Lake state: 19 injured in pro-government protests
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July 6, 2013 (RUMBEK) – At least 19 students were on Saturday injured
during a Lakes state demonstration organised by officials from the
ruling party (SPLM) in support of the caretaker governor, Matur Chut
Dhuol.
JPEG - 54.7 kb
LakeS state SPLM acting secretary Mabor Ater (ST)
It all started when Lakes state education minister reportedly ordered
student in the various primary schools within the state to join
demonstration, a decision head teachers opposed.
“Lakes state education minister instructed all headmasters of all
primary school within Rumbek Central County to nominate 50 students to
join demonstration and that all names of these students be
registered,” an eyewitness told Sudan Tribune.
The minister, he further said, also warned that students and head
teachers who do not comply with the order would instantly be dismissed
from their respective schools.
The protests, officials told Sudan Tribune, came in response to
intense pressure from citizens who demand that the governor leave
office, after his term expired over three months back.
Dhuol, a military officer, was appointed early this year to replace
the duly elected governor, Chol Tong Mayay, whom President Salva Kiir
sacked in a decree following rising insecurity levels in the state.
Mabor Ater, the acting secretary for the ruling party in Lakes state,
is said to have written a slogan to be pronounced during the students’
demo and sent to various school.
He also reportedly sent strong instruction asking all schools to pick
up the post cards assigned to each of them, with pro-government words
inscribed on these cards.
During the protests, however, clashes reportedly erupted between
students of Riak-dor and Ager-gum primary school following a
disagreement, leaving 19 injured.
Six of the students, a nurse at Lakes state hospital told Sudan
Tribune, were admitted in critical conditions after sustaining stone
injuries from the melee.
“We have admitted six students in a critical condition, 16 others
students have little wounds and we have discharged them,” said the
nurse, who asked not be named.
A teacher from Ager-gum, who also spoke on condition anonymity, blamed
the Lakes state administration for the whole mess, saying they failed
to protect lives of students, yet it is their mandate.
He also accused members of the security force in the state, mainly
from the prison service of allegedly beating and threatening to shoot
students during the protests.
“They threatened my students by cocking guns and told them not to
speak [to] media”, he told Sudan Tribune.
The SPLM acting secretary, in a petition presented to the United
Nations mission in the state, appealed to president Kiir to allow the
caretaker governor remain in office contrary to peoples’ demands.
In the petition, the ruling party, claimed security situation was
calm, dismissing cries of harassment, human right violation and
arbitrary arrests constantly carried out by Lakes state authorities.
While speaking to the protestors, however, the caretaker governor
lauded the students for expressing their solidarity with his
administration, warning that those opposed to his regime will be
“crushed” and detained in military cells.
“We will crash those who will undermine this state government. Whoever
refuses to comply with this ruling will face danger. If you are a son
of Lakes state, you are definitely responsible to destroy this state
or build it. If you cooperate with me, then we will build it and if
you object this rule, then you will be crashed immediately”, Dhuol
told the protestors.
The US-based Human Rights Watch last month accused the Lakes state
administration of gross human right violations in the state, saying
its constant use of underhand approaches call for justice.
(ST)
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