Two pregnant women slain in Rumbek shootings
By Manyang Mayom
March 6, 2009 (RUMBEK) — A pregnant woman was killed while walking with her four children last Monday, allegedly by a man from Rumbek East seeking inter-clan revenge. Another woman was hit and killed by a stray bullet fired by a policeman on patrol.
In the first case, she was shot dead at Makudur Payam of Wulu approximately of 17 miles away from Rumbek Central County. According to a Lakes state policeman in the Criminal Investigation Department in Rumbek, they have not received the dead body yet but a committee has been formed to deal with the crime.
Meanwhile, the local branch of National Intelligence Security Services (NISS) has outlined a search for the murderer.
According to an eyewitness, the pregnant woman was shot dead on her way home walking with her four children to look for food stuff in her house which she had left during inter-clan fighting between Dinka Agaar of Rumbek East County and Wulu County inhabitants of Jur-beli community.
In February, over 414 people who fled the area were living in Wau for safety after over nine people were reported killed in the line of gunfire exchanged between Agaar and Jur-beli last January 18 – 20, 2009.
ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING
Another separate incident happened on Wednesday at nighttime at Rumbek Central County, in which another pregnant woman was killed, losing her seven month old unborn child and orphaning five children now in the hand of her relatives.
According to a policeman, the woman was sleeping outside her house due to the hot weather of Rumbek nowadays. Nearby, a policeman came late at night and found someone lying on the ground on the road and assumed he was someone who had drunk too much beer. At that place, the policeman lit up his matchbox and looked upon the man lying on ground. Suddenly he looked up to see someone running beside him and immediately the policeman did not wait, he started shooting at the suspect person.
From there the bullet caught the woman who was sleeping on her bed outside. This is the first time a pregnant woman is shot dead sleeping outside her house in Lakes state.
A police official said, “We have capture two people accused of killing a mother of five children and pregnant with seven months; serious measures are going to be taken against them.”
FIGHT AT CATTLE CAMPS
In a separate incident that took place in Marial-bek cattle camps, three people are reported kill as more people sustained injuries and were admitted to Lakes state hospital during midnight, said an official.
According to a source, the fighting which took place was among the Panyon clan by themselves over the line of revenge.
Generally, Lakes state local chiefs pin the blame on Lakes state authority for failing to prove good rule of law but Lakes state government ignores the accusations.
Rumbek has been seriously hit by inter-clan and inter-tribal conflict since the state government was established in 2005. Moreover, there has been power struggling in the seat of the state government.
(ST)
YihHon Alewei
Two pregnant women slain in Rumbek shootings
What is it? When is the security in Lakes State going to improve?
Community is suppose to get protection not fear which is inflicted by criminal gangs who have no respect of rule of law if there any in Lakes state. We members of Lakes State are tired of hearing all these negative news about the state. Even though that vaccum of power struggle has been created in the state, security of civilians is a first priority of state government. This time is the time authorities should put behind themselves pride, nepotism, greed and work for the people. Without the existing of the community, I think, there would be no what is now called “Lakes State Government”. You govern people not yourself.
As Mayom has mentioned in his report that “inter-clan and inter-tribal” has been a problem for Lakes State since the formation of it government 2005. It doesn’t make sense at all. If the only people who have security are the top government officials! what about those who don’t have ranks? I couldn’t find a word to describe this predicament of our people.
It is a complete failure, civilians are still killing each other while there is no war at this time. If those who are ruling the state ran out of ideas, let them allow those who are capable of ruling. Coercion is not a way to rule people. Authorities have to cooperate with the public and leave out intimadition and force against the civilians. Authorities are to blame for this mess in Lakes States.
Let’s leave old-fashion leadership of the 50s and face the real world challenges of twenty-first century. We need to go forward not backward. Allow those with fresh thinking to help you out.
Malou Manyiel
Two pregnant women slain in Rumbek shootings
When to end these problems in Rumek, no body knowns.
We have untrained police whose their only skill is to open fire anyhow. Some of them are very old of about 60 to 70 of age who cannot be able to chase the suspect, and at the same time they drinks too much alcohol.
AS a polceman, it is imposible to shoot at a suspected man, unless you chase and caught him to be investigated, but if you killed him, you have also killed informations which are very important to find out what is wrong and why did he do that.
Law and order is in the hand of police in the rest of the world, but why not in South Sudan?
The state government should train young people and recruit them in the police units to protect people.
God help us!!!!!!!!!!!