Death toll hits 59 as fresh clashes erupt in Lakes state
October 25, 2014 (RUMBEK) – Lakes state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has confirmed that four senior army senior officers died in renewed clashes at Malek cattle camp between pastoralist youth and armed forces on Saturday, bringing the total death toll to 59 since violence erupted on Thursday.
However, civilians in the area have disputed the death toll, maintaining that only 12 pastoralists were killed in the clashes, with seven civilians suffering gunshot wounds.
Meanwhile, security agents arrested two senior lawmakers on Friday, provoking more than 20 of their colleagues to walk from state parliament to Lakes state police station to demand their release.
Marik Nanga Marik and Isaac Makur Buoc Apac were reportedly detained under the orders of military caretaker governor Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol and are being held at an unknown location.
In a show of support, protesting MPs have remained sitting inside the prison.
MP Shadrack Bol Machok said lawmakers were standing with their colleagues, describing the pair’s arrest as unlawful.
Machok accused the governor of attempting to lay blame on is administration’s failings on MPs, saying Lakes state had become increasingly out of control since Dhuol was appointed in January 2013.
“The governor ordered the arrest of MP Makur Buoc Apac without reason and immunity was not lift by parliament as required by [the] constitution,” said Machok.
“Without fear, he (Dhuol) sends a group of security to our parliament demanding the arrest of MP Marik Nanga Marik, so we decide to walk into prison because we observed that no law [was] being followed,” he added.
The two MPs are reportedly accused of providing support to pastoralist youth since clashes with armed forces in Rumbek North county on Thursday. The accusations have been strongly denied by lawmakers.
According to Machok, security agents initially took Apac into custody before being dispatched to the state assembly to arrest Marik about 11am (local time).
“The whole assembly objected to the order and instead walked to the police station alongside their colleague Marik such that they could face whatever [charge] is verbally labelled against him by whom it may concern,” said Machok.
“Legal procedures were not followed by the directive authority; it was a unilateral decision arrived at by the state authority without legal backup,” he added.
Machok said the arrest of the two lawmakers was a clear violation of Lakes state’s constitution, which states that “any suspected member of the assembly should only be subjected to search of his residence or property, or shall appear before legal proceeding after an official communication between the legal administration and the assembly”.
The assembly is only able to waive immunity after receiving notification of any charges after which the member in question is liable for arrest or obliged to appear voluntarily in court.
The constitution further states that, “The police or any relevant authority obliges to arrest only do so when a member is caught red handed while committing a crime”.
However, in this case, Machok says none of the correct procedures were followed.
CYCLE OF VIOLENCE
Marik represents constituency number two in Rumbek North, where clashes between armed pastoralist youth and the SPLA were reportedly triggered over seized cows.
In June, Pakam pastoralists were turned away inside Rumbek Central county by police.
The pastoralists were in town seeking high ground after flood waters inundated their grazing land.
“The situation may escalate further and then create unnecessary conflict,” said Machok.
“I am calling on the national government to send a delegation urgently to come and address this … situation. I really regret the lives that have been lost on both sides,” he added.
On Thursday, at least 15 SPLA soldiers were killed when they clashed with pastoralists in Rumbek North county, police officials told Sudan Tribune.
Dhuol reportedly instructed armed forces to reinforce their colleagues in Rumbek North, but they refused to engage in further military action.
In recent month, the police and members of the public have been at logger heads, amid claims communities have become increasingly defiant towards law enforcement agents.
Lakes state has been blighted by cattle raiding since South Sudan’s independence in July 2011 and continues to be locked in a cycle of inter-clan revenge clashes.
Youth activists and traditional authorities have repeatedly called for Dhuol’s removal amid claims he has failed to stem ongoing violence, although president Salva Kiir has so far overlooked the calls.
Dhuol was appointed in January 2013 after president Kiir sacked the elected governor.
(ST)