W. Equatoria and Lakes state resolve to deploy neutral force to curb clashes
ARTICLECOMMENTS (29) EmailPrintSave April 6, 2011 (YAMBIO & RUMBEK) - An attack on the Jur community in Mvolo County in Western Equatoria state by a group believed to be Dinka Atuot from neighboring Lakes state on Tuesday 5 April has killed 11 people and left many injurd according to local officials. >From left to right: Bakulu Edward, speaker of W. Equatoria state (WES) assembly, WES governor Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro and WES deputy governor Abui Sapana during their swearing in ceremony. June 24, 2011 (ST) The attacks occurred while the governors of Lakes and Western Equatoria were meeting in Mopourdit to discuss ways of finding lasting solutions to the problem of border violence between the communities. The governor of Western Equatoria state Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro has condemned the fresh attacks, which occurred in Bar-girindi payam [district] of Mvolo County. According to reports from eye witnesses, armed men were seen coming from Lakes states heading towards Ngop village. “This situation is discouraging, nevertheless we shall continue to show restraint and avoid any hostility that may disintegrate the communities” added the governor.” Bakosoro reiterated his commitment “to the peace process with the hope that the two states with all their officials keep truth and respect the rights of the communities to live in perpetual peace.” The governor called upon the United Nations to intervene and find out lasting solutions to the ongoing crisis being a neutral body for advocacy and civic education. The governor urged members of parliament from Mvolo County to encourage the communities to desist from taking part in any hostility in the future. “We must seek peace at any cost with our neighbours and learn to live with each other but in peace” decried Bakosoro. He pointed out that “it is sad that any time the people of WES discuss or complain of cattle issues, automatically other people say Western Equatorians are found of tribalism. Mvolo commissioner Paul Tier, said the clashes broke out during the peace and reconciliation meeting in Mopourdit when the Dinka Atuot launched fresh attacks on Bar-Girindi payam. “When we returned from the meeting, reports indicate 5 people were killed, then later in the evening 6 more totalling to 11 people confirmed dead, many more wounded and properties looted” he said. Tier expressed his dismay that they did not expect such incident to happen while efforts are exerted by the two state governors to stop bloodshed. “We were not greeting ourselves with my counterpart commissioner of Yirol west Makur Kulang, but we demonstrated openly in front of the big people and media to show that we are for peace, that the past has gone” revealed Tier. He added that, he will work with the orders of the state government as it is clear that Western Equatoria is “for peace not war as said by the governor.” The commissioner mentioned that the numbers of displaced people is increasing drastically and immediate humanitarian aid is needed. One of the key resolutions of Tuesday meeting was that communities would be advised to cease from all kinds of hostilities. Buffer zones are to be created to monitor the border by the South Sudan army. The speaker of the state Assembly Bukulu Edward revealed that as representatives of communities the state legislative assembly will render full support to peace initiative as spearheaded by the governor. “We are very concerned about the crisis in Mvolo, and we are appealing to the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) “to intervene and clearly know that what is happening between Mvolo and Yirol West is a big blow and loss” asserted the speaker. Local MP Magret Fozia expressed her deep regret at the resumption of conflict appealing for a lasting solution asking “is Western Equatoria not part of this new nation? If yes, the people of WES deserve relevant peace as peace lovers.” South Sudan is due to become independent in July. “We have so many ethnic tribes in the state, but have never caused any tribal conflict for years, people are staying in peace, only external and foreign aggressions by people who do not want peace”, said Fozia. The South fought the Khartoum government for over two decades in a bitter civil war that ended in a 2005 peace granting the South the right to secede through a referendum. In January they voted overwhelmingly to separate. Governor Bakosoro briefed the state legislative assembly on Wednesday on the current security situation between the Jur tribe of Mvolo and Dinka Atuot of Yirol West County in Lakes state. At a parliament briefing Bakosoro told MPs that “Western Equatoria state does not like any war and will not entertain any tactics that will lead to violence but use diplomatic ways to seek peace.” Bakosoro urged the legislative assembly to discuss ways of maintaining peace in the state. PEACE TALKS The two governors of Lakes and Western Equatoria states have resolved on Tuesday to deploy neutral forces in the conflict zones of Kokori and Bargirindi districts of Mvolo County to prevent further attacks between communities on the borders of the two South Sudan states. Lakes state Governor Chol Tong at left and Governor of W. Equatoria state Joseph Bakasoro (ST) On Tuesday 5 April, the governor of Western Equatoria Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro led a high level ministerial delegation to Mopourdit payam [district] of Yirol West in Lakes states to meet the governor of Lakes state seeking to amicable find solutions to recent clashes between the two counties of Mvolo and Yirol West. According the commissioner for Yirol West commissioner, 33 people were killed and 22 people wounded in the clashes that continued intermittently from the start of the year until March 19. They number of people kill from Mvolo side was not made clear by their county commissioner during the meeting. The resolutions of the meeting were read out by Lakes state security advisor Santo Domic at Mapuordit compound. The two states resolved to: 1- The two states should inform the different communities to stop hostilities and rapid deployment of organized forces on buffer zone.the governors are to meet in Juba on Saturday 9th July 2011 in the security meeting to agree on which type of forces are to be deployed to prevent further attacks in the borders of Kokori, Bar-Girindi, Lesi amongst others. 