South Sudan army Kill cattle rescuing men – Victim
By Philip Thon Aleu
January 30, 2008 (BOR, Jonglei) — Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) disarming forces at Pibor County, Jonglei state, killed at least four men and wounded one another yesterday at Weer-mach-dit, a water pool behind Anyidi Payam, thirty sixty miles East of State capital Bor, a victim told Sudan Tribune at Bor Civil Hospital today Wednesday January 30.
The man (identified as Achiek), told Sudan Tribune that after successfully retaining some of their cattle stolen by Murle raiders, rested at Weer-mach-dit to drink but to his surprise were fired by SPLA on reaching them.
“They never asked us to put down our guns but start firing at us after getting commands from their leader,” said Achiek who bears wound at his chest. The man said he witnessed some dead bodies but not certain how many were killed. He also saw some of his colleagues in the soldiers’ truck, possibly under arrest. Unconfirmed information said at least four to five men are feared to have died.
Source close to the SPLA told Sudan Tribune that they fired at cattle raiders not rescuers. “They stole cattle from Murle village and when we were informed Tuesday morning, we patrolled the road leading to Bor and caught them at a water pool,” said the source on the condition of anonymity because he was not officially allowed to convey any message to the public.
The source explained that the cattle men refused to lay down their guns after instructed to do so and the soldiers had no option but to open fire at them.
The source declined to comment on the causalities.
Twenty goats and more ten cattle were stolen on Saturday afternoon from Anyidi Payam allegedly by Murle cattle raiders. A group of young men from that area then follow the raiders but failed to reach them within Bor territory.
They decided to extend their search to forests around Pibor County and successfully got their cattle. Murle resident in the affected area reportedly informed SPLA disarming forces at Pibor that their cattle were stolen by Bor cattle raiders. The victim at Bor Civil Hospital denied any raiding.
Relationship between Bor and Murle remains tense since the 2003 peace deal failed. Both sides accuse each other of cattle raiding. Bor accuses Murle of child abduction, an accusation Murle libelled ‘buying of children from Bor.’
SPLA forces are based in Pibor County to try to disarm Murle who are accused by all neighbors of creating instability. Nuer, Mudari, Anyuak and Bor communities lost tens of children and thousands of cattle each year to Murle as they claim.
(ST)