Luachjang Community in Diaspora: Condemnation Letter from Australia, North America, New Zealand, and Europe on the killing of civilians in Romic, Tonj East
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20th August 2020
From: Luacjang Community in Diaspora
To: The President of the Republic of South Sudan, His Excellency, Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit.
CC: The First Vice President, Hon. Dr. Riek Machar Teny
CC: Vice President, Hon. James Wani Igga
CC: Vice President, Hon. Taban Deng Gai
CC: Vice President, Hon. Madame Rebecca Nyandeng Garang
CC: Vice President, Hon. Hussein Abdelbagi Ayii
CC: Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Hon. Angelina Teny
CC: Minister of Interior Affairs, Hon. Paul Mayom Akec
CC: Minister of Justice, Hon. Ruben Mayom Arol
CC: Minister of National Security, Gen. Obete Mamur Mete
CC: Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Johnson Juma Okot
CC: Inspector General of Police, Gen. Majak Akec Malok
CC: Governor of Warrap State, Gen. Bona Panek Boar
SUBJECT: Letter of Condemnation in response to the irresponsible Act by the Soldiers in Romic/Rumabuth, in Luacjang Area, Resulting in killings of Many Civilians;
Dear His Excellency, President, Salva Kiir Mayardit,
Friday, August 21, 2020 (PW) — In our collective voice of Luacjang community in diaspora, namely Australia, USA, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand, we write to strongly condemn and express our deepest concern over the recent sad tragedy in Romic and Rumabuth, Luacjang, in the Republic of South Sudan as a result of the indiscriminate shooting of two innocent young persons on the 8th of August, 2020. The incident immediately escalated into a grave hostility between the South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) and the Luacjang youth on the 9th of August, leading to more than 85 civilians killed including more than 102 people were severely wounded, plus other reported damages to properties. The torching of a clinic in Romic clearly disadvantaged the local community in terms of treatment of the wounded, and other medical emergency responses.
Luacjang community of diaspora is extremely disappointed and unsettled over the trigger of aggression by the SSPDF who were alleged to have confronted two Luacjang youth heading to the market with their normal local errands, resulting into the scoundrel soldiers intercepted them and demanded the youth to remove a red scarf on one of the young people’s head. The altercation quickly resulted into one of the heinous crimes against the civilians, as one of the young persons was immediately shot dead on the spot, sparking the immediate confrontation between soldiers and civilian population which triggered the indiscriminate shooting.
It is concerning that, after the first incident on the 8th of Augustwhereby one youth was fatally shot by the undisciplined soldiers, the commanding officers in charge of the army should have rather responded urgently by sending in a taskforce or delegation to de-escalate the situation immediately. This is by consulting with stakeholders such as the local chiefs, spiritual leaders, and youth leaders to ease and resolve the tension. It is really heart-breaking to lose innocent lives as a result of a miscarriage of justice by the soldiers, especially since one of the deceased youths happened to be an active youth member serving the government of South Sudan as a local administrator of that region.
The incident immediately ignited into a full confrontation between the Luacjang youth and the SSPDF forces resulting into the loss of many lives and more causalities, including essential properties such as local clinic looted, then deliberately torched, as well as the local market completely ransacked. What was really concerning was the fact that, the commanding officers were alleged to have sent in an additional reinforcement of the SSPDF forces in the eve’s of the incident with weapons to exert excessive force and prepare for a full confrontation with the local youth despite the dreadful misconduct in the first place.
It is disturbing that the SSDPF under the two commanding generals, namely Bol Akot Bol and Rin Tueny did not de-escalate the situation faster nor responded to the community’s complaints prior to the gross violation of youth’s civil liberties. It is alleged that some undisciplined soldiers were constantly indulging in an allegation of corruptions, intimidations, torturing, and unconstitutional acts of crimes against the local civilians such as imposing dressing codes on the local youth, which is entirely not an army duty or their civil compliance.
As the unfortunate incident in Romic has caused many causalities and torment, the prolonged report of unlawful acts of aggression and intimation on locals’ rights manifest brutality and violence against civilians who are going about their normal everyday lives. It was unprofessional judgement for the SSPDF in the Romic to instigate a confrontation with the local youth which has contributed to many lives’ loss, including that of soldiers. What was more concerning was the fact that the SSPDF allegedly stationed in Romic since the beginning of May 2020, with Luacjang youth reportedly experience some bad encounters and grievances with the SSPDF soldiers in the area. Consequently, it was claimed that the local community, especially youth were frequently subjected to a high degree of human rights’ abuses and miscarriages of justice without Commander Bol Akot Bol, and Rin Tueny allegedly not intervening to allegations expressed by the locals.
