Lake state chiefs and elders protest against governor

August 30, 2014 (RUMBEK) – A group of chiefs and elders from Lakes state’s Rumbek Central county staged a peaceful protest on Saturday against caretaker governor Matur Chut Dhuol over the loss lives in their communities.

They were, however, turned away by the governor’s guards.

It widely believed that an attack on Rup pastoralists’ youth by suspected Pakam pastoralists prompted the protest, highlighting the cycle of violence between the two communities since 2012.

Puric Cienran, the chief who led the demonstrators, wondered why the Rup communities were recently disarmed in the exercise that excluded the Pakam and Kuei sections.

“This is a targeting disarmament which allows other communities to take advantage in looting and killing disarmed communities” said Cienran.

“The more embarrassing governor had made was method of turning us away from meeting him to hear our discontent,” he added.

On Saturday, Pakam youth were suspected for having carried out a fresh attack on Rup section in Akop cattle camp, killing two people.

Thos who carried out the attack remain at large, with security agents blaming the host communities for ignoring Lakes state leadership.

A police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officer confirmed the incident, saying a 13-year-old girl was among those killed.

(ST)