The tragedy of the unknown gunman: Who is behind the Wau and Raja incidents?
By Pal Chol Nyan, Juba, South Sudan
June 30, 2016 (SSB) — The people of South Sudan, despite the peace deal, whose implementation does not meet their expectations, were taken aback by the unfortunate and the tragic attack that led to the untold loss of lives and properties in Wau. It was in Raja two weeks back and many lives were claimed. The people are now internally displaced and left vulnerable to diseases and hunger. The Church and the local NGOS are trying their best to alleviate the suffering of these people. The question that arises and boggles mind is who is behind that fatal incident?
The spokesman of our government, who seems to take the incident lightly, said the attackers are from Janjaweed and LRA under the command of Ali Tamim Fartak, a politician and hails from there. In the Minister’s words, Ali Tamim commands an organization called an Islamic Movement. I hope they are not allied to ISIS, Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab and Hezbollah otherwise, I am afraid of more terroristic attacks. The civil population who are the victims point fingers at the unknown gunmen, a jargon used by the government in reference to illusive armed men from within.
In my opinion, the solution to all these killings and wanton destruction of properties lies in the implementation of the Agreement of the Resolutions of the conflict in South Sudan. Many people from all walks of life repeatedly called upon and appealed to the government to allow the cantonment of the IO forces so that we know the identities of those who would then continue to kill innocent people and loot their properties. This provision is important in the sense of separating the sheep from the goats. What have the people of this country done to their rulers to deserve being subjected to this unbearable situation? Look at the number of the street kids and beggars?
The government has thrown in the towel to the dollar rebellion in Juba market. Our local currency has gone to a free fall. The government is not doing anything to put it right. Concerning the Wau crisis, I applauded the step taken by the government to form an investigation committee to investigate the root causes of the fighting in Wau. I hope they will carry out their task in a professional and a neutral manner without any bias. I expect them to tell us the identities of the culprits which has defeated our protectors so as to clear the doubts in our minds and suspicions.
If identified, they must account for the human right abuses and heinous crimes they have inhumanely committed without remorse against innocent people. After the December 2013 crisis, The President constituted a committee but his efforts were frustrated and failed by the committee and nothing was heard of with regards to the findings. As per the peace deal, the Parliament is not yet reconstituted and expanded and the political wrangle over who will the next speaker is said to be the stumbling block.
The argument of the two peace partners is that the Speaker will be elected or selected. The agreement talks of the election of the Speaker, An Equatoria as enshrined in the agreement, from within the August House by the Honourable members. This is clear and it is not a rocket science. Back to the Wau crisis, I believe the investigation will not be turned into a lucrative business for settling the debts.
There have been many instances where people who have committed heinous crimes are left to go at large just because they are either connected by blood to people in the position of power or nobody bothers to crack them down as a result of the anarchy and lack of accountability obtaining in the country. The government is surrounded, which the owners do or not know, by many fronts and more importantly the current economic collapse and the widespread insecurity.
It is widely believed that the deteriorating economic situation is used by some bigots closer to the power center to enrich themselves. I am zeroing in on why people are being killed in the watch of their own army. The agreement is not implemented except that Dr. Riek is in Juba and the rest goes with the NCP style.
It goes without saying that some people somewhere do not pity the situation facing the people of South Sudan because they get their daily bread and to hell with the rest. The future of this country lies in the speedy implementation of the Agreement which is paralyzed and one year old now from the date of its signature.
Let us embrace peace and work to build our country and its economy or otherwise.
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