After the confrontation with the SSPDF and civilians, it is regrettable that, there were some elements within the SSPDF who are trying to use this tragedy for their own political gains. There are clearly no times for any political misjudgements, or even rebuffing the fact that Bol Akot and Rin Tueny failed to use the right process of clearly communicating the mandates that the soldiers should have exercised.
The fact that the SSPDF spoke person went on the record in one of the Media outlets in South Sudan to report the incident inaccurately that, the clashes between the SSPDF and civilians started off as a result of disarmament, which was entirely untrue. The correct occurrence was that the disarmament procedures or mandate were never introduced, nor consultation processes made with the local stakeholders to leading the final stages of confrontation from a separate incident. The army generals and soldiers who were responsible for provoking this incident should have been held accountable for their poor judgements and action against the civilians, which has now resulted into the loss of many lives and causalities.
To make the matter worse, it was alleged that general Bol Akot Bol acted with anger, emotion, frustration including the unconstitutional claims of roadblocks in part of Tonj to instigate and prevent the passages of humanitarian supports and supplies from organisations such as United Nations and International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) who were acting rapidly to provide essential medical supplies and other fundamental lifesaving needs for the local affected areas in Luacjang.
Before the aggression, which was instigated on the 8th of August by those soldiers, the followings were the acts of intimidation and violence committed on daily basis by the SSPDF in Romic/Rumabuth for the last three months leading up to the reported incident;1. Torturing local members by soldiers, arrests, humiliations and unconstitutional fines, briberies and corruptions, and allegation of rape by soldiers.2. Unconstitutional arrest of local members in the local markets which reportedly occurring in Romic’s market, which fining the locals and policing them should be a role of police in accordance with the constitution of South Sudan.3. Unnecessary fines in a monetary form to the price of a bull/cow which each is equivalent to the SSP 15000 – 20000 before or upon the release of the incarcerated individuals. 4. Unlawful detention centres built by the SSPDF stationed near Romic with an aim of inflicting inhumane torturing of innocent local youths.5. Failure to consult with the community leaders, or local chiefs.
As a result of the violation of the rights of the local civilians, it is imperative to safeguard, protect and honour the rights’ of Luacjang people in their own land to live freely without being subjected to harassment, maltreatment, and torturing. We as the diaspora community of Luacjang demands the following actions to be considered by His Excellency, President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his leadership to respond accordingly to our ultimatums as follow;1. We appeal for the government to allow the humanitarian’s relief support and access to the most vulnerable for medical supplies and essential needed in the affected areas.2. We urge for the government to fully investigate the allegation of roads blockage by army generals if these allegations are verified or deemed to be true.3. We demand for a full investigation into what has transpiredinto the incidences of the 8th – 9th of August 2020.4. We demand that the following commanding officers, namely Bol Akol Bol and Rin Tueny to resign immediately from their respective roles as their civilian’s trust has already been compromised due to failing to protect or fulfilling their duties, or obligations.5. We recommend that the mistake made by stationing the army in the local primary school as soldiers’ accommodation near the Romic’s marketplace was a grave mistake and should never be repeated in the nearest future. As for future references, the army barrack should be placed far away from the civil populated areas to prevent such incidents, or interferences with the local lives.6. We appeal for the government of South Sudan to use active civil servants to promote a message of peace, coexistence while safeguarding local rights’ and freedom. Example, allowing a message of peace to benefit the communities of the broader South Sudan as a whole in improving the regional development to lessen conflicts which often impaired the country’s growth and general progress of its people.
As a community of Luacjang in the diaspora, we acknowledge and express our sincere heartfelt for the supports and condolence messages provided by those who have acknowledged that the incident was a miscarriage of justice and should be a lesson for all. We thank all our friends of Luacjang community and all members who has stood with us in solidarity in condemning of this unlawful incident against civilians. We hope that His Excellency President, Kiir Mayardit will form a strong investigative committee to look into this matter seriously by utilising measures or protocols to adjust and amend processes that allow peaceful co-existence to restore the trust between the civilians and army.
