Jonglei’s Nuer urges Murle to rest firearms
By Thon Philip Aleu
May 28, 2009 (BOR) – Lou Nuer community, Jonglei State has called Murle prominent leader Ismail Konyi to lead a peace talk, a press release here Thursday said.
Ismail Konyi, the South Sudan presidential peace advisor, hails from Pibor County – the home area of Murle tribesmen that have fierce ties with Lou Nuer.
Relationships among the three “active” tribes in Jonglei state has being challenged by cattle raiding and child abduction. But deteriorated sharply in 2009 when inter-tribal attacks surged between Murle and Lou Nuer. Following repeated cattle rustling, allegedly by Murle raiders, between January and February, 2009, Lou Nuer youths retaliated on Pibor villages in March this year resulting to loss of hundreds of lives.
Anyuak, Kachipo and Jie, the other tribes described as peaceful in Jonglei State are largely unknown for causing any trouble in Southern Sudan’s populous largest State Jonglei. But Nuer, Dinka Bor and Murle, the active tribes, contributes to instability through cattle raiding, child abduction and counter raiding.
Times to lay down illegally possessed arms has come and doors for peace leading to development should open, Lou Nuer community say. No chance for revenge and firearms must rest, Lou Nuer tells Murle.
“We as Lou Nuer community are committed to peace…with Murle,” the statement declared. “We urge the Government of Southern Sudan to call General Ismail Konyi to his place of work [peace] such that peace should be initiated,” the statement further worded.
The call for peace talk was triggered-off by May 18 – 19 attacks in Lou Nuer Counties, according to the press statement handed to the Sudan Tribune by Lou Nuer Information Secretary Char Choat Chaar in Bor town.
22 people including 5 children are dead following the assaults in Uror and Nyirol Counties. The area press man Mr. Chaar says in the statement “we condemn the frequent attack of Murle.”
The press statement also highlighted challenges facing the recently concluded five counties peace meeting by accusing “a hostile group of Duk” of attempting to steal cattle in Pamaiy Payam, Uror County on unspecified date. According to the statement, “the cows have been recovered and two criminals captured [as] others escaped.”
(ST)