More victims of LRA rebels revealed in South Sudan
By Roba Gibia
January 16, 2009 (JUBA) — The Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA) has found dozens of body of people believed to be killed by the Ugandan Lord Resistance Army (LRA) after being abducted.
The Azande worldwide organization issued a statement claiming LRA rebels have attacked the Yambio-Yei-Juba Road making people avoid using it.
“Filtered reports say many villagers all over WES counties have been abducted and others killed. Further at least 2 cars had been looted and burned on the Yambio-Yei-Juba around Rasolo and Tore in the past three days” the statement read.
“Attacks on the main lifeline road to Juba and Uganda effectively mean that Western Equatoria is being cut off by LRA rebel attacks” the organization said.
The LRA has gone on a killing spree following joint attacks by the Congo, Uganda, and Sudan on their bases in mid December.
The joint military operation followed refusal by LRA leader Joseph Kony to sign a peace agreement after several failed attempts before.
Kony wants the International Criminal Court (ICC) to scrap the arrest warrants against him before signs a peace agreement.
Some reports have maintained that the Ugandan army has entered South Sudan to hunt for LRA rebels along with the SPLA. There was no independent confirmation of these reports.
The Azande worldwide organization called on President Salva Kiir to intervene saying that lives of citizens of WES is becoming unbearable.
“Some rich [figures] from the Southern Sudan Government and other NGOs are now preparing to fly their children out of WES to Uganda then risk them being ambushed by LRA on the road to Yei and onto to Uganda; but what about the poor ones who cannot afford the plane fair of about $350 per person?”
“Some officials may like to deny the fact of the lifeline road being blocked but when the chances of falling victim to LRA ambush on the road reaches 50% …..the lives of human beings cannot just be betted like a lottery and there must be a clear message from the Government whether the road from WES to Yei is safe or not”.
This week the Vice President of South Sudan Riek Machar has rejected pleas by WES citizens to bear arms to defend themselves against the LRA rebels.
“Arming the people is not a policy of the government which disarming the citizens in all ten states” Machar said
The South Sudan VP emphasized the ability of the SPLA to deal swiftly with the SPLA. However a delegation of the WES met with officials warning them that they will take matters into their own hands.
The LRA is notorious for cutting off the limbs of its victims. It is also accused of abducting thousands of children to use as soldiers or sex slaves.
Observers say that some LRA attacks are driven by their search for food and supplies to survive in the bushes.
(ST)
Gatwech
More victims of LRA rebels revealed in South Sudan
Shame!
I am sick of reading this criminal notorious bandits called the LRA killing our people every day. It makes me hate how our leaders handle security issues. I am strong supporter of peace processes than military solutions. The LRA was tamed, pushed into Congo, told to assemble while the ICC issue was being tackled so that Joseph Kony could sign the peace deal and go home. But, the GOSS leadership in the person of Salva Kiir supported Museveni tactics and agreed to go for premature war which has now brought unimaginable death to our people than during the peace process. It is the first time the population of WES think of leaving the state. This was not the case during the peace process. But now because of killings at such large scale by the LRA, they think of leaving the state. The SPLA should be told by Salva Kiir if he still the C-in-C to fight this stupid bandits. It is not right to condemn the civilians to death by telling them to arm themselves and fight another army while our army which role is to protect the citizens is intact. Where is the SPLA???