SPLA clash with cattle camp youth in Lakes, 1 killed
March 8, 2013 (RUMBEK) – Clashes between South Sudan’s army (SPLA) and local pastoralist youth resumed in Lakes state’s, Rumbek Central County, on Friday, resulting in the death of a civilian.
In January 25 people died and 30 people were injured over a dispute over grazing land between the Rup and Panyon clans of the Dinka tribe. Two South Sudanese soldiers and two policemen were among those killed while attempting to separate the groups.
The insecurity led to South Sudan’s president sacking the state’s governor and replacing him with a caretaker military official.
Two civilians were wounded in the gunfight, which began, according to sources in the area, when a policeman visited Gor Makuac cattle camp to collect a cow but his attempts were resisted.
The policeman is said to have fire into the air causing the pastoralist youth to scatter in the forest, firing in return. When soldiers saw this they assumed that they were being attacked and fired on the cattle herders, killing one and injuring two, a source in the area told Sudan Tribune.
Marial-Bek cattle camp is located to the east of Rumbek town and is shared by Rumbek East and Rumbek Central counties.
In the aftermath of January’s clashes the Lakes state government ordered the immediate evacuation of in Marial-Bek cattle camp but the pastoralist youth refused to leave the camp saying that lack of water for their cows would affected their livelihood.
The cattle camp is now being occupied by Panyuon, Baar and Thiei Dinka clans with small forces of SPLA surrounding the camp to response any emergency situation that may rise.
Lakes state military caretaker Governor Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol has order local officials to investigate the cause of this clashes so Rumbek Central County Commissioner, Abraham Mayen Kuc, and Rumbek East County commissioner, David Marial Gumke, are spending the night in the cattle camp under the protection of the police.
Lakes state’s new Governor has introduced harsh measures to improve security, including banning the sale of alcohol apart from in six hotels.
However, the state government has being criticized for creating military prisons, where those held are not allowed access to their family, lawyers and human rights officials. There are also allegations that some of the over 100 men being held are being tortured and kept bad conditions.
So far the Lakes state government has remained silent over the accusations.
(ST)