Over 50 people killed in fresh clashes in Warrap state - S. Sudan offical Article Comments (22) Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 13, 2011 (TURALEI) – Over 50 people have been killed in fresh clashes between armed groups allegedly associated with rebel groups and local police in Tonj North county, Warrap state, said senior officials from South Sudan on Monday. Dinka herder, Warrap state (AFP) “Armed groups sighted as coming from Unity State, probably loyal to rebel groups, launched an attack in one of the villages in Tonj North County, Warrap state. The fighting took place in Akop locality”, said General Anthony Bol Madut, former governor of Warrap state and currently a senior security advisor in the ministry of internal affairs of the Government of South Sudan (GoSS). Madut, who spoke to Sudan Tribune from Juba, the capital of South Sudan, said he has heard some people were killed and several others sustained injuries as cattle other properties were taken. “This is a fresh incident. There is no clear information of how many people have been killed. The reports which are still coming indicate that the fighting was in progress and that it is hard to get the details of the incident”, he further said. Yel Mayar, a deputy governor of Warrap state government said 58 people were killed and several injured, including local police and home guards. "Yes it is true there was an attack on the area today but it was contained", said Mayar. “Some armed elements suspected to be loyal to rebel groups operating in the neighbouring Unity state carried out another heavy attack in Akop village today. They killed more than 24 innocent civilians and 13 policemen and two home guards. Some of them were also killed in the fighting that pushed them away from the area. 19 dead bodies on the side of the attackers were discovered”, explained Mayar. “It was a surprise attack carried out by specialists. They were properly organised in carrying out the attacks. They avoided areas where there are police posts. They also avoided areas they knew have SPLA [Sudan People’s Liberation Army] forces. “What they do, those who are specialized in cattle raiding, they send individuals to do an assessment to know where there are cows before they come for an attack. They send people who speak Dinka and people who had no tribal marks to avoid identification. These people are specialists in conducting attacks. They pretend to be members of the same tribe from different clan and pretend to be people looking for cows they have lost in the village during movement of cattle from one camp to the other”, said Mayar. Gatluak Pec, a member of bordering Unity state’s Legislative Assembly denied knowledge of citizens of his state carrying out cattle raids in Warrap state. “I talked to many people including the Panjiar county commissioner today in my constituency and nobody has told me anything about this incident”, said Pec. He added that it was “possible some rebels carried out” the attack. (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.
