Renewed rioting by SPLA disabled soldiers in E. Equatoria
By James Gatdet Dak
March 25, 2009 (JUBA) – Groups of wounded or disabled soldiers of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in Kapoeta and Narus are reported to have been rioting in the towns and demanding payment of their salary arrears.
According to the Minister of Regional Cooperation, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, on Wednesday the angry soldiers also held hostage some western foreigners in the areas.
The Minister for SPLA Affairs, General Nhial Deng Nhial, has left Juba for Eastern Equatoria state to calm the situation.
Last week, more than 2,000 disabled soldiers rioted in Yei town of Central Equatoria state, demanding payment of their salary arrears for six months.
The rioting in the strategic town between Juba and Uganda stranded hundreds of commercial vehicles that were bringing commodities to Southern Sudan.
The rioting also spread to other towns of Nimule and Nadapal in Eastern Equatoria state.
The President of the semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLA, General Salva Kiir Mayardit traveled to Yei last week and resolved the issue by ordering for the payment of their salaries.
The rioters were paid two months of salary and distributed food commodities, while three more months of their salary arrears were promised to them by the President.
The situation calmed in Yei while in Nimule the rioters continued to block the main roads by allowing only commercial vehicles to pass while blocking government vehicles from moving.
Dr. Barnaba Marial, who briefed the Council of Ministers on the holding of foreigners as hostages by the SPLA disabled soldiers, explained that the issue had been wrongly rumored by rumor-mongers in the region.
He said there are no organized groups in Southern Sudan that intent to kidnap and hold foreigners hostage.
A number of foreign traders from Uganda were similarly held hostage by the soldiers for a number of days in the Yei’s last week rioting before they were released.
It is not clear why the rioters target foreigners to hold them hostage. Officials believe that the rioters use the tactic in order to get more attention and swift response from the government.
(ST)
Grader
Renewed rioting by SPLA disabled soldiers in E. Equatoria
“It is not clear why the rioters target foreigners to hold them hostage” It is because they know that you’re wary to dissapoint your “powerful” neighbours!!!
It is good to have a swift action but is the minister and the president the only authorities in Country? You should learn to devolve responsibilities and not be everything folks!!!!!!
Good luck with your mess
Mr Network
Renewed rioting by SPLA disabled soldiers in E. Equatoria
Mr President and defence minister!
Please don’t think that now you are under condocive atmosphere and trying to ignore the your formal worries that being with you during the south-north war.
I got statement from Mr president Kiir last week during his visisting i yei when he went to defuse the same tension of war victims,he said the delay as come as a result from central Bank which is delaying the transfer of Money from cental in Khartoum to the south,if that is the case what are the solution you as GoSS are looking into this matter in order to aviod such misconducts?
Moreover,there is still more bridge ahead to cross if you haven’t not build the interest/capacity of those army whom do you thinks are going engaged?
Addition to that may be this is smart tactics from jallab to confuse the southern government in order to let us down what action are you going to take .Ask yourself such and solve the problems otherwise another choas is coming!!!
postmortem
Renewed rioting by SPLA disabled soldiers in E. Equatoria
Thank you Maluach Madit and the other two contributors for you have said it all. The unfortunate thing is that the hunters are laying their anger on wrong people. If they were to hold captives the concerned authority, they would have made a point.
Barnaba Marial is been put to task by the behaviour of the disabled because the issue of regional cooperation is beeing hijacked. Disability is not inability and these guys must be made to do something.
Needless to say, somebody should be made responsible to look into the problems of these vulnerable groups because one day they will do the worse for this government since many of them really have nothing to lose more than what they have lost in the war.
This should serve as a constructive warning to leaders who are visionary and to offer immediate solutions and long term to avoid recurrence.
Toposa Boy southerner
Renewed rioting by SPLA disabled soldiers in E. Equatoria
Rise up for your food and your money
Dinkas want to destroy you and your family
millionaire living in Europe
If any toposa male or female kill Dinka
I will pay him amount of 50 thousand Sudanese pounds
Do your best kill any Dinkas in Toposa land
Hillary B.M.L,M
Renewed rioting by SPLA disabled soldiers in E. Equatoria
System, if there is in South Sudan then this could have not happened, the person in charge of SPLA’s Finance Department should be Question whether he release the budget for those Disabled or not, if he released then doubtlessly the Elephant in charge of disable Soldiers’ services is responsible for all these Chaos, he should stand in trial for Questioning. If there is no System then Presidency under Mr.President, Silver Kiir disposal should be investigated.
Gatwech
Renewed rioting by SPLA disabled soldiers in E. Equatoria
Bor Dinka rioting,
Bor Dinka leaders are behind this demonstrations to topple Salva kiir. All the ring leaders are from them. A friend of mine from teh community told me this morning. so, Salva kiir, watch out for those crooked teeth and gloomy faces from jonglei state. They are after you.
Daniel
Renewed rioting by SPLA disabled soldiers in E. Equatoria
It is really very shameful to Our Government form top to down to live and forgot our soldiers even if, because if those soldiers are not their they will not be their in the top
Mr. Moto Moto
Renewed rioting by SPLA disabled soldiers in E. Equatoria
Our government should embark on creating the right environment for individual talents to develop and prosper. They should creat a good economic environment and attract genuine investment. It will never be able to solve issues of the suffering citizens by giving handouts each time a certain group riots.Good luck
Justin Chicago opiny
Renewed rioting by SPLA disabled soldiers in E. Equatoria
What in the world is taking place in south Sudan?.The commander in Chief of SPLA made it crystal clear that the Vet be paid their salary. Are those Vet in Yei,Nimule,Kaya different from their Colleaques in Kapoeta and Narus?. I thought the order give was for all veteran soldiers regardless of the location. One south sudan one problem,one voice,please