South Sudan vows paying attentions to cattle and land violence

By Ngor Arol Garang

April 23, 2010 (WUNROK) — Authorities from regional government of Southern Sudan have today on Friday reiterated commitment to protecting local population against land dispute and pledged to equally reserve no efforts in paying particular attentions to cattle raids across the region.

Southern Sudan is a region awash with firearms acquired during two decade of civil war between the north and south hence used in the local conflicts as means to settling land and cattle disputes which are common.

On Thursday 22, in Bor North County Twic East, Jonglei, one of the southern states that have experienced repeated tribal clashes, saw another attack claimed to have been conducted by armed elements alleged to have ethnic identity of Murle tribe.

However, the attackers whose intentions were to raid cattle in the area failed to find any cattle but exchanged fire with local people who were fetching water in an area called Palau, resulting into the shot of one victim, Ayuel Arok.

Ayuel is said to be in a coma, very seriously wounded as two bullets passed through his throat while two other people are in critical conditions. No dead from both sides have reported so far and attackers fled towards to another area, Gadiang, said Deng Aguer Bol, an official who works for government of southern in the area.

Deng told Sudan Tribune by phone, at his Munuki residence in Juba he had received some reports from his home village speculating possible return of the attackers any time. These speculations have put the whole area in fear; he said adding that there were no soldiers or police at the time of fighting.

He called for immediate deployment of the police to stop continuation of aggression on residents and their properties. Our people have been disarmed. Their guns have been removed. They have nothing to use as shield, the official said stressing they are always vulnerable to surprise attacks because they are no longer in control of their arms.

Many in my village are asking government to return their own guns for self defense. The need for arms at Palau these days are becoming official demand. Needs for guns in the area is increasingly high, he said.

General Achuil Tito at the ministry of internal affairs confirmed the incident but said general situation had returned to normal.

“I talked to authorities from Bor town and have confirmed resumption of situation to normal. I am told a police force from Bor was dispatched to the scene yesterday evening,” he said adding reports from the area have also indicated that local population have returned to their normal business and there are no sign of retaliation from locals or any fresh aggression from attackers.

The general further said his government is reserving no efforts to protecting local populations against land and cattle raids across regions. “The government is not sparing any efforts this time as has it already started disarmament in Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile. Nobody will be left armed. All guns will be collected and police forces will be deployed,” he adds.

(ST)