CPA celebration called off in Rumbek, politician’s car hijacked
By Manyang Mayom
January 20, 2010 (RUMBEK) – Rumbek’s celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was cancelled by the incumbent governor today while news also came that ambushers on Wednesday morning seized a car belonging to the new SPLM candidate for governor.
Residents of Lakes state had planned to celebrate while the larger celebrations were being held in Western Equatoria, where the Lakes state had sent delegations of sports teams and folklife. State government radio announced that the CPA celebration would be held on January 19, 2010, and civilians, police and boy scouts, and girl scouts were preparing for that day.
According to unconfirmed reports, Governor Daniel Awet Akot sent a phone message from Juba instructing his cabinet that everybody should stop celebration until his arrival to Rumbek. However, the incumbent governor could not make it to come to Rumbek within time to celebrate the day with the community.
State government officials are declining to give out more details to the media on what caused the postponement of the celebration.
This latest cancellation was preceded by other failures to hold celebrations of the National Independence Day and Christmas. The latter holiday celebration was aborted due to threats of insecurity that led police troops to beat crowds in Rumbek Freedom square on Christmas Day.
It has been a tough beginning of the year in Lakes state, with deaths incurred continually among both the community and soldiers in the eastern part of Rumbek Central County, southern part of Rumbek Central County, and western part Rumbek Central County. The northern part of the state is insecure due to the threat of cattle raiders from the neighbouring state, which is Unity state.
GUNMEN AMBUSH POLITICIAN’S CAR
In a separate report, on Wednesday morning the Land-cruiser car belonging to the SPLM’s governor candidate was hijacked by unknown gunman in the candidate’s own home area in Cueicok of Amonyping payam which is in the neighborhood of Rumbek Central County.
Chol Tong Mayay, the candidate, was not inside the car when it fell into the hijackers’ hands, said an official. “Only bodyguards were inside the car and both of them are not injured,” said an official.
Speaking by phone to the press, Chol Tong affirmed that he is not ready to make any statement because there is no evidence on who is behind the hijacking. The attackers were not identified but state security personnel are reportedly hunting for them.
SPLM’s governor candidate hails from Rumbek Central County at Amongping Payam located in the eastern part of Rumbek Central County. He is a member of the Dinka tribe, and within that he is part of a small section of Panyon in the sub-clan of Papmany clan. The Panyon section of Panguetkur have a history of inter-clan disputes with the Papmany that still ongoing in the form of revenge-seeking.
A teacher at Amongpiny payam, Chol Majokrial, denied that Engineer Chol Tong Mayay had any problem with anyone in this constituency. However, Lakes state government is still holding silent waiting for proof on who attacked their candidate’s vehicle. The present deputy governor, Lt-Col David Nok Marial, oversees law enforcement and he is taking the case seriously and expecting a report from the personnel of his security organ.
Last year, Rumbek Central County Commissioner Abraham Makoi Bol escaped an ambush in Cueicok of Amonyping payam. A son of the paramount chief was killed there, allegedly in revenge.
(ST)