Conflict emerges between government and relatives over burial site of late Lual Diing Wol
February 18, 2016 (JUBA) – A conflict has emerged between relatives and government officials over where to lay to rest the body of late Lual Diing Wol, former advisor to the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, who died early this week in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
Diing, who is the secretary general of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of the newly appointed First Vice President, Riek Machar, has accused the government of turning into “politics” the burial of the late.
“On behalf of the family of Wol (Arumjok) Reec Lual, I would like to inform relatives, in- laws, friends, Aweil Community Worldwide and the entire South Sudanese that the family at Majok Diing Wol village met under elderly member Executive Chief Atak Diing Wol and requested all family members to distance themselves away from what is taking place in Juba,” Diing wrote in a statement seen by Sudan Tribune.
“The burial of Lual Diing Wol in Juba is against his will. Lual Diing indicated, in many occasions his will that he should be buried at Atokthou. During the struggle he told relatives and his bodyguards that in an event of his death under any circumstances his body must be taken home, and if the situation doesn’t allow he must be burnt and the ashes must be taken home for burial,” Diing further explained.
He also said the late, who they also referred to his nicknames as “Baba Africa” or “Lanbar” confirmed his wish to him [Diing] personally in 2010, when he started constructing his house in Araith, his home village in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.
“There is no force under this sun that could go against the will of a deceased and [left] unchallenged. This is not politics. Paul Malong Awan conspired with Malong Asha to bury “Lanbar” in Juba, which is totally against his will. It’s unfortunate that the issue was brought to attention of H.E President Salva Kiir to stop this social crime, however, as usual he supported Paul Malong on his conspiracy,” he said.
He demanded that the remains of the late should be transported to his home village in Northern Bahr el Ghazal or else no family member will attend his burial in Juba.
“In case, President Salva and Paul Malong insist that the Lanbar’s remains are [to] be buried in Juba, no family member should attend the burial and funeral rites.”
He also called on other South Sudanese people to distance themselves from the political “conspiracy’ schemed by President Kiir and the army chief Awan.
Late Wol, who was a long time liberator in South Sudan since Anya nya I and rose to the rank of Lieutenant General in the SPLA as well as member of the ruling SPLM party’s Political Bureau, died in a hospital in Nairobi after battling illness, particularly stroke, for many years.
(ST)