Lake state: 19 injured in pro-government protests
July 6, 2013 (RUMBEK) – At least 19 students were on Saturday injured during a Lakes state demonstration organised by officials from the ruling party (SPLM) in support of the caretaker governor, Matur Chut Dhuol.
“Lakes state education minister instructed all headmasters of all primary school within Rumbek Central County to nominate 50 students to join demonstration and that all names of these students be registered,” an eyewitness told Sudan Tribune.
The minister, he further said, also warned that students and head teachers who do not comply with the order would instantly be dismissed from their respective schools.
The protests, officials told Sudan Tribune, came in response to intense pressure from citizens who demand that the governor leave office, after his term expired over three months back.
Dhuol, a military officer, was appointed early this year to replace the duly elected governor, Chol Tong Mayay, whom President Salva Kiir sacked in a decree following rising insecurity levels in the state.
Mabor Ater, the acting secretary for the ruling party in Lakes state, is said to have written a slogan to be pronounced during the students’ demo and sent to various school.
He also reportedly sent strong instruction asking all schools to pick up the post cards assigned to each of them, with pro-government words inscribed on these cards.
During the protests, however, clashes reportedly erupted between students of Riak-dor and Ager-gum primary school following a disagreement, leaving 19 injured.
Six of the students, a nurse at Lakes state hospital told Sudan Tribune, were admitted in critical conditions after sustaining stone injuries from the melee.
“We have admitted six students in a critical condition, 16 others students have little wounds and we have discharged them,” said the nurse, who asked not be named.
A teacher from Ager-gum, who also spoke on condition anonymity, blamed the Lakes state administration for the whole mess, saying they failed to protect lives of students, yet it is their mandate.
He also accused members of the security force in the state, mainly from the prison service of allegedly beating and threatening to shoot students during the protests.
“They threatened my students by cocking guns and told them not to speak [to] media”, he told Sudan Tribune.
The SPLM acting secretary, in a petition presented to the United Nations mission in the state, appealed to president Kiir to allow the caretaker governor remain in office contrary to peoples’ demands.
In the petition, the ruling party, claimed security situation was calm, dismissing cries of harassment, human right violation and arbitrary arrests constantly carried out by Lakes state authorities.
While speaking to the protestors, however, the caretaker governor lauded the students for expressing their solidarity with his administration, warning that those opposed to his regime will be “crushed” and detained in military cells.
“We will crash those who will undermine this state government. Whoever refuses to comply with this ruling will face danger. If you are a son of Lakes state, you are definitely responsible to destroy this state or build it. If you cooperate with me, then we will build it and if you object this rule, then you will be crashed immediately”, Dhuol told the protestors.
The US-based Human Rights Watch last month accused the Lakes state administration of gross human right violations in the state, saying its constant use of underhand approaches call for justice.
(ST)