Open Letter to:

President Goss, Salva Kiir Mayar;

Vice-President, Rick Machar Teny;

Governor Jonglei, Kuol Manyang Juuk;

Fellow Sudanese Citizens;

Introduction: We are writing this letter in order to bring to your full attention the recent attack on innocent civilians in Duk County by Nuer Lou perpetrators of two countiesand their supporters. We are also mindful of the previous attacks that were perpetrated by the same ethnic group.

We are writing this letter to you:

A) ---as concerned individuals from Duk County whose family members or kin bore untold suffering as a result of Nuer Lou consecutiveattacks.

B) --- as concerned citizens of South Sudan who care deeply about the future of peace in Sudan South, ethnic co-existence, and common goodfor all.

C) ---- as well informed citizens who understand what our collective responsibility is as fellow South Sudanese toward one another, what the government can and must do for us, and the importance of accountability.

Background: If we look back to the to the last three yeays, we are all reminded of the historic moment the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) brought to all of us, the people of Southern Sudan. We were all hopeful that the CPA will not only put us at peace with the radical Islamic fundamentalists in Northern Sudan, but at peace [I1]in our midst as fellow Southerners.Currently our neighbors, Nuer Lou and their allies,[I2]have just turned against us and we are their pitiful victims. The recent consecutive attacks by Lou Nuer perpetrators in PadietPayam in Duk County are as shocking as they are hard to believe. For centuries,the people of Duk County have co-existed with their neighbors even at the time when the idea of the government was yet to be conceived. We barter traded, intermarried, shared cattle camps, fishing tributaries, and lived side by side. Now we are puzzled by these recent acts of hostilities at the time when all of us should be singing peace, breathing peace, and nourishing peace. And even more devastating and puzzling is the lack of political will on the part of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS), the Jonglei State government, and theDuk county government to bring to an end these acts of hostilities and inhumanity. The overarching questions being asked by all concerned Duk members are: Is it a mistake that the people of Duk County willingly and peacefully accepted to be disarmed when their neighbors refusedto be disarmed? Who do we turn to for help if our government cannot even protect us from the acts of aggression perpetrated by our neighbors? Why are we targeted for disarment first and we never ever aggress to any community? These questions demand immediate answers from theGOSS, theJonglei State government, and theDuk County government. It is not a desire fortheDuk county people to return to arms, but to demand from their government that they need protection from Lou Nuer and other hostile ethnic groups now. The people of Duk County cannot afford to face another act of inhumanity by our neighbors today, tomorrow, and forever. After all what does CPA mean when it cannot guarantee our protection from the hostilities orchestrated by our neighbors against us?

This year alone, LouNuer has carried out seven attacks of which two were deadly. One of these attacks was inMay, killing dozens of which their names are listed below. While the actual figures are not known on the side of Lou, we will show you how many people killed and the wounded on our side.[I3]

Moreover, the unprovoked predawn attack by Lou Nuer on 8/21/2008 was the deadliest and worst attack ever since the 1990sof Riek’s war. It has caused a loss of lives and property. Twenty civilians and 7 SPLA soldiers [I4]were killed. Seventeen villages were burned and erased to the ground. The followings are the names of the villages destroyed; Wut-Aru, Dorok, Thon, Kuei Ayang, KueiKuei e Madhier, Kuei e Chop, Kuei e Monyluak, Ataarejak, Panajak, Ayueldit, Bongjok, Pajotong, Roorthioong, Padad, Panahol, Pakam, and Amiel. On the attackers’ side, they suffer heavy casualties, forty eight bodies were counted.[I5]Because the attack wasrepulsed, the attackers are very angry and disappointed because the goal of the attack was not achieve; that is to take all the cattle in the area and killed their owners. Now, rumor of them preparing to launch another attack is circulating.

