PROTEST LETTER TO H.E PRESIDENT SALVA KIIR MAYARDIT

PROTEST LETTER TO H.E PRESIDENT SALVA KIIR MAYARDIT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”, Martin L. K. Jr., Dec. 1960

December 31, 2014 (SSB) — I am writing to your Excellency on behalf of my people – the Thuyic Community– to protest the designed-extermination-process of our people (Thuyic Community of Maleng-agok Payam) in Eastern Rumbek County.

This process is dated back to 2001 beginning with elimination of our cattle youths leader; Bech Dong Manguen, then late Chief Maker Mabor Riak – that continued unabated till the hour I author this letter for your attention, your H.E.

There is no community in Lakes State or South Sudan for that matter, which has been subjected to these heinous acts, and no attention drawn for their cause by state government, but only Thuyic Community, who still believe that there exists a government in South Sudan, Juba, but not in Lakes state.

Our people have been exposed to the following suffering and unbearable pain:

1. Our youth leaders have been their first targets, to which the mission of their elimination has been succeeded. Bech Dong Manguen and Diengdul Maliec are just two examples of this design, because they come from Thuyic Community.
2. Our people’s chief late Maker Mabor Riak was the first chief to be murdered in cold blood in 2002 because he comes from Thuyic Community of Maleng-agok Payam!
3. Our people’s individual youths (P.S. Turguau Makoi Ayuek) have been ambushed and killed because he hailed from Thuyic Community of Maleng-agok Payam!
4. Our people as a community have been assaulted, killed, and dislodged from their villages of Agukuel, Maleng-agok, Makuac, Panbarkou, Gorok, Malual etc for more than five times; for days, months, and as I write, it is going a year having been sent off their homes!
5. Our people’s women and girls have been gang-raped since 7^th August 2014, and state government for offenders to answer these charges has not apprehended culprits of these offenses. Is this the state that my community could be part of?
6. Our people’s livestock have been raided, property of all forms looted, and other assets destroyed, including their housing and no one (among these wrong-doers) has ever been arrested or even asked to account by state government!
7. Our people’s elderly (Makur Chol Ayup, Mapuor Majur Mathet etc) and children (Akoi Wuol Mabor –14 months old girl-child-killed), all have not been spared during this last attack of 27^th December 2014, just because they come from Thuyic Community when attack has been reported to state government agencies seven days before assailants matched on my community, but there was nothing done to prevent it!
8. Our people’s school-going pupils caught up at homes were not spared (Deng Maker Makuer, Muorwer Mapuor Akuckuer, Maweer Mapuor Akuckuer, Mayor Bol Akuckuer & Kaman Thuch Manyang), are example of bad intent of elimination by Gony section in Aliemtooc west against our people at the watch of the state government.
9. Our Community five schools (of Maleng-agok, Panbarkou, Agukuel, Gorok, Ayen-Paciec) have been closed since 6^th August 2014. Our pupils did not sit any exams beginning from class seven to nursery, when our assailants schools were functional and their pupils took their exams, and no one including the state education minister made any efforts to have them opened or even any word of care to signal that we are being part of this community of Lakes state.
10. Our community pregnant woman (Akuac Wuol Deng) was assaulted in her house by the daughter of Governor Maj. Gen. Matur Chut Dhuol (Alek Matur Chut), no any investigation has been launched to ascertain why did she assault her neighbor and killed her innocently? This is because she is the daughter of Governor Matur Chut, who both belief that Thuyic Community members are premier enemies.
11. Our community cattle youth – Mangang Manyang Deng was attacked within Maleng-agok Payam market and killed instantly. None of his attackers has been detained and no one has made query of why no justice for his life.
12. On 27^th December 2014, our Thuyic Community members chattered a plane to airlift six victims of this ethnic cleansing to Juba. On hearing this information, Director of Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Mr. Deng Malual Majak ordered for a shoot down of this plane, fortunately, the Lt. who was ordered defied on the ground that he has not been served with written letter of shoot down to act on, thus the plane reached Juba later evening. One of these victims is currently being denied flight to Nairobi for better care by Governors’ brother in SPLA Juba, alleging that the victim is a culprit. Culprit in what form when he is a casualty of ethnic cleansing in pursuit by Governor and his relatives. Mr. President, send your team to investigate this order, you would be shock of how bad the leadership here is! Oh! Lord God, come to the aid of our people in Maleng-agok Payam and her surrounding villages.
13. On 26^th August 2014, our Thuyic Community made every effort to arrest one of their own, who retaliated on late Paramount Chief Aparer Chut Dhuol. He is the only one now, investigated within three months period, and sentenced to death, when those other culprits remain at large! Is the state government not part and parcel of the state’s troubles if perpetrators are not arrested?
14. Key elements of state government led by Director of CID with his cousin in-charge of state capital Criminal Investigation unit have been found supplying their clan-men with ammunitions and weapons, and no one cares or asks why? Is this state one’s authority to use against a particular community?

Is there any justice here in Lakes state?

Your Excellency, we were expecting a little sense of humanity and leadership from Lakes state Governor Major General Matur Chut Dhuol in dealing with insecurities of Lakes, and especially with his own armed clan men including those who assaulted our people, either to use necessary force to prevent them from assaulting their perceived enemies of Thuyic in their villages or he gives way to any other person, in tendering in his resignation letter to your high office; even when his daughter has murdered innocent pregnant woman. This did not happen.

Earlier on, Matur Chut has been a suspect of instigating this sectional feud since 2001. This is now proven beyond reasonable doubt, yes indeed he is. He has never made any efforts to prevent his clan-men in planning for seven solid days to attack our people in their villages.

On 16^th August 2014, three youth leaders of our Thuyic Community of Maleng-agok Payam petitioned your government, making necessary recommendations as redemption, but there was no action, but rather poorly plan of disarmament during which 107 lives of our dear soldiers were lost in their battle with Pakam pastoralists. The state government is responsible for all the harms befalling this state, and that your Excellency should consider top leadership of the state is one core factor fuelling the crises because it is not involving other stakeholders like chiefs, intellectuals, civil society, MPs, some of whom remained arrests for months now in unclosed location. If MPs could not be brought for justice, can any common man know justice?

The 27^th December 2014 death toll on our people went to 17 persons dead including a 14 months old girl child – Akoi Wuol Mabor, caught up with her mother in Panbarkou village of Maleng-agok Payam. This child—unoffending, innocent and beautiful was a victim of one of the most vicious, heinous crimes ever perpetrated against humanity. I call on Wuol Mabor, the father of Akoi, that in spite of the darkness of this hour, you must not despair, you should not become bitter, nor must you harbor the desire to retaliate with violence – allows God to retaliate!

May our 14 months old girl-child Akoi Wuol Mabor’s soul rest in eternal peace!

I am writing on behalf of our Thuyic Community of Maleng-agok Payam, who has suffered in their dignified end and for their existence!

Mark Dut Malual lives in Melbourne, Australia, and he is reachable on: markdutmalual@gmail.com