Lou Nuer Youth condemn attack on Jonglei’s Uror

We, the Lou Nuer Youth Association (LNYA) are extremely saddened and shocked by the October 17, 2009 tragic attack on Uror County by the Dinka Hol and Nyarweng of the Duk County that claimed lives of innocent women and children. Therefore, we are hereby sending our condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the families of both sides who have lost their loved ones on this tragic incident. May the almighty Lord Jesus Christ rest their souls in eternal peace, amen! This surprised attack on Rolker, Wunlit, and Pakam is very unfortunate and unacceptable and we strongly condemn it in the strongest term.

Following the clashes between Duk County and the Lou Nuer civilians of Uror on September 20, 2009, which claims the lives of 160 and more than 80 people wounded; the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) in collaboration with Jonglei State Government (JSG) deployed a significant number of SPLA forces to maintain security between the two communities. Despite that, a group of Youth from Duk County launched an attack on the three mentioned locations above which resulted in the killing of seven people, with 12 people wounded, and six people are missing. About 210 herds of cattle were taken and several households were burned to ash.

The LNYA was expecting the SPLA forces that have been deployed in Duk area to prevent the conflict from escalating between the two communities, so we are wondering how the Dinka Youth of Duk County sneaked out from the Duk to Uror County without the knowledge of the SPLA forces in the area?

For this reason, the LNYA is urging the JSG and GoSS to ensure that the SPLA forces that have been deployed at Duk County are maintain security between the two communities in order to minimize the repeated retaliatory attacks on each others.

We call upon on the JSG and the GoSS to bring these perpetrators of this tragic incident to justice as soon as possible as a way of promoting rule of law and order. Besides that, the LNYA is hereby appealing to the GoSS and the state governments to strengthen the judicial system and support the law enforcements in maintaining laws and orders.

We are also urging the JSG and the GoSS as well as the Government of National Unity (GoNU) to send a visiting team to assess the situation in the area as there is a desperate need of assistance and support for the displaced residents of the Uror County.

We are appealing to the JSG and the GoSS, and humanitarian organizations to organize a peace conference where Youths of Duk and Uror counties would come to address and deliberate on the root causes of this perpetual conflict.
The LNYA is also appealing to the International Community (IC) and humanitarian agencies to provide assistances to the affected areas, with things like none food items, mosquito nets, fishing hooks, fishing net kits, and temporary shelters. These should be provided to the displaced persons immediately.

In conclusion, we are standing for peace and we will always promote peace with our neighbors and we want the rest of the youths in Sudan to do the same. The JSG should not only maintain security, but also it should address the root causes of tribal conflicts and initiate a peaceful dialogue between the two communities for a permanent lasting peace.

Signed by
Lou Nuer Youth Association (LNYA)

Cc: 1st VP of Sudan, President of Goss, Chairman of SPLM, C –in-C of the SPLA, 1st Lt. General Cde Salva Kiir Mayardit

Cc: VP GoSS, H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon

Cc: General Chief of Staff of the SPLA,Cde James Hoth Mai

Cc: Minister of Internal Affairs, H.E. Gier Chuang Aluong