Body of SPLA minister arrives in Juba
May 3, 2008 (JUBA) — The bodies of the minister of southern Sudan army, Dominic Dim Deng, and five others killed in a plane crash arrived in Juba on Saturday, where hundreds of weeping relatives and top officials had been waiting.
Sudan People’s Liberation Army affairs Minister Dominic Dim Deng’s plane went down on Friday, 375 kilometres (around 220 miles) from Juba, killing everyone on board, including many army officers.
South Sudan’s president and the country’s first vice president, Salva Kiir, was among those waiting at the airport, where the defence minister’s coffin was given a military salute.
The plane that crashed had been rented from a charter company and was carrying a delegation of leaders of the southern Sudan People’s Liberation Movement from Wau to the capital Juba, 450 kilometres (290 miles) to the southeast.
The bodies accompanying that of Deng on UN helicopters were those of his wife and member of the Southern Sudan Employee Justice Chamber Josephine Jenaro Aken, Presidential Advisor Justin Yac and his wife and two Kenyan pilots, officials said.
Other bodies were being taken to their ancestral homes, officials said.
Rescue teams were still searching the scene of the plane crash for two missing bodies, an official said.
“The wreckage was bad. It takes time to open it up completely,” Lakes State Governor Daniel Awet said.
He said the first signal from the pilot was sent when the plane was some 17 miles (27 kilometres) out of Rumbek, the provincial capital of Lakes State, north of Juba, and the second signal came when the plane was 27 miles (43 kilometres) away.
“This incident confirms no evil intent behind the accident,” South Sudan Army Chief of Staff Deng Oyay said. “But more investigations would be carried out. As we learned from the communication from the pilot this tragedy is a result of mechanical conditions.”
(AFP)
elijah mwenye
Body of SPLA minister arrives in Juba
my deepest condolences!
year after year tragedy happen. our thoughts and prayers are with Dominic Dim and DR. Yaac Arop families. I cannot imagine your pain. I am here in America, thought there is tragedy here directly but I can feel the impact it has on us. we are all connected. people here are shock. people are in disbelief why this happen and why is that important people are target.something might be wrong. I am extended my condolences to the govt of south Sudan on the loss of those SPLA/M ministers Dominic Dim and Yaac Arop and others who died on Saturday afternoon after an apparent suspicious plane crash. what a nightmare! it is something we all southerns should start to worry about. we shouldn’t just keep our fingers cross each time something happen like this. my sincerest condolences goes to this devastated families and the whole south Sudan. i feel for you, and my thoughts are with you in this difficult time.I pray for all those who lost their lives or their loved ones.
may God give them peace! my support to everybody out there. we are all with you!!!
DAN DENG, U.S.A
DB Malish
Body of SPLA minister arrives in Juba
South Sudan is again robbed of capable leaders.
We will miss you and your services to this nascent government and the entire people of Southern Sudan. My condolences to the families of the deceased.
May God rest their souls in eternal peace.
Dhieu Dok
Body of SPLA minister arrives in Juba
Although we are full of superstition, I still have an argument that this death was preventable. Until GOSS train its own pilots, buy its own planes, such unfortunate death will be part of our nightmares.
People should not be eating when they don’t know who are the pilots, aerospace engineers and other technical officials needed for air transit.
Dhieu Dok
john
Body of SPLA minister arrives in Juba
This is a shame that the body of Dominic Dim Deng were killed in a plane crash. Hopefully the families have recovered.