There is an uptick in violent crimes in Tonj East and Tonj North. In a Facebook post seen by NCMP, a concerned South Sudanese describes Both places as a region in a state of anarchy.
He further pointed that instead of Government forces to be seen at the checkpoints, it is the armed civilians that set up their own checkpoints to stop any travelers, rob them of their belongings, and may kill if identified to belong to a rival community.
According to the Post, such checkpoints are in their numbers, specifically about nine was identified between Thiet and Romic.
He further identified that the Wau – Mushara road is insecure too. Anyone passing there isn’t sure of safety or if escape death, properties are snatched and life massacred. So many have reported being latched, and their property was taken.
The place has returned to the lawless state it was, before the coming of the British in 1889, when there was no government.
He further described that when properties and cows are snatched, it is impossible to use organized forces for its recovery because the armed civilians don’t respect the government, and even he further mentioned that no government authority is present in these places.
He gave a scenario of a fellow whose cattle were stolen in Tonj North and when he finally got them, there was no police ready to bring back except the culprits had to be engaged through their gelweng leader or chief. And even then, they refused to give. “You can see your cows but you can’t claim them.” He added
Another incident described was when traders believed to have come from Yirol were attacked on their way to the direction of Wau. Two of the five were killed, their cattle forcefully were taken and no arrest has been made so far.
One person that I asked over the phone if the murderers were apprehended. His answer was so sad. He said,” there’s no government here, maybe there’s a government where you are”.
In Tonj town, there’s the looting of property at night, a prison officer was killed a few days ago. How safe are civilians if a first lieutenant is killed?
Unconfirmed reports say that the opinion of governor Panek is low about any immediate intervention or may have no enough forces to pacify the situation given that the organised forces still have a hangover of the recent incident when the national army and armed civilians locked horn in Romic resulting into deaths on both sides.
The ugly scenario is that most PHCC/U and hospitals have ran out of drugs as well as private drugs store empty but there is no supply of drugs because of possible looting on the way.
I don’t think these people are ungovernable. Something has to be done.
Find the Post below:
