E. Equatoria MPs call for army deployment after killings in Nauro
By Ijoo Bosco
March 1, 2014 (TORIT) – Members of the Eastern Equatoria state parliament have called on Governor Louis Lobong Lojore to immediately deploy the army and police to Nauro payam [district] of Budi county where an alleged massacre occurred on 9 February.
In a report presented to the state governor by Claudio Suleiman, Eastern Equatoria state’s adviser on peace and security after their investigation to the alleged massacre, two MPs representing Nauro reacted emotionally by calling on governor Lobong to help by deploying the army to the area to help restore peace and the rule of law.
Eastern Equatoria’s acting state speaker Paul Napwon said the deployment of the army in Nauro was needed to help calm tensions. He said that the force should be neutral, and consist of soldiers from either side of the conflict.
Experience shows that if local soldiers area sent they could be the cause of more tension, the speaker said.
Napwon added that, there is no clear figure on the number of people who were killed as they have only managed to investigate the deaths among the Toposa community.
The Didinga community have deserted Nauro and taken refuge in Kapoeta and Chukudum.
Governor Lobong received the reported present to him by the fact finding team leader , his adviser on peace and security, Claudio Suleiman but denounced it for being one sided.
He ordered the body to return with a comprehensive report and urged the county commissioners of Kapoeta South and Budi to come up with their own independent reports about the claims of the alleged massacre in Nauro
The Eastern Equatoria governor accepted the recommendation of the state investigation committee for a swift deployment of the army and police to Nauro with a comprehensive and durable mandate.
MPs from Eastern Equatoria state have called for the urgent intervention of the national government over the matter and for humanitarian aid to reach those who lost their houses during the incident.
In South Sudan’s national parliament MPs from Budi county submitted a motion claiming that 19 people including six women were killed in the Nauro fighting.
According to Sabina Dario Nyangmoi who tabled the motion, this is not the first massacre that has taken place in Ngauro Payam. Another one took place in August 2007 which resulted in the killing of 48 women and six men while they were cultivating their fields. The suspects were never caught.
South Sudan’s parliament also decided to form a committee of five members, tasked with investigating the case.
It also resolved to summon the Governor Lobong to answer questions about violence.
(ST)