We must be accurate and reliable in reporting information to the public
5 min readBy Madhieu Thiep Madhieu, Juba, South Sudan
October 24, 2015 (SSB) — It was on Monday, 12th of October when I bought Juba telegraph newspaper to update myself on the current issues happening within and outside South Sudan, Particularly the unfolding security situation in Tonj east county of Warrap state, where two communities of Luacjang and Ananatak clashed heavily for three consecutive days.
It was reported in many media houses including Juba Telegraph that, the cause of the inter-communal clashed was over ownership of a border area called Lol-lith which lies between Thiik and Luacjang of Tonj East County. It was alleged that Thiik community refused Luacjang to slaughter their bull at the border as a reception to newly appointed Commissioner Hon. Biar Biar.
On 15th Oct-2015,the same story of Tonj East communal fighting appeared with another big and shameful lie which I considered null and void and deserves to be investigated. I quote, ‘’the two communities clashed over the ownership of a small land called lol-lith which is the border between the two communities’’. ‘’20 households were burnt during the inter-communal clashes between Luacjang and Thiik in Tonj East county of warrap’’, reads the article.
First, I would want to react on the cause of this sectional conflict in which many people aren’t acquainted with. The genesis of this deadly confrontation that has brought devastation and social disorder between the two sisterly communities was not an issue of Lol-lith or border as propagated by some media houses, but was triggered by cattle rustling. It happened on 8th Oct 2015, when three armed youths suspected to be members of Luacjang community came to a place called Rieny, small swamp near Abyei-kuel Cattle camp and raided herd of cows and drove them back to the direction of Luacjang.
On their way, they met cattle owner who recognized his cows and began to enquire where these people were taking his animals. On that spot, misunderstanding arose and gunshots were heard. Shootings continued at dusk until one person from Thiik community got injured at the chest. They attackers fled unharmed and in the following morning on 9th Oct.2015, herdsmen from both sides ran towards their common border and fighting flared up at 3:00 PM. The root cause of these clashes is cattle raiding not border problem in this scenario.
I know there are so many reasons surrounding the genesis of this communal conflict, but it isn’t Lol-Lith. We need not to take bull by its horns when reporting on deadly stories. These two communities have lived and stayed for centuries without fighting over Lol- Lith simply because they had a define border known by each community.
Secondly, what makes me annoyed and perplexed was the report on number of burnt households in which Juba Telegraph wrote a very wrong figure (20 households). It leaves me wondering and bamboozled as to where these reporters collected their news from. Do they collect it from relevant authorities or from friends or hearsays? If from concern authorities, then all of them are wrong in this matter.
But if their findings are based on rumors, then what does it means to be a journalist? The households burnt on date 10th Oct 2015 in Thiik area are more than 250 households compared to that disgrace number wrote by Alex Athuai of Juba telegraph. You can’t pick up a pen and write incomplete and wrong story to the public without scrutinizing data.
Below is the list of villages (not households as concocted by Juba telegraph) burnt by Luacjang during this conflict?
Riau village has 70 households
Rai village= 20 households
Adujeldit village= 20 households
Adujelthii village=30 households
Awedeng village=30 households
Panhomwel village=15 households
Wathou village= 20 households
Wunkuac village=30 households
Maker village=15 households
Rumagot village=7 households burnt only.
I enumerated these villages to inform those who wrote about burnt households that, what they collected was incorrect and should to go back to their source or else they should considered this figure. It is so disappointing for someone who had never visited scene of incidence to write something which s/he won’t depend. We must write accurate, reliable and true information for public to get the right picture of what is happening on the ground, rather than basing on assumptions, propaganda and imagination.
These villages listed above are confirmed burnt to ashes and anyone doubting Thomas must go with me to count them one by one. We should accept facts and write facts on disasters like this, so that we are set free by God. What happened in Tonj East County is being condemned by everyone, especially they area intellectuals as well as Warrap state in general and South Sudan at large.
Therefore, the media should add it voice in a call for peace and normalcy to return to the area rather, than writing false information.
You can reach me at: madhienthiep@gmail.com or tel: 0956568499
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