Military prison in Lakes to be closed as SPLA unit comes under criticism

By Manyang Mayom

January 5, 2010 (RUMBEK) – A security meeting held in Yirol West County with the visiting Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) Minister of Interior has resolved to close a military detention facility in Lakes state. The move follows clashes from 28 December until 1 January which left dead seven armed civilians and 20 soldiers from SPLA Division 5.

At a Friday meeting of the state SPLA Liberation Council after the bloodiest of those clashes in Akot payam, politicians called for the arrest of two SPLA soldiers along with the colonel in charge of the unit, and transfer of the soldiers from the territory to be replaced by friendlier SPLA troops.

A high-ranking delegation arrived Monday from Juba headed by Minister of Interior Affairs Major General Gier Chuang Aluong as well GOSS Finance Minister David Deng Athorbei. They were received at Rumbek airstrip by Lakes state’s government under the leadership of Lt Gen Daniel Awet Akot.

Gier was sent by GOSS President Salva Kiir Mayardit to impose calm among armed forces and civilians. It was his decision to close the military cells, according to Lt Col. David Nok Marial, the state’s Deputy Governor.

“All military secret custodies are ordered to be shut down in Lakes state while state police has been empowered to handle all murder cases and cattle theft cases within Lakes state territory,” said Marial, who serves also as Minister for Local Government and Law Enforcement. “The most disturbs PDU military prison which has been shut down immediately,” he said, welcoming the decision.

The state official affirmed that the GOSS Interior Minister was acting in response to what happened in Akot payam of Rumbek East County of Lakes state. “What happened in Akot has happened; we have to open a new page between the citizens and the SPLA army forces. We went up to Yirol West County and held a security meeting which resulted into shutting down the present military prison located at PDU.”

“This PDU prison was created by SPLA Maj-Gen Bol Akot Bol and this prison was used to keep accused cattle thieves as well as serious murders cases. However, the killer Madal Majok escaped out of jail last year. Majok had killed a pregnant woman with her four children in Makundi payam of Wulu County of Lakes state in 2009.”

Lt-Col. Marial noted that the state authority had agreed with Interior Affairs Minister to fully dismantle PDU prison and all cases of cattle thieves should now be handled by police and not the army. “We agreed also to release all cattle which were kept in the army barrack and police will take over cattle looted during various inter-clan or inter-tribal disputes in the state.”

After the gunfight between soldiers and civilians in the area of Makur-Agar in Akot payam on January 1, 2010, the soldiers reportedly burned down houses. Lt-Col. Marial confirmed that houses were burnt down and said “there is urgent need of humanitarians to help in Rumbek East County particularly Akot which was the battle field.”

Marial noted that “there would be no army without civilians and there are no civilians without an army — they are one coin and they have to coexist”.

Colonel Mou Wol Lueth (known as Muoranyar), who was criticized particularly by the Rumbek East community, has explained the cause of clashes to Gier Chuang Aluong, saying that he was attacked on the way by armed civilians on December 28 and that the attack resulted in 5 soldiers dead and 8 wounded including himself in both legs.

However, a community leader denied Muoranyar’s statement, particularly the claim that the attack took place on the roadside. The community leader claimed that two armed soldiers first gunned down one herder and then ran into the Akot barrack, where a revenge attack then occurred.

It is not clear who will carry out an investigation into these clashes of Akot.

(ST)