(AFP) –
JUBA, South Sudan — South Sudanese soldiers accidentally shot dead four Christmas Eve worshippers and wounded 15, the young nation’s military spokesman said on Tuesday.
“This is terrible,” Philip Aguer told AFP. “SPLA has never done such a thing before in our history.”
The tragedy occurred on December 24 in Pigi County, Jonglei state.
Soldiers of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) opened fire when they found one of their colleagues with nine bullets in his body after an earlier shooting near the church, Aguer said.
“Unfortunately they started shooting randomly,” and hit worshippers fleeing the church at the sound of the gunfire, he added.
The second lieutenant in charge of the platoon has been arrested and an investigation ordered, the spokesman said.
SPLA was the rebel force that battled Khartoum until a 2005 peace agreement ended two decades of civil war, ahead of South Sudan’s independence in July this year.
Aguer said tensions had been raised since December 23 when a landmine killed an SPLA soldier who was helping to protect the burial ceremony for George Athor, who fought for the southern rebels and reached the rank of general before turning renegade last year.
The South Sudanese vice president announced last week that Athor, of Pigi County, had been killed in a battle with government forces.
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SPLA kill church goers in Jonglei
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December 26, 2011 (BOR) – Four civilians and one soldier died and fifteen others were wounded in Khorfulus district in Jonglei state’s Pigi county following a shooting at a church on 24 December, Sudan Tribune has been told.
Members of South Sudan’s army (SPLA) attacked worshipers celebrating Christmas Eve in Pigi county, which has been used as the base of a rebellion against the Juba government, witnesses told Sudan Tribune.
SPLA spokesperson, Philip Aguer, described the killings as “unfortunate” adding that an investigation will be carried out to establish whether the national army was involved.
Local civil administrator, Padiet Cuei, claimed that SPLA soldiers opened fire at a midnight mass. The four people killed include a teacher, a woman and a local policeman, he said.
“The SPLA of division three launched the attack on church, they killed people and looted properties,” Cuei said.
Daniel Deng, an eyewitness whose elder brother was wounded in the incident, told Sudan Tribune by phone from Malakal Teaching Hospital in Upper Nile state, that the shooting caught them by surprise.
“They [the soldiers] came to the church several times but decided to open fire on us at about mid-night,” Deng said.
According to Deng, there was a separate random shooting on Saturday evening that left one soldier dead. The soldiers death was caused by SPLA soldiers shooting to celebrate Christmas in the town, he said.
The SPLA are former rebels, who became South Sudan’s national army in July after independence in July. They have been the official army of South Sudan since a 2005 peace deal with north Sudan.
Juba is attempting to turn the SPLA into an organised and disciplined national army but human rights groups reports indicate there is still some way to go.
SPLA forces had been deployed to Pigi county, as it is being used as the base for the South Sudan Democratic Movement (SSDM), a rebel group whose leader was killed by the SPLA on 19 December.
Gen. George Athor Deng was killed in Morobo county of Central Equatoria state, while trying to cross in South Sudan from the DR Congo, the military say. The SSDM deny the charges, saying that Athor had disappeared during a visit to Uganda. Kampala denies any involvement.
LOU NUER RAIDS PIBOR VILLAGES
In Pibor county’s Lukwangole district there are reports that fighting has broken out between the Lou Nuer and Murle tribes who have a long running dispute over cattle raiding, child abduction and retaliatory attacks that have killed over a thousand since June.
Some local media report that Lou Nuer youths are being blaimed for the attack.
Director for South Sudan Red Cross society in Jonglei state, David Gai, said reports from their staff indicate that villages have been burnt and injured people evacuated to Pibor town.
Gai called on the state and national governments to restore calm in the area in order for the Red Cross and other humanitarians organisation to establish the scale of the raid which is said to be
continuing.
Efforts made by Sudan Tribune to reach newly appointed commissioner of Pibor county failed. State government officials contacted by Sudan Tribune have refused to comment.
The latest attack comes while Church leaders and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan are attempting to negotiate an end to the tit-for-tat violence.
Government offices in Bor the capital on Jonglei are expected to remain closed until 28 December, when the Christmas holidays end.
JONGLEI BISHOP CALLS FOR PEACE
Preaching at Lieudiet Cathedral on Sunday the Episcopal Bishop for Bor Diocese, Ruben Akurdit Ngong, said that forgiveness was needed to end Jonglei state’s tribal feuding. Christians in Bor marching on Christmas Eve. Jonglei State, South Sudan, Saturday 24 Dec. 2011 (ST) Ngong told thousands of worshipers celebrating Christmas Day to develop a spirit of hard work in order not to “disappoint” God in the new nation of South Sudan.
Traditional marches on Saturday marked Christmas Eve banners, music
and giant crosses.
Dust rose from the roads and car traffic came to a standstill from afternoon until 6:30pm when the church processions drew to close. Nigel Church Choir, celebrate Christians Eve, 24 Dec. 2011 (ST) Beating drums and singing songs of praises, all ages of people participated in the marches and services, which continued into the early hours of 25 December.
The bishop of Bor diocese said the real challenge facing independent South Sudan was underdevelopment.
“Don’t disappoint God by refusing to work,” Bishop Akurdit said. Christians in Bor marching on Christmas Eve. Jonglei State, South Sudan, Saturday 24 Dec. 2011 (ST) On Saturday, the Bishop told reporters that prayers for forgiveness and cessation of hostilities in Jonglei state, was his Christmas message.
“After independence, we need development and this cannot come without peace and forgiveness,” he said.
Lieudiet Cathedral, the headquarters of Bor diocese, said that it registered the greatest attendance with 17,081 people with Nigel following with over 8,000.
There are over 20 churches in Bor town, each registering over 2,000 worshipers on Christmas Day, according to local reports. Christians in Bor marching to celebrate Christmas Eve. Jonglei State, South Sudan, Saturday 24 Dec. 2011 (ST)
South Sudan’s minister of Parliamentary affairs, Michael Makuei Lueth and several other government officials attended the Christmas prayers in Lieudiet church.
Speaking in his capacity as senior government official, Minister Makuei said the national government is working to restore order in Jonglei state but declined to give further details.
Jonglei state is home to various pastoralist communities who often engage in cattle rustling, resulting in civilian deaths, displacement and in some cases child abduction.
(ST)