13 killed in Sudan’s Jonglei by cattle raiders
By Philip Thon Aleu
August 22, 2008 (BOR TOWN) – Thirteen people have been killed and 32 injured in Jonglei State, where cattle raiders attacked a neighboring community and an army camp nearby, the governor said on Friday.
Six Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers and seven civilians are killed and others 25 SPLA troops and five civilians wounded on Thursday August 21 at Pajut in Duk County following raiders attack, Jonglei Governor told a press briefing on Friday.
Lou Nuer have been blamed for the attack.
No causalities have been ascertained on raiders’ side where figure are expected to increase death toll. Three villages have been burnt to ashes in the same area.
One wounded raider, identified as Nuer Lou citizens, has been arrested and transferred to Bor Civil hospital here. He is expected to assist the government on establishing the cause of the attack; seen as continuation of May, 2008 wrangling there.
Over forty people were killed in May this year in the same area and thousands of cattle stolen. Duk County is accused of looting thousands of Nuer Lou cattle, returning from Toch that month, but only 800 cattle were recovered (and returned to owners). The current assault on Duk civilians is seen as a retaliatory incident but not isolated.
Governor Kuol Manyang says he regrets the attack and called on the civil population to remain calm as the government push for a way out.
A GoSS Presidential decree to start disarmament on June 1, 2008 in all the ten states of Southern Sudan hangs about due to opposition from international community for forceful disarmament.
However, Jonglei Governor believes is lengthening the suffering of civilians and hammers progress in any field to a recognizable development and peace building in the affected State of Southern Sudan.
KILLED ON JUBA – BOR ROAD
In a related development, one woman was killed Wednesday on Juba – Bor road and one man wounded on two separate ambushes on buses heading Bor Town by unidentified gunmen, driver of the ill faded truck told Sudan Tribune on Thursday.
The incident occurred between Mugale and Mugere in Central Equatoria State; a year after such ambushes claimed lives of tens of Jonglei citizens in 2007.
The fighting end mid-day on Thursday. The government promised to do all the best to combat the situation.
(ST)