Jonglei’s Lou Nuer disputes death toll

By Philip Thon Aleu

March 25, 2009 (BOR TOWN) – Lou Nuer Youth Association (LNYA) claims only 453 people are killed on both sides when their community clashed with Murle in Pibor County territory, according to a report handed to the Sudan Tribune.

Deputy Chairman Charles Chol says LNYA is prompted to release this report following media revelation that 300 Lou Nuer are estimated to have died. These figures (300 Lou Nuer and 453 Murle killed) were obtained from a team which visited contested areas early last week.

“In fact the number of 453 people which has reported killed in the fighting which took place in Murle Area were in both sides not Murle alone, because the number of Murle who have killed were 250 people including women and children and the Lou Nuer people who have killed were 203 people, but the number of injured people from both sides are not yet confirmed,” the report reads in parts.

The LNYA also concurred with media reports that the attack is a retaliatory one saying “root cause of launching attack from Lou Nuer Youth is revenge to Murle community.” A varying number of people is said to have persisted then. LNYA said 46 died but James Ruot a member of the state parliament told the Sudan Tribune in February, 2009 that 31 people were killed between January 3 and February 13, 2009.

The association questioned Government of Southern Sudan officials who visit Lou Nuer areas in January, 2009 for not keeping their pledges to restore peace between them and Murle.

“On 15/Jan, 2009 the visit of Vice President of GOSS H.E Dr. Riek Machar and Presidential peace Advisor Maj.Gen Ismael Kony and the rest of delegation to Lou Nuer positively received the warmly welcome by the Lou Nuer community with happiness and jubilation… Both of them told Lou Nuer community to feel free and move at any where to enjoy your situation. After the GoSS delegation left back to Juba, the problem was started according,” the youth claimed.

Recalling the events at that meeting, the youth quoted a question of a chief who had analyzed that the convergence was faltering. “One of the Chief in Nyirol County during the meeting asked Maj.Gen Ismael Kony and Dr Riek Machar a question that; who is deceiving who between you (Dr. Riek and Maj. Kony)? Are you really telling us the truth? Do you think Murle youth will not attack us again? The answer was yes from Maj.Gen Ismael Kony and H.E Dr. Riek Machar.”

The local group also recommended increment of army forces between the two communities, provision of relief to people affected by conflicts, mutual disarmament and speedy reconciliation and peace conference.

Tribal conflicts surged after the north-south peace deal was reached in 2005. In each fight, scores of people are killed but there seems to be no end of the clashes since the permanent cause of fighting is the merged resources. The cattle keeping communities here fight yearly in abide to own more costing lives and child abduction.

(ST)