SPLA clashes with militias claims death of 30 and seriously injured 28
people in South Sudan
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By Bonifacio Taban Kuich
March 17, 2011 (BENTIU) – South Sudan army, Sudan People’s Liberation
army (SPLA) clashed Thursday with militias in the oil rich Unity state
leaving more that 30 people dead and seriously injured other 28.
The heavy fighting in Mayom, largest county in the state took place
four days after similar clashes in Malakal Upper Nile capital raising
fears of violence escalation in the South Sudan which voted
overwhelmingly in favour of independence.
JPEG - 17.7 kb
SPLA soldiers during the celebration of 26th anniversary of SPLM in
Juba on May 26, 2009 - (Getty)
The militias involved in the clashes were part of the Sudan Army
Forces (SAF) under the command of Brigadier General Bapiny Monytuel
Wijang and Col. Gai Yaoch.
In February, Governor Taban Deng Gai told a group of journalist at
Bentiu town that his state government’s first priority is to bring
South Sudanese soldiers from Sudan Army Forces and renegade Gatluak
Gai forces into SPLA affairs.
He emphasized that their integration needs to be achieved before the
declaration of South Sudan’s independence in July.
Gai further said violence issues in the South should be addressed
through a peaceful dialogue with all the armed groups, especially
those who were part of the northern Sudanese army and militiamen loyal
to James Gai Yaoch, Bapiny Monytuel Wijang and Gatluak Gai in Unity
state, hoping that a peaceful resolution would be found.
The forces of Bapiny Monytuel Wijang and Gai Yaoch were assembled in
Riak Payam at South of Mayom County; these forces came in the area
earlier a month carrying heavy weapons from Khartoum claiming to join
South Sudanese army.
The clashes started in the area after a visit by officers from SPLA
who came to Mayom to discuss the integration of the militiamen into
SPLA forces, prison services and police service.
Col. Mathew Puol Jang Top, the militia’s highest ranking officer in
Riak payam (district) refused the integration of his forces into the
Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). He explained that his high
ranking commanders, especially Brigadier General Bapiny Monytuel and
Gai Yaoch, were not present.
The SPLA force commander insisted that there might be dispute if these
militias continue to refuse to be intergraded into SPLA Affairs
Ministry. Top, who formerly served in the SPLA, took arms against the
ruling party Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) after the general
election in April 2010, when the SPLM candidate Taban Deng took over
from the Independent candidate, Angelina Jany Teny in Unity state.
But SPLA spokesman Philip Aguer said the South Sudan army received
complaints that the militiamen started to illegally tax the civilians
in the area one month after their arrival from the north.
He further told Reuters the militia attacked the SPLA during a visit
to investigate the taxation complaints early on Thursday.
"The SPLA responded by attacking their base this morning in heavy
clashes for four hours, dislodging them," he said.
Speaking by telephone from his county on Thursday, Mayom Commissioner,
Charles Machieng Kuol, told Sudan Tribune that the forces loyal to
Col. Mathew Puol Jang in Riak have disregarded the decision made
earlier by SPLA officials to start negations on the integration of
over 1,500 militia members, into the SPLA affairs.
Kuol further said that the situation is threatening the citizens
throughout Unity state and in particular Mayom County, where the
recent incidents occurred. He added that the SPLA have right to
protect the civilian security within the south.
(ST)
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