on others with impunity.
He also call upon the GoSS to arm and equip the police force in the south with all necessary logistics uniforms and arms necessary for efficient execution of their duties and to repulse any act of aggression calculated to usurp their mandate to keeping peace and order among the people.
Bandindi Uru also appealed to the aparliament to constitute and send a select fact finding committee to Yambio in order to collect relevant facts on the incident and to report back to the SSLA.
Earlier the Deputy Speaker, Lawrence Lual Lual who presided over the urgent and important matter deliberation described it as being a very sensitive issues therefore ordered all journalists out of the house; yet there are hundreds of thousands people wanting to hear what the lawmakers and the GoSS Executive are doing in order to arrest the situation from escalation than giving rooms for rumors to influence the situation. A satellite-phone call this evening indicated that there is still mounting tension.
(ST)
Emilio Mongu
South Sudan parliament summons ministers, SPLA over Yambio killing
The GOSS should take yambio incident very seriusly above everthing. Equatorians should understand from now that something unsual is going on in the southern Sudan against them. The government of Southern Sudan is to be blamed for this barbaric act against the fellow Equatorians who are on duties, starting from the president, who is the commander- in- cheif of SPLA ( Dinka), to the minister of SPLA affairs ( Dinka), the minister of Interior (Dinka)and minister of justice and constitutional development(Dinka). This means that the whole authority of the Southern Sudan is centered on one tribe, making their members behave in the way they want, as long as they are protected by their fellow tribemen. At least if the president is the commander in cheif of the SPLA,the minister of the SPLA affair should be from the other tribe. The same thing should be applied to the ministries of justice and constitutional development and Interior.
For the future well being of the southern Sudan, authority (power) should not center on one tribe if we want Southern Sudan to go forward. To be a good father you should divide all the rights and responsibilities equaly to your children otherwise there is fear and mistrust from others.
elijah mwenye
South Sudan parliament summons ministers, SPLA over Yambio killing
I AM HERE TO SEND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS WHO WERE KILLED ON NOV 4TH. I PERSONALLY CONDEMN THE KILLING BUT WHY IS SO PAINFUL WHEN EQUATORIAN ARE KILLS BY THE DINKA AS THE CLAIMED IN THE NEWS. HOWEVER,WHEN THE DINKA ARE KILLED BY THE EQUATORIAN, THERE IS NO UPROAR AMONG THE DINKA. DOES THAT MEANS OUR LIVES IS USELESS. TO ME, IT SEEM LIKE A POLITICAL MOTIVATED ISSUES.IT IS NOT JUST BECAUSE IMPORTANT PEOPLE WERE KILLS BUT BECAUSE IT IS EQUATORIAN HATRED FOR THE DINKA PEOPLE. I THINK THOUSANDS OF DINKA SOLDIERS OR CIVILIAN WERE KILLS BY EQUATORIAN BECAUSE THEY WERE SIMPLE ON EQUATORIAN SOIL. THAT SEEM BIZZARE.I AM NOT SUPPORTING THOSE WHO DID THIS BECAUSE KILLING ANOTHER HUMAN BEING FOR APPARENTLY WITH NO GOOD REASON IS TOTALLY UNJUSTIFIED, UNEXUSABLE.THOSE PERPERTRATORS NEED TO FACE THE JUSTICES.
HOPE THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.THIS IS A TIME TO SAVE LIVES NOT A TIME TO TAKE THEM A WAY.
JOHN CHOL
South Sudan parliament summons ministers, SPLA over Yambio killing
Dear Emilio Mongu,
Your writings at this regard are too loud and empty,making alot of exaggerations and lies in a true feature of a real situation that requires constitutional solution.Please stop it-attacking Dinka as a community but rather focus on the event as done by the JIU soldiers.
I fail to understand how best would you benefit in seeing South Sudan divided along enthic lines;Dinka vs Equatoria;and if this could be your wish, how many Dinka men of your age will you killed and how best shall such killing suit your life?
