8 die in clashes around Juba as CES condemns S. Sudan army’s brutality
July 13, 2015 (JUBA) – Central Equatoria state (CES) government has condemned the South Sudanese army (SPLA) of “brutality” after clashes with fighters from the Mundri tribe near the capital, Juba, which left at least 8 people dead on Sunday.
“It is unfortunate some lives have been lost due to unruly behaviours of elements in the SPLA whose actions appear to have been influenced by tribal tendency,” Ladu Subek, an official with Central Equatoria state government told Sudan Tribune on Monday.
He said fighting erupted on Sunday at a military base of Guerkek, some kilometers north of Juba when the Mundri youth were provoked by soldiers belonging to the South Sudanese army.
“Some indiscipline and unruly SPLA soldiers stopped, beat, tortured before they killed one of the citizens they are supposed to protect. These elements killed a Mundari youth who passed by a military base in Guerkek,” he explained.
The situation, he said, started since Friday when some of the SPLA forces started with shelling the area inhabited by the ethnic Mundri tribe, from where CES governor Clement Wani Konga hails, and later in the day stopped one of the youth and beat him to death.
On Saturday, the same elements of the SPLA unit moved out to a cattle camp around Jebel Ladu, north of Juba, and killed two other members of the youth who were cited in the area while they were smoking flavoured tobacco or water pipe, locally known as shisha.
This, he further explained, infuriated the youth who responded with force and went to that military outpost on Sunday, clashed with the army and overrun the military position, killing 3 soldiers. Two more Mundri youth lost their lives in the clashes, bringing the total number killed on both sides to 8.
He blamed the general command of the SPLA for not taking immediate action by identifying and withdrawing the elements who unleashed the brutality, saying the army overreacted with excessive force.
“The government forces positioned tanks in the direction facing areas inhibited by the civilians and started with heavy shelling as if they were fighting with an enemy force in the area,” he said.
Terekeka county commissioner, Gore Jacob Samuel, also confirmed the incident to have taken place, saying he already informed the state governor, Konga, for follow up with higher authorities.
“It is unfortunate innocent lives have been lost. On the side of the youth, five have been killed. On the SPLA side, we are told of three soldiers. This is not good when the country is already at war yet we continue to kill ourselves. Where are we heading to as people? This is totally unacceptable and should not be entertained whatsoever. Such errant and unruly soldiers are not worth national service,” Gore said.
This is the second time the South Sudanese army has been accused of violence against civilians by government’s officials. Last month, senior officials of Western Equatoria state accused the SPLA of violating human rights in the state and warned that these actions might increase rebellion in the area.
SEPARATE CLASHES
Meanwhile, separate clashes occurred on Sunday in the outskirts of the capital, Juba, at an area called Lologo which is in the southern part of the town.
Sources gave conflicting accounts about what transpired, with Central Equatoria state police commissioner, General Sead Abdelatif Chawul, attributing the shootings which sparked panic in the capital to a misunderstanding among the police force under influence of alcohol.
“That situation has been contained. The situation is now calm. It did not last long because it was act of indiscipline by a drunken policeman who disagreed with some of his colleagues and refused to listen to them so that his concern could be resolved amicably,” police commissioner Chawul explained.
He said one police officer was confirmed dead and another wounded when the shooting occurred at Khor Romula.
The state top police officer did not provide details of the cause of the dispute among police officers, saying his office was still carrying out investigation to establish the actual cause of the dispute.
Other sources however said the shooting occurred when a group of discounted members of the police force deserted and moved out of Juba towards Kejo Keji on Juba-Yei road to join a group of alleged rebels who on Thursday, 9 July, carried out an attack on the road, capturing three vehicles.
It remained unclear how many people were killed in this second incident in the outskirts of the capital.
(ST)