Lakes governor holds talks with his clan in Cueibet

By Manyang Mayom

April 27, 2009 (RUMBEK) – The Governor of Lakes state Lt. General Daniel Awet Akot has concluded heated talks with Warap state authority over a mass rape incident that on occurred last Tuesday at a rural village of Agugi for Tonj South County of Warap state, and moved to visit his own clan in Lakes state.

Reportedly, Gok clan youth of Lakes State on Tuesday raped twenty-eight women and girls from the Bongo community, one of whom died, so Lakes officials are trying to assert their authority in the area until local authorities bring the accused youth to face justice.

Awet himself appeared displeased at the incident carried out by his home-town clan, which surely seems to undermine his powers toward other states.

Now, Governor Awet is still holding hot talks with his own clan at Cueibet county just a distance of 35 miles away from Rumbek town centre.

In the two days of closed talks with his clan within Cueibet county as well as with Warap state authorities, the participants presented their resolution to Lakes State for the government to deal with.

Kongor Deng Kongo, the commissioner of Cueibet County, has aired out his apologies to the Bongo people, criticizing Lakes youth for making their own government voiceless toward other states.

In a new development, the Lakes state authority announced that five people are already captures by security forces and arrested in Warap State. However, Awet promised that all those captured suspects must to be judged within Agugi villages, said a source close to the governor.

State officials have struggled to quell inter-communal violence, local and inter-state cattle raiding, and routine banditry and gun violence.

(ST)