At least a true citizen should understand that the event that took place in Yambio is beyond barbarism and primitivism,that could only be settled through rule of law according to the interim constitution of the south Sudan as stipulated in the CPA.
Judging the book according to it colours could be a very harmful decision in one’s life less one is illiterate enough.It doesn’t matter wether the president, minister for interior,SPLA affairs and Constitutional development etc come from Dinka community,but the Constitution of the GOSS dictates what to be done in resolving such issues as happened.Lets all live to respect our rule of law and lets give chance to our parliament to exercise their role before our attitudes expose us in a rush to appeal.
JOhn Chol,South dudan.
aguer alaak
South Sudan parliament summons ministers, SPLA over Yambio killing
Yes,thatz the very step people were looking to see coz taking peoples lives is not simple. It was absolute childish three days back when people took the incident as tribal but the murdered and the murderers are not in their positions they were coz of their communties but to serve the nation as a whole. To someone who was talking of integration of the SPLA,itz true but where are those you want to be integrated into the army as SPLA,also SPLA is not at it formation now but was form long time ago when Dinka offered their lives for the welbeing of the black indegenous african in the Sudan who were under the oppression by the oversea traders who found themselves superior to the owners of the land. Spla was less valuable to some communities as it was a voluntary and was left for self devoted individuals who suffered all sort of things and this explained better why the SPLA is largely Dinka. This was not meant for anything but to counter arabs who were mistreating Equatorians and other africans in the Sudan and still guarding to see the arabs move with the CPA upto now.
Also to someone who was talking of Dinka taking this and that position,they were not put in positions to serve Dinka please be wise,GOSS though it was not GOSS in the Bush was having some ranks and structures which governed the day to struggle activities that is one, also see the number of states and sizes. And finally check whether in the NCP representatives in the Southern government if you can find a Dinka also among the black in arabs uniforms, see the log on your eye before removing speke from someones. The name Dinka is becoming everyday talk mostly in those areas which were under arab control and I hope it is the policy from these people in Northern uniforms who like rumoured against Dinka who seem to be fully alleged to arab policies.
Anyang Ngong Ayuen
South Sudan parliament summons ministers, SPLA over Yambio killing
Its with much grieve and disbelieve that such a devilish killing has started again within Southern Sudanese themselves.May i take this opportunity to register my condolescene to the agrieved parties.
In relation to the this fate, its with much concern that am bringing this attention to all this letters that have been posted in response to the recent killing in Yambio by SPLA soldiers.Its hard to believe that the past is reflecting itself at this fateful moments when we needed ourselves most.I understand how it feels when someone kills your brother in cold blood but that in itself should not be judge from the tribal perspective.Please writers if you are testing your writing skills on this topic then you better do within your reach but not to ambiguosly pop into writing rumours which one cant go by when the law takes its course.Its clear that the killers where majorly from Dinka, which cannot be objected, that itself cannot qualify the mens rea or the presence of malice in the killing.Its nolonger time to gossip on tribal lines and hence we should get to understand that the question of Dinka-ma-dinka has its own side and that will not amount to the perspective of the killing.May i hereby call on our Equatorian brotehrs and especially those who lost one or two people in this killing that, despite the ritual believe and long believes about the inter-tribal existing relations we should not take ourselves as enemies.This is to say that, when an act such as this has occured then we should not rush to critisism but find the remedies available first.We remain brothers despite the killing and that will remain a fact within us.May i also call on the leadership of the SPLA in collaboration with JIU that this scrupulous soldiers should be brought to book, its not easy taking away someones life and expect to escape with that offence.In a special way, i would also like to reckon the role of the JIU which seems to be hitting the negative sect of the realities.Its a point to question the concerned authorities and especially the leadership of the two.
