MPs critized for visiting graves as 22 people are killed in Twic East, Jonglei state
5 min readMPs representing Bor, Twic East and Duk counties have come under fierce criticisms from their respective constituents
November 16, 2015 (SSB) — Members of Parliament (MPs) representing Bor, Twic East and Duk counties have come under fierce criticism for failing to ensure safety of villages in the Dinka Bor area following latest attacks in Maar that left more than twenty people dead.
Twic East county MP Hon. Deng Dau said 22 people, including three children and nine women, are killed by suspected SPLM In Opposition forces. The SPLM IO denied any connection to the attackers in Maar. Three attackers were also killed and identified to have come from Uror county, a territory controlled by the SPLM IO.
Maar Payaam, Twic East county of Jonglei state, neighbors Jalle Payam of Bor county where 27 people were killed in October by unknown gunmen. Authorities blamed raiders from Greater Pibor Administrative Area for the attack in Jalle – allegations strongly denied by GPAA.
Maar was attacked on Friday at 6:30 PM South Sudanese time in a raid that left three children and nine women killed. Traditional Chief Majak Deng Guor was also killed.
Citizens of Bor, Twic East and Duk counties, however, criticized the MPs for failing to do their job. Anyar Matiop Deng, who hails from Twic East county. is blaming authorities for not learning from each attack on the villages.
“Visiting the graves and the bereaved, a visit paid by Bor MPs, community leaders and army generals after civilians are killed in Bor villages. I am just informed that a similar visit to the one paid recently to Jalle Payam following the killing of over 20 innocent souls there is being paid to the neigbouring Pakeer Payam after the Friday evening killing in Maar. I do not know why such visits are done, when after the visit nothing that would curtail similar killings in the future is done and it is always certain that future killings are highly probable. Why do we only visit graves and a bereaved population when we have means of ensuring such killings are prevented at our disposal? I have never asked anyone about the kind of reception they get,” Anyar said.
“I have always asked myself about the propriety of these visits and if it is the only thing we shall be doing. To my Bor people our enemies are both the government and rebels. In 2013 a similar visit was done when the two communities, Ajuong and Pakeer lost 68 lives in a similar incident. Today another is being made. My question anytime I meet one of them will be when will their next visit be? Where and how many lives will have been lost?” he concluded.
His frustration is shared by Noble Arem Riak.
“For sure! Instead of visiting the live Constituents and make regular recess with them, they only visit the graves,” Arem said, a citizen of Jalle Payam.
“This is very serious from my work colleague, peer and fellow Bor brother,” he added.
Arem said he would rather resign from government if he were an MP “because of her failure to protect the lives and properties of my people.”
Abel Alier Kwai Kut, the former president of Southern Sudan Surpreme Council, Arem said, resigned his government in early in 1970s to force Khartoum to negotiate peace with his Southern Rebelling brothers.
“This was a great credit to Abel Alier!! The idea of certain section finding away to revenge or arm themselves to protect their lives and properties against the other serial attackers is a sheer Somalisation and militarization of the country,” he added, referring to Somalia, a east African country that had have no functioning government for the last two decades.
Ujuum D’Buol wrote in a separate post under a heading, ‘BOR FACTOR’ that “Bor people have for so long regarded the insecurity in their territory as national crisis (Indeed a gross mistake in definition of the problem)”
“In fact, they (Bor people) have always referred it to Juba and looked up to it for remedies. All have been in vain simply because the guys (MPs) in Juba are at the peak of their careers and don’t give a damn about anything implicating them in tribal feuds (in their own words). In other terms, they are “nationalisto dus masquerados,” D’Buol said.
“In regard to responses to Jalle and Maar payams’ recent incidents, it’s apparent that isolating our “nas kubaar” (our senior people) in such issues is the way forward. In good news, the state MPs, county commissioners and importantly, the youth leaders on the ground have of late shown good leadership and must therefore continue to own up that factor. And what they need is; timely coordination among themselves,” he added.
Names of people killed in Maar
Three children’s names are not included.
1. Chief Majak Deng Guor,
2. Thon Majok Anyuon,
3. Mayom Majok Atem Deng,
4. Majok Garang Majok
5. Atem Kur Atem,
6. Mabior Dau,
7. Ngor Makuei Kuol,
8. Lueth Kuethjok Majok,
9. Thuch Ayii Mayen,
10. Achut Juol Achut,
11. Bol Akueng’uet Atem,Deceased Females,
12. Angeth Kuir,
13. Kuir Ajok Bol,
14. Keth Anyieth Atem,
15. Achut Deng Ayii,
16. Ajoh Atem Aleu,
17. Achok Awan Achiek,
18. Amuna Arou
19. Yar Atem Akech,
20. Chingath Kuol Jok.
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