Cattle Raids in Panyijiar Leave 17 Dead

13 May 2008 – (Nairobi, Kenya) – A series of cattle raids around the Pachar area of Panyijiar County in Unity state over the past month have left at least 17 people are dead and over 1600 head of cattle stolen.

Speaking to Sudan Radio Service by phone on Tuesday from Unity, Panyijiar County Commissioner James Gatkoi blamed the raid on a neighboring county.

Mr. Gatkoi said cross-border raiding continues because neither the Government of Southern Sudan nor the area state governments have disarmed civilians. He said disarmament must now be undertaken.

[James Gatkoi]: “My appeal to both governments of Unity and Lakes states is to take serious actions by mobilizing the military forces in both sides along the borders to disarm and take away guns from those who are raiding cattle and killing the people.”

He urged government to take strong measures to prevent civilians from getting new guns once disarmament has taken place.

The commissioner said his community has already been disarmed, which leaves them vulnerable to raids by neighbors who are not disarmed.

Source: Sudan Radio Service
http://www.sudanradio.org/viewArticle.php?id=1156