South Sudan army pilot died in helicopter gunshot in Melut: social media
May 24, 2015 (NAIROBI) – News have emerged of the death of South Sudanese army pilot in a helicopter gunship shot down by rebels on Wednesday over the control of Melut town in the oil-rich Upper Nile state.
However, the South Sudanese army spokesperson, Philip Aguer, denied the rebel claim terming it as “ rubbish and baseless propaganda”.
Messages of mourning and condolences being circulated on the social media since Wednesday have revealed that a pilot died when the gunship was shot in Melut town.
Relatives, colleagues and friends said pilot 2nd lieutenant Matur Machiek, sometimes known by his nickname as Adhelmouz Machiek Adhelmouz, had died in the incident on Wednesday when the chopper was hit by the opposition fighters.
Maciek, who was trained in Russia to fly helicopter gunship was among a crew onboard the chopper when he met his fate.
When the rebels captured Melut town on Tuesday, relatives said, he was sent for a mission as co-pilot to bomb the advancing opposition forces with one of the few helicopter gunships the government possessed.
There are conflicting explanations in the social media on how he died. While some said he instantly died when the gunship was hit and crashed, others said he was seriously wounded in the air inside the gunship. The chopper had to make a successful crash landing but he later died due to the injury.
A source from the government told Sudan Tribune that the gunship did not explode in the air nor crash on the ground when it was hit, saying the pilots managed to land it in Melut town and that many survived among the crew which included a Ukrainian co-pilot and gunners.
Late pilot Maciek, who hailed from the Dinka community in Lakes state, was reportedly laid to rest in his home town of Yirol on Friday.
PUBLIC REACTION
Messages poured on his facebook profile as the public reacted to the news of his death with many praising him for successfully driving out the rebels from Melut town using the gunship bomber before meeting his death.
“The hero Moses Matur Maciek Adhelmouz distroy[ed] two ships full of tanks and guns with the top gun with his helicopter gunship. He gun[ned] down the two ship[s] that rebels captured and control[led] with tanks and guns,” wrote Isaac Tito Majak.
“Dark day again in our community….Gone so soon Adhelmouz Maciek Adhelmouz. You will be missed greatly by your family, friends, colleagues in the army and South Sudan in general….May Almighty God rest your soul in eternal peace,” said Makur Mabok.
“Late Adhelmouz Maciek Adhelmouz! Were it not because of you, Melut would still be under the siege of rebels or Paloch would have been at their fortress too…It is saddening that your life has been taken by power hungry politicians in the name of protecting one seat who at the end of it all would reconcile their differences!” messaged Kot Achol Thuc.
“U deserved a moment of silence [and] the flag should fly half-mast if I had the ability to command! I salute your heroism. Rest in eternal peace my hero!!Yirol missed you! SPLA military aviation staffs missed you! RSS missed you!”
Another mourner, Malith, said it was an insult to deny that a gunship was brought down when in fact they lost their dear one in the incident.
“Back in the day this sort of news will galvanize people to pick up the gun and go fight for the rights of their fellow kin and those whose rights have been denied, however the current war in South Sudan is one premised on greed and not on social justice. I hope South Sudan is not forever doomed to a history of war and not prosperity, but that’s is a farfetched thought,” said Ante Mckuong Dhuol.
Meanwhile Ngong Deng said it was important to establish a foundation in the honour of the deceased, adding that a school needed to be built in his name to train next generations of South Sudanese pilots.
(ST)