Protesters ask Akobo commissioner to step down after death of Anuak chief
October 8, 2013 (BOR) – Hundreds of people, including the youth and elderly have asked the commissioner of Akobo, Koang Rambang, to step down to face justice, accusing him of having a hand in the recent killing of the Anuak paramount chief.
Chol Odio, the late Anuak paramount chief and others were killed when young men, believed to be from the Lou Nuer ethnic group, attacked Dima village in Akobo county on Thursday.
The group also attacked another Anuak village in Old Akobo on the same day, killing two women. Many more are missing, believed to hiding in the bush.
“If he doesn’t [have a hand in the attacks], why people are being kill[ed] in his presence”, claimed the protesters.
The protestors said that the Anuak community in Akobo has not enjoyed security since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. They asked the Jonglei government to do more to foster peace to come between the two communities.
Among the ten grievances listed by protesters, was that Akobo county belonged to the Anuak and that they should be allowed to live their freely.
“We as the Anuak of Akobo community, we have right today to demonstrate and show the world that our rights are not respected in Jonglei state. The land of Akobo has to be given back to Anuak because the land of itself belongs to [the] Anuak kingdom”, said Peter Okello, who spoke to press on behave of the group.
Jonglei state’s acting governor, Gabriel Gai condemned “the act of killing innocent people and particularly our paramount chief”.
Reconciliation between the two communities was paramount, according to Gai. He asked that the two sides sit down and resolves their differences.
He said the government has directed county authorities to make immediate investigations. He noted that some arrests have been made “including some of the chiefs of the Lou-Nuer”.
(ST)
ST – Jonglei: Anuak paramount chief killed in Akobo fighting