Landmines kill 5 and injure 21 in South Sudan’s Unity state
By Bonifacio Taban Kuich
August 23, 2011 (BENTIU) – Two separate landmine blasts in South Sudan’s Unity state have killed five and injured twenty over the weekend according to witnesses and government officials. Rebel groups were blamed for planting the mines.
On Sunday another public bus carrying 12 passengers from Bentiu town heading to Nhialdiu hit landmines killing two and injuring six, state Minister of
Information and Communication Gideon Gatpan Thoar said on Monday in Bentiu
town.
Thoar said the government suspects a militia linked to Gai Yoach was responsible. Yoach joined the South Sudan army (SPLA) from Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF) in August last year ahead of South Sudan’s independence referendum.
Since a 2005 peace deal, former rebel group – the Sudan people Liberation Army (SPLA) – have been the legal army in South Sudan and its political wing – the SPLM – the ruling party.
South Sudan seceded in July but is riven with rebel groups who have various grievances against the government. Juba accuses Khartoum of backing the rebels. Sudan routinely denies the allegation.
Yoach who was formerly part of the Khartoum controlled SAF under Colonel Wal Khan has in the past been accused of carrying out previous attacks in Unity state.
On Sunday the governor of Unity State Taban Deng Gai, said laying the landmines on the road to attack civilians was a crime against humanity. Gai said that his government’s attempts to make peace with Yoach had failed.
The Governor said that even Yoach’s stepson was among those killed in Sunday’s attack.
VP Machar calls for peace
The vice president of the Republic of South Sudan Riek Machar addressed Church congregations in Bentiu on Sunday in an attempt to act as an agent of peace particularly in Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity states, which have been battered by conflicts between rebels and the government.
Machar accused the groups of carrying out atrocities and planting mines that kill and threaten the lives of innocent civilians in the state.
He called upon all of Unity State to act as the agent of change to bring peace to their communities. Machar added that “our problem as people of Unity State must be solved by us”, he said, “we don’t need anyone to come and tell us to behave well without applying our responsibility as people of Unity State.”
Machar strongly welcomed former rebel leader Peter Gatdet back into the SPLA after he had rebelled against the government earlier this year complaining that tribalism and nepotism were ruining the government. Gatdet was responding to an amnesty offered by the president of the Republic of South Sudan Salva Kiir.
(ST)
belle loboi
Landmines kill 5 and injure 21 in South Sudan’s Unity state
Stop blaming LT Gatdet instead of blaming Taban for killing Gatluak Gai and many others in Unity State. Taban must resigned and follow his Kiir or other Garang boys who are taking advantages of innocent people in Unity State.
Jeti
Landmines kill 5 and injure 21 in South Sudan’s Unity state
Loboi—No one blames you for your meaningless and foolish comments on this site. A fool does not know how to post comments. You better stop posting!!
Lat Dak Nyaroah
Landmines kill 5 and injure 21 in South Sudan’s Unity state
Belle Loboi,
Gatluak Gai deserved the death. What do you think the blood of innocent people he had killed across Unity State would do? Gatluak Gai was a terrorist and don’t spoil your image by appearing in public as his supporter for all those worst years (1995-1999).
Alfredo christiani
Landmines kill 5 and injure 21 in South Sudan’s Unity state
Belle loboi or belebelbele Nyigat
What goes around comes around, Peter Getdet should be responsible for the deaths of innocent peoples in unity state, also wife of vice president should pay for the death of Galuak Gai. No thanks to illiterates generals.
Mapuor
Landmines kill 5 and injure 21 in South Sudan’s Unity state
Yoach is a former Jallaba soldier whose family is currently in Khartoum.Let people of Unity state solve their problems as vice president said”our problem as people of Unity State must be solved by us”, he said, “we don’t need anyone to come and tell us to behave well without applying our responsibility as people of Unity State.”
Kuomkan Bateah
Landmines kill 5 and injure 21 in South Sudan’s Unity state
Iknow that peole are dying in Unity state because of you fuckend Taban Deng, this rebellion was because of your greedy heart on power in which you are misused the buplic fund for almost six months, you said that those people planted landmines are committed crimes againts humanity while you are the causitive agent of the crimes and the bigger criminal among Garang’s criminal gangs please make sure that one day one time you will pay the cost!
Malual Dungdit
Landmines kill 5 and injure 21 in South Sudan’s Unity state
People of Bentiw! People of Bentiw! People of Bentiw! Why are you being killed by the President Salva Kiir Mayardit as an indirect revenge using your adopted Arab son Taban Deng Gai, without your realization.
You should not use landmines to kill your innocent civilians who have been the first victims of Salva Kiir.
You research on President Kiir’s interest on Bentiw in using this Adopted Arab man called Taban Deng.
Otherwise the use of mines will clear your innocents and lose your objective.
unity state boy
Landmines kill 5 and injure 21 in South Sudan’s Unity state
Let the government of the state call for landmine organization to assess the Unity state,not to keep quite.this is major problem let us put it in our mind as serried case.