Not to forget, this also bring into consideration the recent breakdown of insecurity in the whole of Southern Sudan especially the daily killing that takes place along the Juba-Bor road where various Dinka people losses theirs lives.This is not a matter of saying that Dinka are unfriendly but lets consider what the Dinka community faces also.If we are to take the statistic in the inter-tribal cattle rustling then the Dinka people always remain victims of this misdeeds.As we analyse all the possible sides of this case, we should also consider that, nobody loves to see his brother killed but since death must occur, lets be genuine as we talk, because this is not the first instance of killing in Southern Sudan, i recall in 2004-2005 and half of 2006 when the Dinka people were the point of threat by our Yambio brothers, it was a question of time which was solved diplomatically yet most of those people who suffered the circumstances were Dinka,
Lets not look at ourselves as enemies and people from various regions but the truth of it is that we have a common enemy whom we believe has an ample opportunity to exploit the differences that we have.
LETS BE UNITED AND REMAIN ONE PEOPLE.
WE SHOULD BE READY FOR THE COMMON ENEMY WE KNOW.
(the author is a law student at Kampala International University and can be reached on [email protected])
Paul Okello
South Sudan parliament summons ministers, SPLA over Yambio killing
While we regret the death of our fellow Equatorians in the hands of these unruly soldiers, we should not use inflamatory, derogatory and emotional language against Dinka as a community. In every community, there are good and bad people. I personally believe that there are Dinkas and Equatorians who are good and bad as well. Let’s leave this issue in the hands of the GOSS authority to handle it, for now. If the GOSS fails to bring those culprits to book, we the Equatorians shall have the rights to take the law into our hands because that would mean GOSS is state of lawlessness. I personally urge all the sons and daughters of South Sudan irrespective of their tribal or regional affiliation to condemn this barbaric act and mourn the death of these innocent men killed in the line of duty. Let’s unite and focus on our real enemies. Killing of our own brothers would only set us in disaray and against each other. The ememies (Arabs) of Southern Sudan may be trying to incite and imflame the situation right now. Be calm and pray for those who lost their lives.
My condolences to the bereaved families.
Juach D Juach
South Sudan parliament summons ministers, SPLA over Yambio killing
It is with much delight and joy to condemn idiots such the author of this article (Vuni) and Imatangos for their part in the Yambio incident.
I beleive the skirmishes were caused by some of your tribe mates who hold the same views as you guys against Dinka. If you continue on that line remember… we can still apply the rules to your alliance with whoever wants to confront monyjang!!!.
The time has come to say the truth because you’re are refusing to listen to other moderate muonyjieng who’ve in solidarity with you all along since the incident but you are now pushing every Muonyjang to the extreme side of the military and political playground!!!.
Muonyjang Oyee!! Long Live the realm of Muonyjang in Sudan!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maper
South Sudan parliament summons ministers, SPLA over Yambio killing
Imatongas,
I know you are very frustrated just like any South Sudanese in regard to this incidence. The killing of the police officers and police was something that no one liked. As police are there to keep law and order in the country, it was very sad to see them lost their lives in such incidence. These JIU soldiers must be brought to justice, and it is the work of GOSS. MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LOVE ONES.
However, you should be careful in whatever you do or say. How can you call the JIU soldiers, Dinka soldiers, and GOSS, Dinka government? I think you were in Juba before the CPA, otherwise you would have not talk that way if you were in SPLA/M during the time of war. Patriotic people won’t call on their people to kill their brothers/sisters from other communities. People like you are the ones who used to call SPLA/M a Dinka movement, and they are the very people who are now calling GOSS the Dinka government. I think you are not from Yambio, and so you want to turn it into a battlefield because once there is a revenge, then there will be cycle of revenges which could not be right. Keep doing that, and you may be the next victim. Dinkas are only represented by MPs, not soldiers. The Dinkas who are currently serving in the army were not elected or nominated by the Dinka community. Some Dinkas voluntarily joined the army and others were conscripted during the time of war. GOSS is a government of all south sudanese, but if anyone calls it a Dinka government, then find a government where you will not find any Dinka. Even in your Bashiir’s government, you will still find Dinkas.
Take care!!!!, every life is precious and no one enjoys hearing the death of innocent people and those who are performing their national duty.