Senior SPLA official sustains gunshot wound in road robbery ambush
May 11, 2013 (JUBA) – A high-ranking official from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) was shot and injured after unknown gunmen ambushed the vehicle in which he traveled on Friday. A senior security officer who requested anonymity said Maj-Gen Machol Deng Ring suffered a gunshot wound after a group of armed men appeared in front of the car and immediately opened fire, in what he said was a suspected road robbery attack. The incident occurred in Pacuok just after Bar-Naam bridge in Lakes state’s Rumbek East county at about 8pm. According to the source, Lakes state authorities have yet to make any arrest related to the incident. It’s not the first time that the Lakes state highway has been the scene of an alleged road robbery. A number of cars, including those owned by government officials, have been targeted in attacks which have left several people dead and others with gunshot injuries. In January, South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir removed Lakes state’s elected governor Chol Tong Mayay because of insecurity concerns in the region and replaced him with military general. Since his appointment, Maj. Gen Matur Chut Dhuol, has adopted tough security reform, which despite public criticisms, has helped to improve insecurity in Lakes state. As part of his new approach, for instance, Dhuol has instructed commissioners of all the eight counties to directly confront cattle raiders and bring them to justice. He also warned the commissioner that they risk being dismissed should they fail to implement his directive. The caretaker governor, upon his elevation to the helm, also ordered the state legislative assembly not discuss political matter or else face closure. Critics have already expressed concerns regarding the constitutional provision on Dhuoul’s stay in office as governor. An election, according to South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution, should have been held 60 days after the caretaker governor was appointed. However, no ballot has been announced, despite the deadline passing on 21 March. Neither journalists nor activists in the state have spared by hard-line approach adopted by the new caretaker governor. Many of them often complain of being harassed by security officials, allegedly acting on the governor’s orders. Last month, lawmakers in the state petitioned Hilde Johnson, the head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), over growing cases of human rights violations in the region since the governor’s appointment. (ST) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