May fighting and those who were killed

Duor section

  1. Manyang Deng Achiek
  2. MathiechManyangjok
  3. MathiechMajuangGarkuoth

Angaach section

  1. Kuol AjiethRiak
  2. Majok Lam Puot
  3. Mapath Thon Deng
  4. MagaiKutinKoot
  5. RiakKachuolManyieth

Patheel section

  1. Garang Lat Luk
  2. CholMakuacMachok
  3. Deng YuangAgumwer
  4. MawutMayen Deng
  5. KuolAyuel Diu
  6. CholLukAtem
  7. Malual Deng Thon—Kongor from Pan-Bior

July fight and those were wounded

Duor section

  1. Machot Thon Guot
  2. Kang Chuol

Patheel section

  1. MarengNgorRiak
  2. ManyokCholAwuol
  3. MadukMakuachMachok
  4. ManyokLuethRiak
  5. Wuor Kan Wuor
  6. AbotMalithAbot

Angaach section

  1. Madual Gach Jok
  2. YienGai Deng

Nyiel section

  1. Kon Machot Dak

August fight

Names of Deceased from all the four sections
1.Maluk Jok Chan
2. MadukMajakArop
3. MadaumaluthManyang
4. Bol MajokRiak
5. Malual Dual Gon
6. GaiMawietDau
7. MathemCholPothlong
8. CholRiakPuluat
9. Kuol RiakPuok
10. MawutMalualChol
11. DutAbielAter
12. AcholLul Deng (Female)
The names of the fallen SPLA soldiers.
  1. EliaAgiuAgoth
  2. John Togono
  3. AburLiaiAbiong
  4. MonylakAterMonylak
  5. Duoth Lam Yal
  6. Name missing
  7. Name missing
[I6]The names of all the thirteen wounded SPLA soldiers is missing too[I7]
Wounded from Duk side
1. Deng piokKachuol
2. MajokMachiekWieu
3. Both AyuelAchiek
4. MawutMalithGoch
5. AyuelMalithGoch
6. MayatJany Deng
7. Both Tong Chol
8. MachotLoi
9. Deng Puot Deng
10. Madhier LukYai
11. Maduk Lat Luk
12. MajurAluk Lat
13. KachuolJokKachuol
14. MadukKachuolGach
15. GaluakAkol Deng
16. makethMachokBol
17. madual Gach Jok
18. Deng Akoi Kon
19.Mabil Nyanthi
20. RuotJuachAjak
21. GaluakRiakPuluat
22. NyanpurChuolAguer (female)
23. Nyanthi Bol Duop (female)
24. Machar GaluakMachar
25. DauGaluakArop
26. Kuol ManyokMachol
27. Mzee Deng Ajang ( Agutdiing)
28. Matim Tong Deng
the whereabouts’of the following people is unknown
1. Majur Dual Diing
2.Malual MabiorAkoi

Recommendations: Therefore, we recommend that theGOSS, Jonglei State, and Duk County government, amongst others, take and implement the following recommendations swiftly and consciously:

a) Carry out a thorough investigation of the attacks and bring to justice those responsible.

b) Immediate disarmament of hostile ethnic groups such as Lou Nuer, Murle, and others.

c) EquipeGive more authority to local county governments so that they cannot wait until orders come from Juba or Bor Town as to what could be done to response immediately to ethnic hostilities.

d) Establish a temporary robust SPLA unit in the area between Dukpadiet and Nuer Lou to closely monitor and immediately contain future hostilities.

e) Initiate continuous ethnic peace dialogue program in South Sudan so that people will not just see peace as a one-time-shot thing, but rather a lifelong commitment among and/or between parties involved.

Conclusion: We strongly believe that GOSS has what it takes to ensure that we live peacefully as Southerners. Just like other people from South Sudan, the people of Duk County are yearning for peace, stability, and development every day. As southerners bounded by the fate of CPA, our future will look more promising if we learn to live peacefully with one another and most importantly look beyond our tribal and ethnic divides. This letter is not intended to provoke conflict or escalate tension between Nuer Lou and people of Duk County, but to bring to light the unbearable consequences of their indifference and hostilities. We can only support and trust our government if it can fulfill the basic and the most fundamental role of any government, and that isto protect its citizens.

Thank you

Signatories

[I1]Delete

[I2]Add

[I3]Delete

[I4]Delete

[I5]Delete

[I6]Delete

[I7]Delete