2- The communities of Yirol west have agreed to withdraw their cattle back to their territory until agreements are reached. 3- Allow GOSS to form an independent committee to investigate on the root causes of the clashes. 4- Return of internal displaced persons (IDPs) to their areas after the hostility is stopped and the South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC) and other partners are asked to support the IDPS for at least three Months as they wait to cultivate. 5- After all the hostility, there is call for peaceful conference to find amicable solutions. The commissioner of Yirol West Makur Kulang disclosed that he does not see “any reason to why the two communities kill themselves, as they do not have problems among themselves but there are people who want to instigate” violence. He took the opportunity to deny allegations that he had supported and encouraged the clashes by travelling to the area in his car. Kulang said that 33 people from his county had been killed and 22 wounded during the clashes. The number of people kill from Mvolo county was not made clear by their county commissioner during the meeting. The Yirol West commissioner stated that with the resolutions of the meeting crossing the border between the states should stop until amicable solutions are reached by the government. He had accused his counterpart in Mvolo county of refusing to answer his phone calls during the clashes. After the meeting, the commissioner of Mvolo County Paul Tier, said he will make sure that he is in “contact with his counterpart the commissioner of Yirol West,” he rubbished previous allegations that “there has been no coordination between two commissioners.” The governor of Lakes state Chol Tong Mayai said “their commitment to meet in Mopourdit payam is to oversee that people live along the borders peacefully.” He pointed out that “all the resolutions reached will be implemented in order to stop further bloodshed.” "It is our duty as political leaders to see into it that our people live along these borders peaceful. It is our duty see into that services are delivery to them ... We will see support from government of Southern Sudan to help us in implementing this resolutions. We come here as brothers and sister to talk here. Mayay also added that resolutions have recommended the Southern Sudan leadership government to appoint an independent committee to investigate this incident and those who will be proved guilty will face justice. Meanwhile the governor of Western Equatoria Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro disclosed that his visit is to “seek peace as sisterly states and live in harmony.” “We in Western Equatoria do not allow people to just die without proper reasons, and that is what we want from Yirol West, that they should protect their people” he said. Bakosoro further mentioned that the relation between the two counties is “like brothers and sisters”. He cautioned politicians against fuelling violence amongst communities. “We came from WES with love and peace to you people here becuase for us killing is bad. We do like anybody to dead for nothing. We need you also to protect yourself and to protect the family that live here” He decried that the 21 years of bloodshed of the north-south civil war, which ended in 2005. He said that as the South approaches independence in July - following a referendum agreed as part of the deal - it was time to focus on building the new nation of the Republic of South Sudan. Bakosoro called upon the two communities to interact and love themselves. His Western Equatoria administration would make “make sure love and harmony is attained”, he said. The political advisor for Western Equatoria state government, Robert Bandi, denied allegations that the state has armed local home guard group the Arrow Boys – established to fight the Lord’s Resistance Army - to fight against the Yirol West community of Lakes state. “I know and heard messages being sent to president of GOSS (Government of South Sudan), that we are arming Arrow Boys, how can we do that, yet Western Equatoria over the past six years has been devastated by the LRA and we were looking for support from Lakes” explained Bandi. He encouraged the people of Lakes state “to maintain the spirit of patriotism as none of them has defected from the SPLM/A like other states. Rebellions against the southern government and army have killed many in Unity, Jonglei and Upper Nile states as the South approaches independence in July. The two commissioners expressed their readiness to spearhead peace amongst the communities and enhance effective communications between themselves. This is the second time the two governors have meet to discuss and find peaceful solutions to the conflicts between the two communities. It is estimated that 125 goats, and 665 cows including 2 bang bells (big bell) were looted during the clashes. Over 5,000 people have been displaced by the clashes, with many having to stay under trees in at a school in the area. Both Lakes state and Western Equatoria governments say they require immediate humanitarian assistance the areas affected by the conflict, which includes: Yekdokobo, Lual, Amatnhom, Magok, Kathier, Dhauwel, Hor-Makueny, Hor-Mayen, Hor-Maciek, Wou-wou, Rumacol and Madat. (ST) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