We are optimistic that the Government led by His Excellency, President Kiir will respond adequately to provide essential support and resources to the most vulnerable and affected by this tragic incident. The incident on the 8th of August was just the tip of an iceberg as a daily occurrence of atrocities and miscarriages of justice were committed prior. For example, the Luacjang community has witnessed past atrocities against their people whereby the army generals made unwise decision to conduct an unproved attack on its people, two major occurrences happened before the independence of the country. Sadly, similar incidents and injustices have occurred in other regions with South Sudan as a whole whereby the army general commits unlawful acts and atrocities against civilians whom they should protect.
We hope that this incident will be utilised as an educational instrument to raise awareness and prevent any future gross violation such as injustice act, nepotism, corruption, and intolerant tribal divisions. The country has long struggled for its independency for any South Sudanese to be not subjected to unfair treatment or diminishing their voices in a national affair. The country was liberated to reflects its equality and just society. Luacjang community has contributed greatly in the liberation struggle for the independence of South Sudan. We all want the development, unity, and prosperity of our country for all of us to be equal to live in peace and prosperity. The Luacjang community in diaspora hopes for a better outcome and peaceful resolution.
Long Live Luacjang Community,
Long Live South Sudan for Peace and Prosperity,
Long South Sudanese Diaspora Communities
God Bless South Sudan.
Your Sincerely,
Robert Aduer Ring, Chairperson of Luacjang Community in Victoria (LCV).
AUSTRALIAN LUACJANG LEADERSHIP TEAM;
| NAME | TITLE | CONTACTS |
| Mr. Robert Aduer Ring | Chairperson of Luacjang Community in Victoria | robert.aduer.r@gmail.com |
| Mr. Deng Mangar | Secretary General | Dengjmangr31@gmail.com |
| Mr. Malueth Bath | Treasurer | luethbath@hotmail.com |
| Mr. Atong Madhol | Information Officer | atongahong@gmail.com |
| Ms. Alek Adel | Women’s Affairs Officer | Alex00799@gmail.com |
| Ms. Adhieu Tat | Youth Officer | A85angelina@gmail.com |
| Mr. Chating AneetLiai | Public Relations Officer | chattingdaniel@hotmail.com |
| Mrs. Mary N Anwat | Cultural Affairs Officer | Contact Information Officer – LCV |
NORTH AMERICA LUACJANG COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP TEAM;
| NAME | TITLE | CONTACTS |
| Mr. Agang Mading Yor | Chairperson of LC in North America | Contact General Secretary LC – USA |
| Mr. Mading Duor Ngong | General Secretary | Maduor30@gmail.com |
| Ms. Mary Akuch Riak | Treasurer | maryakuch@yahoo.com |
| Mr. Aguer Madut Malueth | Information Officer | Contact Secretary of LC – USA |
| Ms. Agum MadolMachiek | Women’s Affairs Officer |
LUACJANG INTELLECTUALS, ELDERS, AND YOUTH;
| NAME | TITLE | CONTACTS |
| Dr. William Bol Deng Abur | Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) | william.abur@gmail.com |
| Mr. Angelo Tat Mapiel | Chair of Warrap in Victoria/ LCV Member | angeloaustat@gmail.com |
| Mrs. Theresa Aliai Ring | Elder/Adviser | Contact Information Officer – LCV |
| Eng. Gim Majur | Engineer/Adviser | gimmajur@yahoo.com |
| Mr. Deng Machut Gum | Elder/Adviser | Gum.deng@yahoo.com.au |
| Mr. Peter Bol Makuei | Conflict Resolution Practitioner/Mediator | pmakuei@ymail.com |
| Mrs. Arek Giir | Early Childhood Educator– Madame Arek | arekgiir@hotmail.com |
| Mr. Bol Maluil Gaak | Elder/Adviser | gaakbol@gmail.com |
| Eng. James Mawut Mathou | Engineer /Adviser | jamesmathou@gmail.com |
| Mr. Adel Makol Aguer | Elder/Adviser | Adelaguer12@gmail.com |
| Mr. Chating Abiel | Elder/Adviser | Contact Information Officer |
| Mrs. Angok Malual | Elder/Adviser | Contact Information Officer – LCV |
| Mr. Matthew Mathuc | Elder/Adviser | matthewsudan@hotmail.com |
| Mr. Marial Adel | Associate Degree of General Studies/Sciences | marialadel23@gmail.com |
| Mr. Monyror Mabor Deng | Luacjang Youth Member | monyror@yahoo.com |
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