E. Equatoria: Speaker cautions lawmakers over violence

By Ijoo Bosco

March 15, 2011 (TORIT) – Ambrose Ocholimoi, the Eastern Equatoria state assembly speaker on Monday appealed to lawmakers to desist from activities likely to incite violence among the population.

The speaker was addressing state lawmakers ahead of their parliamentary recess period, which began early this week. He instead urged lawmakers to foster unity and cooperation among their constituents

“Our constitution is very clear and it demands that every MP [Member of Parliament] should foster the unity of the people of Eastern Equatoria,” Ocholimoi said.

The speaker’s statement, state sources told Sudan Tribune, could have been triggered by an increase in violence in the state, with those arrested pointing fingers at some lawmakers as perpetrators.

Recent clashes between the Tirangore and Mura Hatiha communities of Eastern Equatoria caused lots of public outcry, forcing the Louise Lobong Lojore, the state governor to launch an investigation into who was responsible.

In 2011 vehicles travelling on the major roads linking Eastern Equatoria to other states have been prone to attacks from robbers and groups of bandits whose motives remained unknown.

Violence and instability in continue South Sudan as the region approaches independence in July. South Sudan’s secession was secured in an overwhelmingly vote for separation in a self-determination referendum in January.

The plebiscite was agreed as part of a 2005 peace deal, which ended decades of north-south conflict. However, despite the peace deal the south has to contend with violence related to cattle rustling, banditry and the presence of rebel southern groups in some areas fighting over a variety of mainly localised issues.

In Western Equatoria, the civilian population has had to endure the presence of the Ugandan rebel group the Lord’s Resistance Army.

(ST)