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Sudan Tribune

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LRA strike again while Southern parliament speaker visits Yambio

May 6, 2009 (LONDON) – Guerrillas of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) struck villages just 15 miles from Yambio town during the two day visit of the Speaker of South Sudan Legislature Assembly and Deputy Chairman of SPLM, James Wani Igga, who arrived Monday before returning today to Juba.

James_Wani_.jpgHon. Wani Igga was quoted by the Western Equatoria state (WES) Ministry of Communications as saying that “the insecurity of WES is deplorable and condemnable.” He reportedly also described the insecurity in WES as perpetuated by irresponsible individuals.

The LRA are reported by WES defence groups and confirmed by WES officials as attacking a village called Bureangburu where the LRA abducted a man and his wife, said Charles Kisanga, a leader of the region’s Azande community living in the United Kingdom.

Formation of defence groups, sometimes referred to as “arrow boys” for their primitive outfitting, has been encouraged by the state governor in recent months.

“A chase was given by self-defence arrow boys and girls who caught up with the LRA and thereby clashing with them and one LRA terrorist was killed. The dead LRA was soon torn to pieces by an angry mob but the arrow boys managed to bring the torn hand of the dead LRA rebel to Yambio town for authorities to see and hopefully maybe let Hon. Wani Igga also to get a glimpse of it to see for himself the brutality of the LRA war in Western Equatoria,” said Kisanga.

LRA also struck at a place called Nasoro, near Gangura and looted food and abducted an unknown number people. Two days ago another attack was reported in Sakure where two boys aged 12 and 15 years were abducted by the LRA.

Continued LRA attacks and looting have emptied the villages of Bureangburu, Nasoro and Bakiwiri, from which residents fled to Yambio seeking protection. According to Kisanga, the displacement puts strain on all those who had relatives in the villages. Bureangburu is not far from Bakiwiri with only river Yubu separating the villages.

“Most people in Yambio have households with members swelling to over 20 to 50 and some reaching a hundred as relatives seek refuge from LRA,” described Kisanga.

Leaders of the state government of WES largely ignored a regional disarmament campaign last year, preferring that the populace remain armed against the LRA fighters who have crossed over from northeast Democratic Republic of Congo. However, unlike other parts of southern Sudan, WES never developed large-scale militias during the 22-year civil war that began in 1983.

LRA, which is one of the oldest guerrilla groups in east Africa, replenishes its ranks through abduction and indoctrination. Though they have been hunted by the armies of DR Congo, Uganda, and Guatemalan special forces serving with the UN, the LRA forces survive through looting, jungle skills and external patronage.

Kisanga, head the new SPLM Patriotic Organisation for change, recommended that the current government of the semi-autonomous region of Southern Sudan be dismissed to be replaced with “a caretaker government mostly made of some SPLA military officers and technocrats” who would use maximum force to protect the south ahead of elections.

(ST)

15 Comments

  • julius mowanga
    julius mowanga

    LRA strike again while Southern parliament speaker visits Yambio
    It has been said for a zillion times,that WES needs a well equipped and highly trained Police Forces,to settle the law and order,especially after the ethnic confrontations lately.SPLA is not morally delivering it’s duties to serve and protect Azande Community,due to tribalistic formation of its’ manpower,who are mainly non-Azande,and the last Dinka-Azande incidents proves that.WES security buget won’t enable it to secure the South-Frontier of SouthSudan with DR.Congo…

    SPLA has been camped there,where LRA now garizoned,for over ten years,prior to it’s redeployment into WES terretory,which took place without any strategic planning and studies to evade any securitty vacum in the area,but the Commanders of that SPLA battalion,were more anxious to rip the CPA Financial fruits and previlidges,inaccount of the Azande Community’s security.

    As said,the ethno formation of the SPLA forces is the main factor behind the deteriorated peace and stability.

    When the late Gov.Abu John,stated that WES in desperate need for modern militarised police to replace SPLA in the SOUTH-Frontier with DRC;has been encountered with unspeakable rage from the Non-Azande SPLA/M Commanders,douting him of disloyality to the SPLA/M,and they went further accusing him of planning to sapotage the GOSS authority grip and degrading it’s influence on the Azande Community.But,when the wise Abu John sighted the unexpected security scenario SPLA deployment,due to his immense experiences and understanding of LRA and the other warring ethnicities,the SPLA/M paid a deaf year and casted arrogance and underestimated his foresight,and how gome prrimiyively hailing the Arrow Boys????????

    Azande Community and the rest of the other Equatorian Communities suffers the consequences of SPLA criminal neglidence and Dinka arrogance.
    The WES Communities outcry never caught the attention of GOSS,reasonally;when the demand of decentralizing the Police Forces and its mandate and formation to u ot the States,but faced by narrow minded enconfrontation.

    When the corruption curse crawling into the security organs,polished by tribalism and nepotism,the local civilian population suffers the utmost humilation,and the funeral services bussiness”if there is any” will flourish.
    We can’t stand aside and watch our beloved people slautered by our leaders as well as LRA.

    GOSS FAILED TO DELIVER THE MINIMAL CIVIC SERVICES TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED VILLAGES’ COMMUNIYIES,AND NOW USHERED LRA TO GO IN RAMPAGE,killing,rapping and looting the dare stock of those poor unarmed WES people ,BECAUSE SPLM STOPPED THEIR FOOD SUPPLYING LRA WITH FOODS AND OTHER ACCOMODATIONS .To hell GOSS and it’s millitia SPLA..

    lONG lIVE Penj;Garang Vission… lONG lIVE NEW SUDAN

    Reply
  • ayuairech
    ayuairech

    LRA strike again while Southern parliament speaker visits Yambio
    why his only James wani igga on strick what about u Logic boy?

    Reply
  • Barna Bahou
    Barna Bahou

    LRA strike again while Southern parliament speaker visits Yambio
    Dear Country mates,

    It’s a pity to see our people developing hatred towards one another as is now happening. I see this as a big threat to our growing nation, worse than the corruption people talk of. LRA is killing people in Western and Central Equatoria, but no attention is being given. Dinkas, Nuer, Murle etc are murdering themselves like nothing and all we could do on this web is laugh at the affected communities. This won’t do us good and sometimes one feels so discouraged for staying with brothers who can not give chance to peace and unity.
    I request you all to give your heart to the nation and put this hatred behind us. What is LRA, if we unite against these terrorists. We managed Bashir, leave alone these brutal killers.
    People like Logic Boy and his likes will mislead the citizens of this country especially those who are abroad and do not know what is happening in the South.
    If your mind can’t see what’s happening now and what will happen in the future then your eyes will.

    [email protected].

    Reply
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