IO remain terrorizing civil population in the areas they controlled: Minister Dut Achuek
By Mach Samuel Peter, Bor, Jonglei State
November 22, 2016 (SSB) — Hon. Dut Achuek Lual, the minister for local government, law enforcement and acting minister for information and communication in Jonglei state government, has described the IO elements terrorizing civil population in Gadiang village of Jonglei state as terrorists.
The statement subsequent the counter attacks by SPLA/IO elements on the 11th November 2016, when they launched an attack from Bieh State on Gadiang Village 43 kilometers East of Panyagor capital city of Twic North County and South East of Duk Payuel County taking 1,300 herd of cattle from the citizens of Duk Payuel, 862 head of cattle from Citizens of Twic North County, meanwhile 48 herd of cattle were killed in cross fire. One soldier and a civilian were killed in action.
Hon. Dut Achuek Lual made the remarks in a press release extended to PaanLuel Wël website on Tuesday. He accused the SPLA/IO soldiers in Bieh State for targeting the civilians of Lou Nuer who are interested in peace with their neighboring communities, the Bor Dinka.
“It is worth mentioning that this wave of attacks is to breach preparation for grass root peace conference initiated by the Lou Nuer traditional authority adjacent to Greater Duk Counties where over 10,000 traders and chiefs are now negotiating,” Dut said.
Much area of the Bieh state is being controlled by the SPLA/IO soldiers whose loyalty remains in question since the transition of the SPLM/SPLA leadership this year.
The press release statement is directed to the citizens of Jonglei state to inform them about the security situation in the Northern part of Jonglei State mainly Gadiang village.
“On the 11th November 2016, these elements from Bieh State launched attack on Gadiang Village 43 kilometers East of Panyagor capital city of Twic North County and South East of Duk Payuel County taking 1,300 herd of cattle from the citizens of Duk Payuel, 862 head of cattle from Citizens of Twic North County, 48 herds of cattle killed in cross fire meanwhile one soldier and one civilian were killed in action,” Hon. Dut explains.
On 15 November 2016, IO forces from Bieh State launched second attack at the same village Gadiang killing two soldiers and wounding two civilians and one soldier.
While the entire nation of South Sudan is engage in the implementation of the Peace agreement on the resolution of conflict in the Republic of South Sudan between the SPLM/IO, the government and SPLM political detainees, there have been exchanged of fire in Gadiang and Pajut areas of Jonglei state. A couple of months ago, the governor of Jonglei State Philip Aguer Panyang Jot said over 100 SPLA/IO soldiers have been killed when over 3,000 of them counter attack Pajut Military barracks under the operation of Mechanized division.
SPLA soldiers were also killed including Col. Abraham Ngor Deng Biar in the attack. The international community has a role to play to pressure the aggressors to abide by the agreement and provisions of the resolution of conflict in South Sudan and give peace a chance.
Jonglei has long suffered from tribal infighting. a large amount of the conflict was over basic resources of food, land, and water, but following the creation of 28 states that divided the country in accordance with the administrative districts of 1956, personal grudges related to the abduction of women and children and theft of cattle had worsened to revenge attacks and killing despite the efforts put in place by the state authorities to reconcile the rival communities.
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