Rumbek East Seek Apology From Deputy Governor
The Lakes state community of Rumbek East County are seeking an apology from the newly appointed deputy governor over his remarks in early 2009 when he was serving as a county commissioner in Yirol East.
By Gabriel Mayom
RUMBEK, 23rd April, 2012 [Gurtong]
The county’s youth leaders said in point blank that they won’t cooperate will the deputy governor if no written or verbal apologies are received from him.
The aggrieved youths had earlier on objected the appointment of Mr. Mabor Achol Kuer as the Lakes state new deputy governor over his alleged statement “no cow holding mark on head like Agar” that escalated ethnic animosity when he was the commissioner of Yirol East County; he uttered these words after youths from Yirol East County raided a number of cattle from Rumbek East County.
The two Lakes state counties of Yirol East and Rumbek East share a common internal border region wich is rich in green grass lands for grazing cattle.
Mr. Achol is being accused by the Rumbek East County community of being tribal among the greater Yirol communities. He is alleged for having masterminded the killing of young pastoralists between the two twin counties of Yirol East and Yirol West.
The inter-communal violence resulted into the killing of several of people during his term in office with his counterpart the former commissioner of Yirol West Mr. Agok Manyiel Dhieu Alam.
“Achol’s appointment is not by surprise to us. The community of Rumbek East County demand him to apologize to them over his 2009 statement,” said Magual Ater, a youth member in Rumbek East County.
“We don’t expect the Lakes state government to serve the nation if they still engage officials who discriminate against their citizens’ rights, “ Ater added.