Over 75 W. Equatorian injured in protest crackdown

By Richard Ruati

January 22, 2010 (YAMBIO) – At least 80 protesters were injured in a police crackdown on peaceful demonstrators in Yambio town two days after the town marked the 5th anniversary of CPA, 20 of the protesters have been carried to Yambio hospital in critical conditions.

Twice that number has been arrested and some parents are still looking for their children.

The crackdown was sparked by disgruntled students who had rioted in demand of their money promised by the state Government. The students claim to have engaged by the state government to perform carnivals and services during CPA day.

The students’ riot drew some 500 students to the soccer stadium, with rioters chanting “We want transparency and our money.”

The shootings took place as hundreds students gathered in the capital for their labor-based incentives and voice their anger at the government.

One student who spoke on conditions of anonymity said, the state Government promised to pay 200SDG (Sudanese Pounds), “to our surprise the state authorities decided to pay us 30 SDG.”

Religious Leaders, Civil Societies and Traditional Leaders have condemned what they call “brutal crack down on innocent students who demanded their rights in a constitutional manner.”

Eye witnesses say, “Children aged 7 and pregnant were beaten to coma with clubs, with more women shot on their legs, bellies and waists.

Under unknown order, the security force beat anybody whom they could see on the road and entered houses demanded for guns and forensic searches in all the beddings.

One school student was reported shot on his noise, as he tried to hide from the SPLA Camandos.

Mystery remains on who might have ordered Army to deal with civilians in such a horrible manner.

It was reported that an elderly man the victims that after being shot in the forehead at a crossroads in Yambio town centre. Many others were said to have been shot nearby at Masia areas en-route to Nzara.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune via telephone link up, Deputy Governor Col Joseph said, “the students were simply organized to perform CPA Carnivals during the CPA occasion, State Government and GOSS did not promise any money to students.”

“We as State Government [we] condemn the army crackdown and destructions caused by the Army which was not under orders of the state security apparatus.”

Ngere said that policemen and students have been injured during riots that took place in Yambio town today, adding that properties were also damaged. However, Ngere told Yambio FM that there was no official confirmation of any deaths.

The riots were prompted by students who were demanding payment in return for their performance in celebrations marking the fifth anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Joseph Ngere said that “the students were not promised to receive incentives in return for their performance in the event”.

He furthermore said “the state authority has formed investigation committee to investigate both the cause of Students riots and the military intervention by Armed forces.”

Until now Col Joseph Ngere remains as the Chairperson of State Level Committee for the 5th anniversary held in Yambio.

However, state government loyalists are privately linking the students’ demands to have bee politically motivated.

“Where on earth a sitting government convince our sons and daughters to perform for them and in the result they shoot at our kids”? Asks Gabriel Mbiko whose son is lying in gun shots at the Yambio Civil Hospital.

However unconfirmed from eyewitness say two people have died during the anti protesters shootings.

Observers monitoring events on the ground say, the authorities are taking a risk in using lethal force against protesters as elections are at the corner, during which war and bloodshed is deemed to be politically harm, or forbidden. It raises the likelihood of a series of mourning cycles, as required by communities’ tradition.

Widespread condemnation and blame

The civil crackdown has received widespread condemnation from the general public.

“LRA have defeated these soldiers who they were supposed to be chasing after as they are doing now in every house to house, this question remains un answerable to the current leaders in WES, this also should open our eyes and we need to know who to vote at this point to avoid such incident, we have encountered a lot of death in the past year from LRA on Civilians only and there is no answer from the leaders yet they have started the same in this new year, please it is time to for those of us who have eyes to see, ears to hear and lessons to learn, do we still need to be treated the same way or we need leaders. Who can work for us rather then leaders we work for and yet they do not recognize our efforts,” said Romano.

If the information I am reading and hearing is true, then these forces lack professionalism because why on earth would they beat old women and a seven year old child? The gains and scores that the State had earned from us during the CPA have been tinted badly, said Manase Zindo.

He added that, “My heartfelt condolence goes to the bereaved family and my sympathy goes to those who have been hospitalized as a result of the beating and assault. What a brutal force the SPLA and the police in South Sudan is made of.”

“I am ashamed of the turn of events in Yambio today and demand that the State government issue satisfactory statement. The news that the deputy Governor went on radio telling people to calm down is not enough. He needs to tell us why the SPLA was allowed to quell a peaceful demonstration while the police force is there.”

(ST)